# Church of England paves way for female bishops **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 20, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384 "2013-11-20T23:09:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/1 "2013-11-20T23:09:15Z")
The General Synod has voted in [favour](http://news.yahoo.com/church-england-paves-way-women-bishops-2014-142619228.html) of women bishops; finale approval is likely some time next year. Hopefully in time for a **Vicar of Dibley** Christmas Special (yes I know about the Comic Relief special from spring). ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/2 "2013-11-21T01:03:25Z")
Of course the Episcopal church here in the USA has has female bishops for some time, heck, our Presiding Bishop is a woman. What I can’t understand is why would a denomination allow women to be ordained as priests, but not the next step, bishop? Are they afraid of the possibility of a female Archbishop of Canterbury? Heck, as things go, the head of the Church of England is a woman already, QEII. Whatever, this female American approves of the General Synod’s vote, although I’m not a member of that church. Go for it, I say! ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/3 "2013-11-21T01:31:54Z")
Yay for the Church of England! Like **Baker** said, we Episcopalians are all been there; done that; elected a female Presiding Bishop to prove it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/4 "2013-11-21T06:16:01Z")
Well, thank goodness they won’t have to get their shoes all dirty walking in the mud now. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/5 "2013-11-21T07:18:58Z")
Yeah, when the vote came back No last time I figured we were going to see the “Irish Euro referendum” solution. (When Ireland held a referendum on joining the Euro they got a No vote, so at the earliest opportunity they held another referendum until they got the right answer.) ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/6 "2013-11-21T10:23:46Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Of course the Episcopal church here in the USA has has female bishops for some time, heck, our Presiding Bishop is a woman. I saw her not long ago. I, by chance, was staying the night in Canterbury on the weekend of the Archbishop’s big ceremony thing last March, and every Anglican bishop in the world seemed to be staying at the same hotel. I felt like the only person in town not wearing a purple shirt. I was also staying there with my lesbian partner but figured, hey, half the anglican priests are gay, so who cares. > [@Baker](#): > > What I can’t understand is why would a denomination allow women to be ordained as priests, but not the next step, bishop? Are they afraid of the possibility of a female Archbishop of Canterbury? Heck, as things go, the head of the Church of England is a woman already, QEII. The glass ceiling works in the church, too. God forbid a woman be in charge. To be fair, the church and the general public were pretty horrified when the church laity voted against (showing that the laity are more conservative than the priests). In other news, The C of E has launched a campaign against gay bullying in schools in conjunction with Stonewall (gay charity). Good. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/7 "2013-11-21T10:42:01Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > I saw her not long ago. I, by chance, was staying the night in Canterbury on the weekend of the Archbishop’s big ceremony thing last March, and every Anglican bishop in the world seemed to be staying at the same hotel. I felt like the only person in town not wearing a purple shirt. I was also staying there with my lesbian partner but figured, hey, half the anglican priests are gay, so who cares. > > The glass ceiling works in the church, too. God forbid a woman be in charge. > > To be fair, the church and the general public were pretty horrified when the church laity voted against (showing that the laity are more conservative than the priests). > > In other news, The C of E has launched a campaign against gay bullying in schools in conjunction with Stonewall (gay charity). Good. Presiding Bishop Schiori was at our congregation a month ago, here in Topeka Kansas. A new School of Ministry was being inaugurated, and she presided over that, since several diocese were involved. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/8 "2013-11-22T00:07:33Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Yeah, when the vote came back No last time I figured we were going to see the “Irish Euro referendum” solution. > > (When Ireland held a referendum on joining the Euro they got a No vote, so at the earliest opportunity they held another referendum until they got the right answer.) Ireland voted no in the Nice and Lisbon Treaty referenda, then voted yes when it was put to the people again, but they weren’t about joining the Euro. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/9 "2013-11-22T07:19:26Z")
Hey can anybody figure out the name of the “group of Christian mediators” that helped out with this? It is reported that they also helped out with peace talks in Ireland. But I can’t find specifics about the name of the group or any of its members. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/10 "2013-11-22T07:47:39Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Ireland voted no in the Nice and Lisbon Treaty referenda, then voted yes when it was put to the people again, but they weren’t about joining the Euro. Apologies. Same idea, though. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/11 "2013-11-22T18:04:24Z")
Great. Just remember it has to be diagonal pavers. ---
**Author:** ![Weeping\_Wyvern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@Weeping\_Wyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weeping_Wyvern)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/12 "2013-11-22T20:03:48Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > What I can’t understand is why would a denomination allow women to be ordained as priests, but not the next step, bishop? Heck, as things go, the head of the Church of England is a woman already, QEII. It would certainly be very inconsistent for an individual person to believe that women can be priests but not bishops, as a matter of doctrine. But the Church of England is made up of many millions of people, and since a female priest in the parish next door can be fairly easily ignored, but a female bishop to whom you must owe allegiance cannot, it makes perfect sense for the institution as a whole to compromise for the sake of church unity. > [@Baker](#): > > Heck, as things go, the head of the Church of England is a woman already, QEII. The monarch is the Supreme Governor of the Church, yes, but that doesn’t make the monarch a cleric. The 39 Articles explain it: “The King’s Majesty hath the chief power in this Realm of England, and other his Dominions, unto whom the chief Government of all Estates of this Realm, whether they be Ecclesiastical or Civil, in all causes doth appertain, and is not, nor ought to be, subject to any foreign Jurisdiction. Where we attribute to the King’s Majesty the chief government, by which Titles we understand the minds of some slanderous folks to be offended; **we give not our Princes the ministering either of God’s Word, or of the Sacraments,** the which thing the Injunctions also lately set forth by Elizabeth our Queen do most plainly testify; but that only prerogative, which we see to have been given always to all godly Princes in holy Scriptures by God himself; that is, that they should rule all estates and degrees committed to their charge by God, whether they be Ecclesiastical or Temporal, and restrain with the civil sword the stubborn and evil-doers.” Anglican traditionalists aren’t opposed to women in authority, even authority over the Church. They are simply opposed to the notion that a female can validly receive Holy Orders. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/13 "2013-11-22T20:51:28Z")
Just out of curiosity, is there any accommodation for alternative episcopal oversight for parishes that are opposed to female clergy? I remember they tried that in the US when the Episcopal Church started consecrating gay bishops. It didn’t work too well or very long, in most cases. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/14 "2013-11-22T21:12:14Z")
Within my lfietime, I expect there will be more female Anglican bishops than actual worshippers at any Anglican church. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/15 "2014-07-14T17:20:16Z")
“The Church of England has finally agreed that women may become bishops next year, breaking with nearly 2,000 years of tradition and ending 20 years of bitter compromises since women were allowed to become priests in 1994.” > **[Church of England General Synod approves female bishops](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/14/church-england-general-synod-approves-female-bishops)** > > Applause in public gallery greets overwhelming vote in favour of measure that ends 20 years of bitter division over issue ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/16 "2014-07-14T17:23:57Z")
_ **YES!** _ ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/17 "2014-07-14T19:09:20Z")
Way to go, C of E. I mean sure, your pews are empty, but at least you’ll have WOMEN presiding over those unattended services. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/18 "2014-07-14T19:56:41Z")
Welcome to the 21st Century Church of England! ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/19 "2014-07-14T20:27:13Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > _ **YES!** _ Oh good, so this church you wouldn’t go near and whose belief system you despise has done something you approve of. Makes it all worthwhile. I mean, as long as unscrupulous senior church officials are brainwashing gullible people to believe in unscientific woo, why shouldn’t women have an equal shot at woo-peddling? ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2014, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384/20 "2014-07-14T23:59:49Z")
> [@astorian](#): > > Way to go, C of E. I mean sure, your pews are empty, but at least you’ll have WOMEN presiding over those unattended services. Women have been presiding over those services for 20 yrs (and serving as Supreme Governors over 400yrs); now they’re finally eligible for promotion (all the way up to Archbishop of Canterbury). It’s to bad Roger Lloyd-Pack died; that kinda put’s the kibosh on another **Vicar of Dibley** special, though it sure would be fun to see Dawn French in a mitre. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/church-of-england-paves-way-for-female-bishops/674384.md?page=2)