FEMALE BISHOPS – MOVING WITH THE TIMES?

“Women bishops are unbiblical” 

The above quote by Zoe Ham (BBC News) is an extremely controversial and as an individual against the movement, has raised again the question to whether female bishops should be allowed.  She stated "I am happy that the legislation in its form today has been rejected". This view has always been maintained by many in the Church of England since the rule of Henry VIII in the mid-16^th century up to the reign of Elizabeth I in 1558.

Some views for the movement however have come across strong in parliament and the church. The Archbishop of Canterbury (left) for example is for the movement and expressed disappointment with the decision against women bishops. The outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury quotes “Of course I hoped and prayed that this particular business would be at another stage before I left, and... it is a personal sadness, a deep personal sadness that that is not the case”.

Another movement in society, feminists, also feel strongly about female bishops in the church. Feminists would say that the decision to vote against female bishops is discrimination and promotes inequality in society with one woman quoting the vote as “absurd”.  Although advances in the church may be slow, in 1992 women were in fact allowed to become vicars in the Church of England which liberal feminists would see as a march of progress in our society. However some feminists such as Susie Leafe argue that women bishops would not be allowed quoting:

 “This kind of equality allows us truly to celebrate diversity - to acknowledge, for example, that men and women are different and that those differences are good and a matter of divine design, not merely a social construct. The Bible teaches men and women are equal but not interchangeable. They complement one another because they are different and should be valued accordingly”.

In conclusion, this subject matter raises the question on whether society is in fact moving with the times or whether we are stuck in a state of limbo in terms of religious movement. Are we ever to achieve equality in the church? And will women ever be bishops in the Church of England?

Ryan and Judith