Church of England Considers Women Bishops

[truthpusher]

http://www.dailyadvance.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/Europe/Britain_Female_Bishops.html

Church of England Considers Women Bishops
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By MATT MOORE
Associated Press Writer
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LONDON — The Church of England took a step toward deciding whether women can become bishops, voting Monday to start the legislative process that would open the office to female priests.

Members of the church's governing General Synod, meeting in the northern city of York, cast their votes to start the process of removing the legal obstacles blocking the ordination of women as bishops.

Forty-one bishops approved the motion and six voted against it; 167 clergymen and women voted yes, and 46 voted against. The decision-making process is a lengthy one. The issue must now be debated and later brought back to the synod for further voting.

The motion was brought by Bishop of Southwark Tom Butler, who told the 500 delegates that women already played key roles in the Anglican church.

"In no way can it be claimed that in seeking at this time to test the mind of the Church of England we act hastily or precipitately," he said.

complete story: http://www.dailyadvance.com/news/content/shared-gen/ap/Europe/Britain_Female_Bishops.html

[Caoimhe]

1. That's cool

I am still amazed at these patriarchal religions that hold this view that women cannot hold such positions in a church.

When I was a child my parents went through a Southern Baptist phase, and I will never forget one of the ladies in the "flock" wanted to do a short speech in front of the congregation. The male members of the church quickly formed a "lynch mob" of sorts to tell her husband that this behavior was strictly forbidden. They enlisted the help of their wives and even some of the children to complain about this horrible affront to God.

Being so young, I don't remember much about it, but I was old enough to know I was female and that seemed pretty unfair. If I remember right, in the end she did give her speech, but many of the menfolk and their dutiful wives and families left when she walked up to the podium. Probably reason #364 of my zillion reasons I am not a believer.

Oppression comes in all forms.