Leading female cleric urges delay over women bishops legislation

The Rev Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James’s Piccadilly, central London, who is widely tipped as a likely candidate to become one of the first women bishops in the Church of England, called for an adjournment of a debate to give final approval for legislation introducing women bishops due to be held in eight days’ time at the General Synod of the Church of England in York.

The cleric is among a group of senior women clergy who have written to members of the General Synod objecting to an amendment added to the legislation earlier this year by the Church of England bishops aimed at ensuring that male bishops selected to minister to parishes who oppose women bishops have views “consistent with the theological convictions” of objectors.

Pro-women campaigners have claimed the move would enshrine in law a class of “pedigree” bishop who has not been “tainted” by ordaining women as priests.

Ms Winkett told BBC Radio 4 Sunday programme that she and other signatories of the letter were asking for an adjournment of the debate to give final approval to the legislation. “What we are asking for is the House of Bishops to think again about the wording of their amendment.

“Ideally, we would like them to withdraw that amendment.

“We are not doing this lightly – all four women deans of the cathedrals have signed this letter, nine archdeacons, other women clergy. This is a moment to imagine the Church’s future in 20, 40, 50 years’ time,” she said.”

She added: “What we are concerned about is the effect of the amendment, because the effect will be to enshrine and legislate for a principle that being male is not enough for those who object to women’s ministry.

“It explicitly endorses any view that leads to a parish saying not only do we require a male bishop, but we require a man who has never ordained a woman, who does not believe that women can be ordained.

“Crucially that endorses, it puts at the centre of the institution, an endorsement of that principle that carries with it a variety of views including some pretty unpleasant objections to women that we think that no institution, especially not a church, should be endorsing.”