From The Living Church-
The General Synod of the Church of England is apt to take itself a bit too seriously, and sometimes gets its comeuppance. There was a famous moment a few years ago when one speaker regaled the synod: “Don’t forget, the world is watching what we say and do here today.” At that very moment the television foodlighting went out.
The world has been watching events here in York over the past few days: from Canada to Venezuela, Malaysia to New Zealand, Brazil to China, news organizations, mostly without much comment, are reporting how the Church of England has passed a key hurdle towards making women bishops.
Ahead of final approval there will be General Synod elections. It emerged during debate over the last few days that this present synod has little more than 100 members, out of 467, who oppose the measure. Whether that proportion will rise or shrink even further will be one of the issues at stake in these elections. What was painfully obvious was that in the heat of debate the anti cause had no effective champions among the bishops.
Over the next few months the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have an opportunity to provide leadership, and this too will be monitored well beyond the borders of England.
There are three initiatives they could take during the next few months.
First, those who carried the day in York will be looking to the archbishops for a clear and unequivocal statement that they affirm the validity of women bishops. This likewise would be a message that will be picked up internationally, particularly in provinces of the Anglican Communion which still waver over the ordination of women.
More here-
http://www.livingchurch.org/news/news-updates/2010/7/13/life-after-synod
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