Women bishops must be given full powers, MPs warn

The politicians warned that they would use little-known parliamentary powers to prevent female bishops being given a “lesser status” than their male counterparts. The MPs, who include a former Labour minister and a senior Liberal Democrat, threatened to put themselves on a collision course with the Church as it prepares for a heated final debate on women bishops tomorrow at a meeting of the General Synod, its governing body. Supporters of the introduction of women bishops had hoped that the measure would finally be passed at this week’s meeting in York, following a 12-year battle. But a last-minute concession to traditionalists by bishops has angered proponents, who claim the amended legislation would make women “second-class bishops” by allowing parishes to reject male bishops ordained by women — effectively meaning that a female bishop has less status than a male one. Ben Bradshaw, the Labour former culture secretary, said bishops had “watered down” the proposals, adding that it was now “perfectly possible” that Parliament would act if the legislation is passed tomorrow. Mr Bradshaw is one of 30 MPs and peers on Parliament’s ecclesiastical committee. Its other members include Simon Hughes, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, and Sir Tony Baldry, the Conservative MP and Second Church Estates Commissioner. Once the draft legislation is passed by the Synod, the committee would have to agree it is “expedient” before it can go on to be debated by the Commons and Lords and then enacted. Citing the bishops’ warning that government proposals to legalise same-sex marriage threatened the established role of the Church, Mr Bradshaw said establishment was a “two-way relationship”. “This is now the second time the bishops have tried to water down the proposals,” he said. “These would, in the eyes of many Anglicans, create a two-tier bishopric and a lesser status for women. “The bishops have recently warned about the threat to the established church as a result of the Government’s consultation on same-sex marriage, but establishment is a two-way relationship and if the leadership of the Church of England puts itself in a position that is so far removed from the majority of the Church and the country, that puts a huge amount of pressure on the relationship. “I have spoken to some of my colleagues on the ecclesiastical committee and they share my concerns about the amendments.” Mr Hughes said the committee’s members had a “duty” to ensure the proposals did not conflict with equality rules. “The ecclesiastical committee obviously does not set out to impose its will on [the Church], however we have a duty to make sure that anything that comes before us does not break any of the principles of the law of the land,” he said. Helen Goodman, a Labour member of the committee, suggested she would vote against the amended legislation as it would “institutionalise a very conservative, negative attitude towards women”. Last night a Church of England spokesman said: “Since final approval will require a high level of consent from across the Synod — two-thirds majorities in each of the Houses of Bishops, Clergy and Laity — it would be extremely surprising if Parliament were to block the introduction of women bishops in the Church of England if that had been declared to be the clear will of the Church.” Sir Tony, who represents the Church in the Commons, said: “I think General Synod need to ensure that the measure that’s passed will command the support of Parliament.” On Friday night the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, warned Synod members that voting down the legislation at this point would be “bad news” for the Church. But he restated his view that the Church could still find “proper provision” for those who could not accept women bishops. The amended legislation is so contentious there was concern that tomorrow’s debate may be postponed. All but two of the Church’s 44 dioceses have backed women bishops. A meeting of the Synod in February approved legislation which included limited safeguards for those who could not accept women bishops, by allowing traditionalist parishes to be looked after by a male bishop. But an amendment made by the Church’s House of Bishops in May went a step further by compelling female bishops to provide such a parish with a bishop who matches its theological views. This could lead to the rejection of a male bishop ordained by a female bishop.