Nothing like a dame

Preferred: the women bishops' group photo at the Lambeth Conference in July 2008 LAMBETH CONFERENCE

THEY were warned that the issue of women bishops would dominate their forthcoming meeting in York; but General Synod members might not have realised the extent to which they would be eating, sleep ing, and drinking the subject at the beginning of July.

The timetable of the York sessions was published this week. Between 3.45 p.m. on Friday 9 July and 1 p.m. on Tuesday 13 July (and not counting the separate meetings of the Houses of Clergy and of Laity), the Synod members could spend 17 hours in debate on the subject.

The heaviest days will be Saturday and Monday, on each of which the Synod will begin debating the issue at 9.30 a.m. and finish at 6.15 p.m. The last morning is also given over completely to the subject.

The reason for the amount of time given is that the issue has reached the revision stage. The draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure can be amended clause by clause by the whole Synod, and amendments are expected which would reintroduce all the permutations that have been considered (and rejected) in previous debates (News, 14 May).

For light relief, there is an address by the Archbishop of Estonia on Friday, and a report of the Standing Orders committee on Saturday.

Sunday (the day of the World Cup final) is traditionally a day for tackling non-contentious subjects. This time, these include legislative business that must be finished before the Synod is prorogued, including maternity leave, pension changes, and fees. There is also a report on relations with the Church of Scotland.

On Monday evening, the Synod will be asked for final approval for the weekday lectionary and the calendar, and will debate a motion on Fresh Expressions.

Bishop demurs. The Bishop of Durham, Dr Tom Wright, has said he would prefer to delay a decision on women bishops, in contrast to the House of Bishops’ statement last week.

In a diocesan address on Friday, he said: “Like many bishops who are in principle committed to the ordination of women to the episco pate, I do not think I have yet seen the scheme which would enable us to proceed as one body, without further and deepening division, without straining one another’s consciences. . .

“I hope and pray we will be able to square that circle, and I would rather get the right answer in two or three years’ time than the wrong one tomorrow. I really do believe that ordaining women is the right thing to do; but St Paul’s insistence on how adiaphora [‘things that don’t make a difference’] works prohibits me from forcing it on those who in conscience are not ready for it. And the answer here, I believe, is a proper theological argument, which we have not yet had.”

Background. The legal office at Church House, Westminster, has issued a legal briefing paper, explaining the functions of each clause in the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure. It can be found at:www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/july2010/gspapers/gs1708ax.pdf.