Monday 18 November 2013

General Synod Monday 18th - Wednesday 20th November

For three days this week I will be deeply engaged with another quite different area of activity associated with my role as the elected Lay Member of General Synod of the Church of England for the Diocese of Canterbury.
The big issue, returning once again to General Synod and still dominating discussion, is that of consecrating Women Bishops.Whilst several provinces in the Anglican Communion have already moved ahead of us in having women's progression to the episcopate, the Church of England has been in difficulty on this thorny matter, split and divided and unable to secure the necessary two thirds majority in each of the three houses: Bishops, Clergy and Laity.  The measure failed by just six votes a year ago.  It was opposed by a small number of Anglo-Catholics who perhaps see the inevitability of the move but seek alternative provision for continuity of male leadership through preference.   A revised measure is being brought to the General Synod this week and with goodwill on all sides it is hoped some fresh progress will be made.

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