Bishop of Bath and Wells says church will have ‘substantial period of shock’ if it rejects moves to let women become bishops
Riazat Butt, religious affairs correspondent of The Guardian writes: A senior cleric has warned there is “no Plan B” if the Church of England rejects legislation allowing women to become bishops, claiming such a move would lead to a “substantial period of shock”.
The Right Rev Peter Price was addressing supporters of female clergy before a General Synod meeting this week that will decide what provision, if any, there should be for people unwilling to accept women’s leadership. Price, who is bishop of Bath and Wells, was asked what would happen if the General Synod voted against the legislation in July.
He replied: “I haven’t got a clue. I think we will be in such a critical place that it is extremely difficult to see how we will proceed without going through a substantial period of shock.
“I wish I could say there is a plan B. I don’t think there is. The implications of this going down are so far-reaching that we almost dare not face it.”
Two amendments to the legislation, which is in draft form, will be debated on Wednesday. One proposes access to an alternative male bishop for traditionalist parishes, the other that the legislation remain unamended.
The conservative evangelical group Reform is lobbying for a concession. Its chair, Rod Thomas, said on Sunday: “If the draft legislation comes back to General Synod for final approval next July unchanged, then we will have the unsavoury dilemma of either having to vote for a measure [law] which will lead to disunity and division, or of voting against it and thus prolonging the debate for another five years.”
Women and the Church, which is campaigning for greater sexual equality, has threatened to vote against amended legislation in July.