Division over women bishops exposed

12:56am Sunday 6th July 2008

The extent of the divisions within the Church of England over the introduction of women bishops were laid bare in a key debate at the Church's ruling body.

A significant number of speakers at the General Synod meeting in the University of York called for delay in pressing ahead with the reform amid fears of a serious split within the Church.

But others insisted the Synod must continue and should not delay legislation any further.

The Church of England has already approved the principle of women bishops but faces a crunch vote on Monday on how to accommodate those who object on grounds of religious conscience.

The Rt Rev Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester, said it would make him "very sad" if the Church were to choose "simply to kick the whole thing into touch" amid fears about division.

The Bishop, who headed a report into the possible options to the Church over the consecration of women bishops, said there were dangers in further delay.

"We are aware of those who argue that now is not the right time, that there are too many other difficult issues around, that the balance of arithmetic within the Church may be different in a few years time. But the fact is of course that any legislative process is going to take several years to complete even if we take the first steps now."

He added: "I think the one thing that we would all be sad about would be if this Synod on Monday simply were to kick the whole thing into touch."

More than 1,000 clergy have threatened to leave if there is no "structural" arrangement such as new dioceses headed by male bishops only to cater for objectors.

But senior women in the Church have said they would rather see the reforms delayed than see "discriminatory" laws passed by the Church.

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