Church throws open female bishops dispute

-Synod agrees to send draft law for amendments
-First women bishops not until 2014 at earliest
Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent
Thursday 12 February 2009

The Church of England yesterday reopened the debate on female bishops when after two hours of argument and division its national assembly, the General Synod, agreed to send a draft law allowing women to be ordained as bishops for amendments.

The decision means the church will not see its first female bishop until 2014 at the earliest as revisions to the legislation are bounced back and forth between Synod and committees. There also remains a possibility that the legislation will be rejected in its final form, an outcome that would seriously undermine the prospect of women ever becoming bishops. the rest

Synod avoids cataclysm over women bishops