From The London Times-
THE Church of England has paved the way for ordination of its first women bishops with new legislation that it hopes will prevent Anglicans splitting over the issue.
A draft law released yesterday, which has taken nearly two years to complete, could lead to the first women bishops being ordained in 2014, 20 years after female priests were first welcomed into the church.
It would bring the Church of England into line with Anglicans in America, Canada and Australia, while simultaneously widening the gulf with Catholics in Rome.
Female frontrunners for the episcopate include June Osborne, Dean of Salisbury, and Lucy Winkett, a canon at St Paul’s Cathedral. Winkett, a former professional singer, entered the priesthood after her boyfriend died from a fall during a walking holiday in the Alps while she was a student at Cambridge.
Others being tipped include Rose Hudson-Wilkin, a Jamaican-born vicar in inner London and chaplain to the Queen. She could become the first female black bishop.
Christina Rees, a senior campaigner for women bishops in the General Synod, welcomed the draft law.
“It will finally show that we value women alongside men,” she said. “It’s a key moment between the church and the wider society it exists to serve.”
The discussion over women bishops has been long and bitter since the first motion in favour of change was passed in 2000. At a debate earlier this year, Nigel McCulloch, the Bishop of Manchester, had to explain to the synod why his committee drawing up the new legislation had failed to produce proposals despite 18 months of meetings.
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http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article7120680.ece
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