Church of England to appoint first 'headship' bishop

The Church of England is to appoint its first bishop explicitly chosen because of his conservative evangelical stance against the consecration of women.

The "headship" bishop will fill the suffragan see of Maidstone, which has been vacant since 2009, but will have a national remit.

The decision follows a proposal from the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby to the dioceses commission which met this week.

The Church's bishops committed themselves to making episcopal provision for conservative evangelicals as well as traditionalists as the legislation to consecrate women bishops progressed successfully through General Synod and Parliament earlier this year.

The headship argument is a Bible-based teaching from the writings of St Paul who stated that the man should be the "head" of the woman. Many conservative evangelicals believe that men have different but complementary roles to women.

article,article,article,article,article,article,article Related

The Church said: "In agreeing with the proposal to fill the see, the commission was conscious of the needs of the national church for a member of the college of bishops to be able to act as an advocate for those who hold a conservative position on headship."

The new bishop will foster vocations among conservative evangelicals and, with the agreement of the diocesan bishop, will pastor in parishes across the provinces of Canterbury and York that cannot accept the ministry of a woman bishop.

Rev Rod Thomas, chairman of the conservative evangelical group Reform, said: "We are very glad to that the creation of such a post has been approved. It is very good news. Once acted upon, it will provide reassurance both for conservative evangelicals and for those who have been keen to see women bishops."

related articles
There will be women bishops... General Synod passes legislation
There will be women bishops... General Synod passes legislation

There will be women bishops... General Synod passes legislation

Women bishops: Is \'positive discrimination\' a good thing?
Women bishops: Is 'positive discrimination' a good thing?

Women bishops: Is 'positive discrimination' a good thing?

Justin Welby praises \'long overdue\' move as House of Lords approves women bishops
Justin Welby praises 'long overdue' move as House of Lords approves women bishops

Justin Welby praises 'long overdue' move as House of Lords approves women bishops

\'The time of singing has come\': House of Commons approves women bishops
'The time of singing has come': House of Commons approves women bishops

'The time of singing has come': House of Commons approves women bishops

Diocese of Nottingham and Southwell could see first woman bishop
Diocese of Nottingham and Southwell could see first woman bishop

Diocese of Nottingham and Southwell could see first woman bishop

Bishop \'club culture\' will change with the first woman, says senior priest
Bishop 'club culture' will change with the first woman, says senior priest

Bishop 'club culture' will change with the first woman, says senior priest

Final approval given to women bishops at General Synod
Final approval given to women bishops at General Synod

Final approval given to women bishops at General Synod

News
'What the enemy meant for evil, God turned for good': UK nurse’s brush with death leads to life-changing service with Mercy Ships
'What the enemy meant for evil, God turned for good': UK nurse’s brush with death leads to life-changing service with Mercy Ships

When paediatric nurse, Emma Janavicius, collapsed last year from an undiagnosed medical emergency, she had no idea that what began as a terrifying health crisis would become a catalyst for answering a long-postponed call by God to serve.

1,000 pastors and ministry leaders to gather in Berlin for major European evangelism congress
1,000 pastors and ministry leaders to gather in Berlin for major European evangelism congress

The gathering will bring together pastors and ministry leaders from across Europe around the theme of Romans 1:16, which states: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

Barclays to implement Supreme Court gender ruling
Barclays to implement Supreme Court gender ruling

Barclays is striking a rather different tone from a few years ago when it said staff could use whichever facilities aligned with their preferred gender.

Nicaraguan churches subjected to state repression over Easter as religious restrictions intensify
Nicaraguan churches subjected to state repression over Easter as religious restrictions intensify

As the government tightens its repression on religious activity, Protestant and Roman Catholic churches all over Nicaragua faced heavy curtailments during the Easter weekend celebrations this year, a Christian human rights group has said.