The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rev Dr Rowan Williams may pass over the role of consecrating women of the Church of England decides to allow them to become bishops, reports the Daily Telegraph.
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The most senior members of the Church have been discussing ways of averting a huge exodus of those opposed to reforms if the move goes ahead. However, pro-women rights campaigners have been arguing that if women are not allowed to become bishops, it would amount to basically treating them as second-class citizens.

Under the Church’s new proposal, Dr Williams will lay down his traditional role as the primary consecrator of bishops in the south of England, and delegate this task to other senior bishops.

Current services see the Archbishop of Canterbury lead all consecrations in the south, and the Archbishop of York lead all in the north of England. However, this is a symbolic role that they undertake and is not legally mandatory.

It is believed that a majority of Church members would feel able to remain under the archbishop’s authority even if he did not consecrate women personally.

Those opposed to women bishops within the church have said that they cannot accept the validity of any women bishops, or even any male bishops that consecrate women. This even led to a “third province” being proposed by some groups within the Church, which would involve an enclave with its own archbishop, bishops, theological training colleges and synod, yet contain no female clergy.

Both sides of the debate are expecting women bishops to become a reality on the next decade, yet it is feared that as many as 800 clergy could walk out of the Church of England when this occurs.

The new proposals have looked to avoid the “third province” proposals, as many see it as extreme, and also little more than an officially sanctioned schism.

Dr Williams has repeatedly stated his desire to avoid any divisions, and it is this heart for unity that has brought about the new proposals for compromise. It is believed that Dr Williams would give up consecrating bishops if the General Synod asked him to do so to keep the Church of England’s unity.

Therefore, the House of Bishops is currently drawing up various options to place before the Synod when it meets in February 2006 – a meeting that will see debate take place as to the legislation for women bishops.