A group of women pastors who have important positions within the Church of England wrote an open letter to some members of the Synod, asking them to revise the legislation. If the Synod moves in this direction, then the legislation would go back to the Anglican bishops, who might decide to repeal the amendment in support of the devotees who are against women bishops and put everything off until the Synod that will be held in November 2012 or February 2013 for a final approval. It was in the distant 2000 that the Synod asked the House of Bishops to start the theological work needed to bring women into the bishopric, but it was not until July 2008 that the supervisory board of the Church of England started the process to introduce the new legislation that has been approved by 42 Anglican dioceses out of 44. Items on the agenda of the Synod starting next Friday includes a debate on last summer’s London Riots (8th July) and the farewell to the Anglican primate Rowan Williams (10th July). The archbishop of Canterbury, whom everyone credits with having kept the communion united, will leave his position in late December to become a “Master”, i.e. principal of Magdalene College in Cambridge.

02/07/2012 -