WATCH_Pre-Synod_Briefing_300608.pdf

 "Yes” to Women Bishops, but not at any price"

In an outspoken statement sent recently to all bishops in the Church of England, well over half of all licensed women clergy called for no further delay on women bishops, but also, for no further discrimination written into the legislation. We understand that the letter had a "significant" effect on the discussions in the House of Bishops. The covering letter, dated 11th May 2008, is signed by Jane Hedges, Canon Steward at Westminster Abbey, Rosemary Lain-Priestley, Secretary of the National Association of Diocesan Advisors in Women's Ministry and Lucy Winkett, Canon Precentor at St Paul's Cathedral and nearly 1000 other ordained women.

THERE IS NOW A PETITION FOR MALE CLERGY AND A PETITION FOR LAITY TO SIGN. The accompanying invitation reads

AN INVITATION TO MALE CLERGY

FROM: The Deans of Bristol, Durham, Manchester, Southwark and St Edmundsbury

TO: Male clergy and retired bishops of the Church of England

Greetings! You are invited to read the statement below (and also attached) and to add your signature to the on-line petition. This petition is for male clergy and retired bishops to sign. It is not for serving bishops.

The website for the petition for male clergy is <http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/19569.html>

www.gopetition.co.uk/online/19569.html

There is a separate website for lay people to sign and show their support for the letter from the women clergy to the House of Bishops. The website for the petition for lay people is <http://www.gopetition.co.uk/online/19571.html> www.gopetition.co.uk/online/19571.html

Please send these website links to any of your friends and colleagues whom you believe should be made aware of their existence. If they are not equipped with a computer please enable them to sign by offering them the facility of doing so via your computer. If you feel you are unable to sign, thank you for reading this and for considering doing so.

Inclusive Church believes that women should be fully included at all levels of the church throughout the Anglican Communion.

We work with our partner organisations - especially WATCH and GRAS (the Group for the Rescinding of the Act of Synod) to bring this about in the Church of England.

Click on "related news" on the right of this page for the latest House of Bishops' report to General Synod