The Church of England was thrown into turmoil on Monday over the issue of women bishops as it appeared to reject proposals that would have accommodated clergy strongly opposed to the historic change.
In a debate lasting more than four hours, the General Synod voted against the introduction of separate structures and “superbishops” because they amounted to institutionalized discrimination.
Instead, the 468 members narrowly agreed to the idea of introducing a code of practice, throwing out all compromises that would have appeased opponents of women bishops.
The code of practice has yet to be fully explored, but will not satisfy the demands of traditionalists and conservative evangelicals, who formed an alliance to block the consideration of any such code.
The synod’s decision to proceed in a more liberal direction has infuriated the Church of England’s influential Anglo-Catholic wing, which wants protection from women bishops.
One senior churchman, the Reverend Prebendary David Houlding, said: “It’s getting worse, it’s going downhill very badly. It’s quite clear there’s a pincer movement and we’re being squeezed out. There is only one way forward: a code of practice.”
He added: “There will be no walkout — yet.”
The prospect of rebellion has loomed large over the synod meeting in York, which finished yesterday. There remains the possibility of defections to Catholicism amid claims that some senior Church of England clergy have recently flown to Rome to discuss their fears on the issue, as well as Anglican policy on gay ministers.
The latest development means the church will move toward the ordination of women bishops with a code of practice, with the legislation to be drawn up for consideration by the synod in February.
The code will need a two-thirds majority in each of the houses — bishops, clergy and laity — when it reaches the final vote in several years’ time.
The synod ignored the pleas of the two archbishops, Canterbury and York, who wanted legislative protection rather than a voluntary code of practice. Archbishop of York John Sentamu supported plans for superbishops while Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams wanted “more rather than less robust” legislation.
Should dissenters decide to stay within the Church of England, they could still thwart the pro-women lobby.
Allowing a code of practice will mollify campaigners for women bishops, even though they had previously tabled an amendment to scrap it, seeing it as a concession too far.
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