Anglican Communion: Church of England makes historic decision for women bishops

Ekklesia
8 Jul 2008

Emotional scenes greeted the decision on 7th July by the General Synod of the Church of England, its governing body, to confirm the Church’s intention to consecrate women as bishops – a historic move which follows the decision to ordain women as priests in 1994.

Speaking on BBC television’s Newsnight programme, Archdeacon Christine Hardman, from Lewisham in the Diocese of Southwark, said that the decision was based on the Gospel imperative to recognise the spiritual gifts and authority of women in the church and in society.

Significantly, General Synod (comprising three ‘houses’ of bishops, clergy and laity) decided to reject so-called ‘super bishops’ and all-male dioceses - which would have had the effect of making women bishops ‘second class’, proponents warned. the rest

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