Church of England’s treatment of women “shameful”, General Synod is told

Tuesday, 10th February 2009
By Judy West

A Durham University expert today said it was “shameful that the Church of England still treats women as a problem to be solved”.

The Rev Dr Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, Chaplain and Solway Fellow at University College, Durham, was speaking ahead of the debate on the issue at the General Synod meeting in London tomorrow.

The decision to ordain women bishops was taken in principle last year but Synod will meet tomorrow (Wednesday, February 11) to discuss draft legislation, including plans for male “complementary” bishops where parishes are unwilling to accept women.

However, it was revealed at the weekend that traditionalists are vehemently opposed to the arrangements proposed to cater for their constituency. A number of Anglo-Catholic bishops told the Sunday Telegraph that none of their number would serve as a ‘complementary’ bishop as it would mean they had to serve under a diocesan. At present the ‘flying bishops’ are under no such constraints. the rest