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| Women bishops 'mistake' warning | Women bishops 'mistake' warning |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Ordaining women as bishops would be "a mistake", a group of 50 clergy has warned in a letter to the Church of England General Synod. | |
| The clergy, linked to the evangelical group Reform, say adequate safeguards for objectors to the plan are needed. | The clergy, linked to the evangelical group Reform, say adequate safeguards for objectors to the plan are needed. |
| If not, the Church could see a drastic cut in the number of men training for the priesthood and a multi-million pound drop in funding, they warn. | If not, the Church could see a drastic cut in the number of men training for the priesthood and a multi-million pound drop in funding, they warn. |
| The General Synod begins its week-long meeting on Monday. | The General Synod begins its week-long meeting on Monday. |
| In the letter, the group demands special bishops are created to minister to parishes and clergy who object to women bishops with powers to ordain and approve the training of priests. | In the letter, the group demands special bishops are created to minister to parishes and clergy who object to women bishops with powers to ordain and approve the training of priests. |
| 'Simple integrity' | 'Simple integrity' |
| Chairman of Reform, the Reverend Rod Thomas, of St Matthew's Church, Elburton, Plymouth heads the list of signatories. | |
| He said: "For those of us ordained since 1992, our understanding, in good faith, was that proper legal provision would be made for those who did not agree that women should have the overall leadership of a church. | He said: "For those of us ordained since 1992, our understanding, in good faith, was that proper legal provision would be made for those who did not agree that women should have the overall leadership of a church. |
| "It seems to us a matter of simple integrity that Synod should now keep its word to us in this and not force us down a road none of us wish to tread." | "It seems to us a matter of simple integrity that Synod should now keep its word to us in this and not force us down a road none of us wish to tread." |
| The signatories said that over the last decade their congregations had sent more than 180 men into ordained ministry, as well as contributing more than £20m to the Church of England's finances. | The signatories said that over the last decade their congregations had sent more than 180 men into ordained ministry, as well as contributing more than £20m to the Church of England's finances. |
| They warn they would have have to encourage new potential trainee priests to consider training for ministry outside the Church of England - and help pay for them if safeguards are not made. | They warn they would have have to encourage new potential trainee priests to consider training for ministry outside the Church of England - and help pay for them if safeguards are not made. |
| Members of the General Synod, meeting in London, are due to hear a presentation from the Bishop of Manchester, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, about the "extraordinarily difficult" negotiations over the issue. | |
| 'Accepted and recognised' | 'Accepted and recognised' |
| It will be told that a key debate on legislation to introduce women bishops will be delayed until July after hundreds of submissions were received on the subject. | It will be told that a key debate on legislation to introduce women bishops will be delayed until July after hundreds of submissions were received on the subject. |
| Christina Rees, of Women and the Church, which campaigns in favour of women bishops said: "We have already tried out best to keep everyone in (the Church) and to increase the level of communion between those who hold different views on women's ministry. | Christina Rees, of Women and the Church, which campaigns in favour of women bishops said: "We have already tried out best to keep everyone in (the Church) and to increase the level of communion between those who hold different views on women's ministry. |
| "It will be very important that once the law is passed that women are bishops in the Church of England that it is accepted and recognised as such. | "It will be very important that once the law is passed that women are bishops in the Church of England that it is accepted and recognised as such. |
| "Therefore, of course there will be arrangements that will make it possible for individuals who disagree with women's ordination to stay in - but the thought of having a separate strand of bishops is precisely what the General Synod debated and rejected over a year ago." | "Therefore, of course there will be arrangements that will make it possible for individuals who disagree with women's ordination to stay in - but the thought of having a separate strand of bishops is precisely what the General Synod debated and rejected over a year ago." |