Women in the Episcopate - Documents Now Available

The stage is being prepared for this July's sessions of General Synod at which legislation to enable women to be bishops will be considered. Documentation is now published which propose special arrangements for those with conscientious difficulties by way of a national Code of Practice. Each diocesan bishop will be required to draw up a scheme in his or her diocese that takes account of the Code of Practice and provides local arrangements for the performance of certain episcopal functions in relation to parishes with conscientious difficulties. A further provision allows parishes to request, when there is a vacancy, that only a male incumbent or priest-in-charge be appointed.

Considerable time is likely to be spent on this matter at the July synod. In addition to Bishop Geoffrey, our General Synod members are the Revd Canon Debbie Flach, the Venerable Jonathan Boardman, (Lay) Canon Ann Turner and Mr Roger Fry.

The press release from the Church of England and links to these important documents are available on the Church of England website here. The documents include the report of the revision committee (be aware this is over 140 pages long!); the draft Measure; and the draft Amending Canon.

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