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'Super bishops' may avoid split over women among Anglicans
A new class of "super bishop" may be created to cater for traditionalists who oppose the introduction of women bishops, in a last-minute attempt to avert a split within the Church of England.
- The Daily Telegraph
- Published: 00:09 July 8, 2008
London: A new class of "super bishop" may be created to cater for traditionalists who oppose the introduction of women bishops, in a last-minute attempt to avert a split within the Church of England.
Under the plan, three male super bishops would be ordained to look after clergy and parishioners who do not want to be led by a female bishop, and would be answerable only to the Archbishops of York and Canterbury.
The solution emerged Sunday night on the eve of a critical debate at a meeting of the church's ruling body. It came as the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, called for unity, saying Jesus would feel the pain of traditionalists and homosexual clergy alike.
Compromise
His plea came after it emerged that talks had been held with Vatican officials. The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, Reverend John Packer, who proposed the amendment, said: "I don't think compromise is a dirty word. We are all going to have to accept some limitation of where we would like to be."
Many traditionalists object to women becoming bishops because they believe the Bible teaches that Church leaders must be men, such as Jesus and his apostles.
However, bishops have approved the move and in a motion to be debated at the Synod in York yesterday they call for it to be adopted with no legal provisions for opponents.
It is feared that more than 1,000 clergy could desert the Church if women bishops were introduced without any safeguards for them.
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