Possible Split for Church of England Over Women
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YORK, England — The Church of England looked set for a damaging split after its ruling body agreed yesterday to press on with the introduction of women bishops without special measures that would have appeased opponents of the move.
Hundreds of traditionalists may leave the Church after a four-hour debate ended with proposals to create new “men-only” dioceses or “super bishops” to guide opposed parishes narrowly thrown out by members of the General Synod in York.
It came despite the Archbishops of Canterbury and York calling for safeguards to stop an exodus of Anglo-Catholics and evangelicals.
The church’s drafting group is now likely to draw up legislation that will bring in women bishops by 2014 at the earliest.
However those who oppose the idea pointed out that a two-thirds majority will be needed for the legislation to be agreed in two or three years’ time.
The Reverend Prebendary David Houlding, a leading Anglo-Catholic, said: “We are being pushed by a particular liberal agenda and we are going to have women bishops at the exclusion of any other view.”
The chairman of the pro-women bishop movement Watch, Christina Rees, said: “The church has waited a long time for this day.”