Church of England may get its first female Bishop soon

Up until now, the role of women in Churches was limited. The only way Christian females contributed to their religion was by assuming the roles of contemplatives, health care givers, educationalists, missionaries and recently as priests. But this might change very soon. In England, many senior women priests are being given special training to become bishops in the Church of England.

To ensure that female candidates have an equal chance of being chosen for the position, Rt Rev James Langstaff, the Bishop of Rochester, told The Guardian, that they are being trained for interviews in the coming months. According to the report, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York formally sign the change into law in front of the ruling General Synod in London on Monday.

The report also stated that Ladbrokes, the bookmaker, believed that Rev Jane Hedges, the Dean of Norwich, had the chance of becoming the first female bishop at odds of three to one. However, because of the lengthy process, there are very few chances of the appointment taking place before the end of this year.

The Guardian>

Bishop Langstaff, who is responsible for the women bishops legislation, told The Guardian, “What we are doing is some affirmative action rather than discrimination in that some real efforts have been made and are being made to make sure that those women who now may be candidates are able to be, as it were, on the level with their male colleagues who have been looking at this for some time. Therefore developing women for senior leadership has been a strand which has been given attention for some months now, indeed for longer.”

Bishop Langstaff however, also said that most senior diocesan bishoprics usually go to experienced candidates who have served as suffragans. But he also added, “We have got some very experienced, very spiritual women in senior posts so it is not impossible.”

ORIGINAL SOURCE: The Guardian

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/11234125/Female-clerics-lined-up-for-bishop-selection-as-Church-of-England-prepares-for-historic-change.html