The new amendment submitted by the Rev. Janet Appleby during the consultation
process received overwhelming support from the House of Bishops in both their
discussions and in the final vote.


In discussion the Bishops welcomed the simplicity of the new text, its
emphasis on respect and the process of dialogue with parishes that it will
promote.


The final text proposed by the House of Bishops is:


Substitute for the words in clause 5(1)(c):" the selection of male bishops
and male priests in a manner which respects the grounds on which parochial
church councils issue Letters of Request under section 3"


The House also agreed to establish a group to develop the illustrative draft
Code of Practice published in January to give effect to the new provision.

A Statement
from Forward in  Faith
Sep 16,
2012


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Members of Forward  in Faith can take some comfort from the House of Bishops’ recent  decision to  resist calls to delete clause 5(1)(c) of the Women Bishops’ draft  Measure, added  by the House in May.The revised clause, with the welcome language  of ‘respect’ at its heart, indicates that the theological
convictions held by  traditional catholics and orthodox evangelicals on this disputed question  continue to occupy an authentic and honourable place in
Anglican teaching and  practice.


Should this draft  legislation receive Final Approval in November, the proposed Code of Practice  will assume huge significance in setting out the manner in which the
new clause  5(1)(c) will be interpreted and implemented.There is,
therefore,  a good deal more work to be done on the legislative package as a
whole before  its full implications for traditionalists can be properly
assessed.


In
the meantime,  attention returns to the text of the draft Measure as a whole, in
advance of the  debate on Final Approval.The question for members
of General  Synod remains the same: is this legislation fit for purpose in
meeting the needs  of all members of the Church of England, both those who
welcome, and those  unable to receive, the development of ordaining women as
bishops?