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Church of England propose 'gender-based dioceses'

29/04/2008

Church of England bishops have proposed controversial plans to establish dioceses based on opposition to female priests.

With church leaders eager to prevent a possible schism over the contentious issue of female ordination, the House of Bishops has met to consider what report authors called "by far and away the most important question that the Church of England now has to face".

A report published yesterday by a group chaired by the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, the Bishop of Manchester, raises the possibility of creating new dioceses based not on geographical boundaries but "composed of non-contiguous parishes conscientiously unable to receive women's priestly and episcopal ministry".

The report considers the liberal portion of the church who feel that to offer a compromise to those opposed to women priests and bishops would be a step backward.

In his book serialised in the Times newspaper Bishop Peter Robinson, the Bishop of Hampshire, has referred to what he calls "destructive, adolescent bullying" concerning female and gay ordination.

But the group's report nonetheless claims that persisting with the consecration of women without considering the views of those opposed to the matter "would trigger a period of uncertainty and turbulence within the Church of England"

"Many priests and congregations would undoubtedly leave," it adds, in light of "pain and frustration" over the admission of women to the priesthood.

Due to be debated at the General Synod in July, the report argues that the Church of England should embrace three new approaches to the ordination of female bishops.

If it has permitted women into the episcopate, it must fully commit itself to "opening all orders of ministry to men and women" and should also encourage those conscientiously opposed to female priests and bishops to accept the church's decisions.

But most controversially, the group proposes that those who support women's ordination should acknowledge that "the theological convictions of those unable to receive the ordained ministry of women are within the spectrum of Anglican teaching and tradition".

Therefore, those opposed to female entry to the episcopate "should… be able to receive pastoral and sacramental care in a way that is consistent with their convictions".

The proposals will be discussed at the General Synod in York from July 4th to 8th.