Church of England Faces Further Rifts as Synod Debate Opens

On the evening of the 14th February, the first General Synod of the Church of England in 2005 will open. While the Church has been rocked by the forthcoming marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, many other deadlocks within the Church are still to be solved. Many anticipate that the General Synod will raise further rifts in the Church over the debate on homosexuality and women bishop ordination.

This will be the first Synod since the release of the Windsor Report in October 2004, therefore archbishops and bishops are due to present their views on the recommendations made by the Lambeth Commission in the Windsor Report.

The Report demanded the US Episcopal Church and Canadian Anglican bishops who authorised the consecration of homosexual bishops and the blessings of same-sex unions "express regret" that they harmed the worldwide body.

A majority of conservative evangelicals in the Church have insisted that homosexuality is contrary to the teachings of the Bible, and have joined together in calling for the Churches involved to "repent". In addition, many have commented that if repentance is not forthcoming that discipline should be implemented against those responsible. The debate on the Windsor Report is set to take place on Thursday.

Women bishop ordination will be another highlight at the Synod. Women were first ordained as priests in the Church of England 10 years ago. Despite long periods of lobbying, women bishop consecration has never fully proceeded.

BBC correspondent Robert Pigott has said they were becoming increasingly impatient at what is claimed as the Church's discrimination in denying women a role as bishops.

However, some members fear overturning the long history of male-only bishops as they belive that this could further divide a church already weakened by its dispute over homosexuality, he added. The Synod will address this issue on Wednesday.

Behind all these core issues on the agenda, sources say that conservative evangelicals have attempted to bring forward the controversy over Prince Charles’s marriage. They argue that fiancée Camilla Parker Bowles, a divorcee whose partner is still alive, is not eligible to marry under Church rules.

Rev David Phillips, director of the Church Society, a conservative evangelical group in the Church, commented on the marriage of Prince Charles. Speaking to BBC News he said, "I don't believe he should be remarrying and if he's determined to go ahead he shouldn't be in a position where he can become Supreme Governor of the Church of England."

The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has already denied the request for such debate on the Synod. Nevertheless, this may not stop the issue dominating discussions outside the chamber.

The General Synod is to be held at Church House, Westminster from 5:00pm on Monday 14th February until 7:00pm on Thursday 17th February. The full agenda of the Synod can be seen by visiting the Church of England website.