The suggestion that the consecration of women as bishops should not be delayed was brought up again recently. The Rt Rev John Packer, the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds proposed on Saturday with his colleagues that the Church should start to consecrate women as bishops within months.

According to a survey of local parishes, people generally have high confidence in women’s ministry and think that women should take more senior posts such as archdeacons and deans.

There have been fears that the consecration of women as bishops might bring the church much division, as the consecration of women as priests has done this before. So liberals have worried that the process of legislation has been delayed due to this.

Because of the importance of this issue, a report regarding the theological implications of the consecration of women was made, and it is expected to be published by October. It was chaired by the Bishop of Rochester, the Rt. Rev Michael Nazir-Ali, and has taken three years to finish.

However, because the paper reportedly provides only a scope of options, many expect that it might offer churches only further divisive debates.

However, Packer said the General Synod should start drawing up legislation for this issue as soon as it finishes debates on the report in November or February.