The Consecration of Women to the Episcopate – consultation with deaneries

The Consecration of Women to the Episcopate – consultation with deaneries.

At its session in July 2010, the General Synod considered draft legislation to allow women to be consecrated as Bishops. The legislation cannot receive final approval unless it has first been approved by the majority of diocesan synods.

At our deanery synod meeting on Wednesday, 11th May at St Ippolytts Parish Hall we will be debating this matter and a vote may be taken.
The following is an extract from a letter from the Diocesan secretary of St Alban's.

In order to obtain a clear decision from each diocese, diocesan synods have been asked to debate the following motion:

‘That this Synod approve the proposals embodied in the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure and in draft Amending Canon No. 30’.

Dioceses must respond to the General Synod office by 14 November 2011 with the results of voting by houses on the motion.

The Bishop’s council has now agreed that the motion will be debated by Diocesan Synod at its meeting on 15 October 2011. In the meantime the Council invites the views of deaneries on the motion but it must be noted that:
a) The motion cannot be amended although the Diocesan Synod may consider further motions.
b) Deanery synods may wish to vote on the motion although any such votes are not part of the formal reference process and will be for note only.

As your deanery synod representative I am happy to consider any view that you might have on this important matter. Please let me know in writing – this is too important a matter to simply tell me verbally as I want to register any comments received. Your written thoughts can be handed to me, put in the folder at the back of church or emailed to me beadle.hazel@btinternet.com.

Deadline is Sunday, 8 May 2011.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration of this matter.

Hazel Beadle, St Faith's representative to the Hitchin Deanery