THE current General Synod will not approve legislation admitting women to the episcopate, the Archdeacon of Hackney, the Ven. Rachel Treweek, predicted on Saturday.

Addressing a conference jointly sponsored by Fulcrum, the central evangelical network, and the group Yes 2 Women Bishops, held at Christ Church, New Malden, Archdeacon Treweek said: "I can't yet see how new proposals can come to the current General Synod and be acceptable to all such that a two-thirds majority could be achieved in each House in the life of this particular General Synod - but I will never say never - God is God."

She encouraged the audience to consider which "mission-minded and big-picture people" they would encourage to stand for the deanery synod in 2014, and which lay people would stand for the General Synod in 2015.