Tempers Flare as Debate Over Women Bishops Intensifies

Senior female clergy in the Church of England have launched a stinging attack on those male members who asked that a vote on the consecration of women as bishops be delayed until after the General Synod.

The furor broke out after some male members of the clergy issued a letter in the Church of England Newspaper, requesting that the process to allow women as bishops be postponed as a full debate on the issue had not yet taken place.

Bishops have now received dozens of letters from women priests expressing their consternation at the request.

The Bishop of Durham, the Rt Rev Tom Wright, in a bid to appease female clergy, has stressed his support for women bishops, but has also urged for caution, saying that any attempt to start the process too early might be seen as a "knee-jerk reaction".

Mr Wright added: "I will do all in my power to ensure that wise and charitable debate on points of major difference, rather than crowbarring our way to our desired solution, will be the normal modus operandi within the Church."

Bishops have also been urged to write to their female clergy to further dissipate any negative tension.

In the run-up to the General Synod the split between factions is also intensifying.

The Anglo-Catholic group Forward in Faith reproached Christina Rees, Chair of Women and the Church, for a comment she made in which she apparently likened female priests to ‘cheap whores’.

Rees was quoted in an interview with a Swedish newspaper as saying, "Forward in Faith describes these ordained women, by grossly abusive invective, as though they were cheap whores."

She defended herself against criticism, arguing that her comment has been taken out of context. Rees claims she was actually trying to show why Forward in Faith’s use of the word "priestess" is so offensive, as certain priestesses in the Scriptures were also prostitutes.

A vote in favour of allowing women bishops is expected to be given at the forthcoming General Synod, although a survey by the University of Bangor has thrown this slightly into contention. According to this survey 66 percent of the clergy support the ordination of women as bishops, but this number falls to 63 percent among the laity.

A two-thirds majority will be required in each of the General Synod’s houses for a final resolution allowing women bishops to be passed.