*** DEBUG START ***
*** DEBUG END ***

Women in the episcopate and the Lords

by
28 November 2014

iStock

From Mr Robin Goodgame

Sir, - Now that the legislation for the consecration of women bishops has finally been approved (News, 21 November), may I utter a note of caution?

The majority of our present diocesan bishops will have served for some years as suffragan or area bishops before being elevated to the diocesan state, and there should be no reason why women bishops should not follow the same course.

This also applies to any action to fast-track women bishops into the House of Lords. There are already women in that House, some of whom, I suspect, could speak with a Christian voice, if required, and any attempt to fast-track women bishops would surely fall foul of the equality laws. After all, if one is to fast-track a woman bishop, why not fast-track a newly consecrated male bishop?

When a woman diocesan bishop is appointed, the correct and just procedure is for her to join the queue with other bishops waiting their turn to enter the Lords. This would surely put women and men on an equal footing.

ROBIN GOODGAME
18 Lock Road
Richmond TW10 7LH

 

From Mr Luis Gutiérrez

Sir, - Well done, Church of England!

I am Roman Catholic. One issue that is crucial for the Catholic Church as a family is the exclusion of women from the ministerial priesthood. Granted that ordination to the priesthood is not a "human right" (for either men or women), Christ should be allowed to call those he wants here and now, via the mediation of the Church.

We should be thankful to the C of E for its perseverance in enduring the pain of this long discernment process. Let us pray that all the Christian Churches can discern the difference between patriarchal ideology and revealed truth, and act accordingly.

LUIS GUTIÉRREZ
9805 Meadowcroft Lane
Montgomery Village
Maryland 20886, USA

Browse Church and Charity jobs on the Church Times jobsite

Letters to the editor

Letters for publication should be sent to letters@churchtimes.co.uk.

Letters should be exclusive to the Church Times, and include a full postal address. Your name and address will appear below your letter unless requested otherwise.

Forthcoming Events

 

Festival of Preaching: Preaching Truth to Power

13 September 2025

Join us at London's Southwark Cathedral for this one-day event — a transformative gathering of bold voices, prophetic vision, and Spirit-led conviction..

tickets available

 

Finding inspiration in the Psalms : a Church Times one day festival

2 October 2025

Join us in York for this one-day event exploring the gift of the Psalms through poetry, art, liturgy and music.

tickets available

  


Visit our Events page for upcoming and past events 

The Church Times Archive

Read reports from issues stretching back to 1863, search for your parish or see if any of the clergy you know get a mention.

FREE for Church Times subscribers.

Explore the archive

Welcome to the Church Times

 

To explore the Church Times website fully, please sign in or subscribe.

Non-subscribers can read four articles for free each month. (You will need to register.)