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Libby Lane: First female bishop to be consecrated Libby Lane: First female bishop to be consecrated
(about 1 hour later)
The Church of England will consecrate its first female bishop during a ceremony at York Minster later.The Church of England will consecrate its first female bishop during a ceremony at York Minster later.
The Reverend Libby Lane, 48, will be ordained as the new Bishop of Stockport, in what she says will be a "profound and remarkable moment".The Reverend Libby Lane, 48, will be ordained as the new Bishop of Stockport, in what she says will be a "profound and remarkable moment".
It comes after the general synod - the Church's law-making body - voted to support the plans in July and formally adopted legislation in November. The Church formally adopted legislation last November to allow women bishops.
The issue has continued to prompt divisions between some Anglicans. The move, which ends a centuries-old tradition of exclusively male bishops, has continued to prompt divisions between some Anglicans.
Mrs Lane - who has been vicar of St Peter's Hale and St Elizabeth's Ashley, in Greater Manchester, since April 2007 - is expected to be consecrated in front of more than 1,000 people. Mrs Lane has been vicar of St Peter's Hale and St Elizabeth's Ashley, in Greater Manchester, since April 2007.
The two-hour service will be led by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, during which he and other bishops will lay their hands on Mrs Lane and pray.
Her appointment was announced last month and Monday will see the consecration, or the process of being made holy, take place.Her appointment was announced last month and Monday will see the consecration, or the process of being made holy, take place.
Outside the Church of England, there are over 20 women bishops in the wider Anglican church, including the Reverend Pat Storey, who was appointed Bishop of Meath and Kildare in the Church of Ireland in September 2013. The two-hour service - expected to be attended by more than 1,000 people - will be led by the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, during which he and other bishops will lay their hands on Mrs Lane and pray. Dr Sentamu tweeted that he was "thrilled" to be taking part.
'Very emotional''Very emotional'
In an interview with BBC Radio Manchester, Mrs Lane said the consecration would be a very "emotional" moment.In an interview with BBC Radio Manchester, Mrs Lane said the consecration would be a very "emotional" moment.
"It is a remarkable thing that this happens to me, and people have been very supportive of me personally, but actually this is about a moment in the Church's history." She said: "It is a remarkable thing that this happens to me, and people have been very supportive of me personally, but actually this is about a moment in the Church's history."
It would be "a very profound, remarkable moment for me then and for my future ministry", she said.It would be "a very profound, remarkable moment for me then and for my future ministry", she said.
Mrs Lane said more than 100 bishops were travelling to York for the service.Mrs Lane said more than 100 bishops were travelling to York for the service.
Who is Reverend Libby Lane?Who is Reverend Libby Lane?
Who is the Church of England's first female bishop?Who is the Church of England's first female bishop?
Her consecration will end centuries of exclusively male leadership in the Church and comes more than 20 years after women became priests. Her consecration comes more than 20 years after women became priests in the Church of England.
It comes after the general synod gave the final seal of approval to the legislation on women bishops following its passage through Parliament last year. And it comes after the general synod gave the final seal of approval to the legislation on women bishops following its passage through Parliament last year.
After the change was approved, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said that the Church was entering a "completely new phase of our existence".After the change was approved, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said that the Church was entering a "completely new phase of our existence".
But divisions still remain between Anglicans who feel the change is consistent with their faith and traditionalists who disagree.But divisions still remain between Anglicans who feel the change is consistent with their faith and traditionalists who disagree.
One of the first crucial steps towards appointing female bishops came in 1975 when the general synod voted that there was "no fundamental objection" to the ordination of women to the priesthood. Opponents of women bishops include some Church of England evangelicals who believe scripture requires male headship in the Church.
In 1985, a vote allowed women to become deacons, and in 1992 women were officially permitted to be ordained in the priesthood. A vicar from Blackburn used her service on Sunday to protest at changes being made to the ordination of the Bishop of Burnley next month who will not have the "laying of hands" performed by Dr Sentamu because he opposes women bishops.
The vote to allow women bishops was passed in July 2014 - breaking a 2,000-year tradition of exclusively male bishops. Dr Sentamu said the arrangements were made "for prayer, not politics".
Gloucester, Oxford and Newcastle are among the dioceses where new bishops will also soon be appointed, while interviews for the vacancy as bishop for the Southwell and Nottingham diocese took place at the start of December.Gloucester, Oxford and Newcastle are among the dioceses where new bishops will also soon be appointed, while interviews for the vacancy as bishop for the Southwell and Nottingham diocese took place at the start of December.
Churches in Scotland and Wales already allow women as bishops, but have not appointed one yet.Churches in Scotland and Wales already allow women as bishops, but have not appointed one yet.
Are you a member of the Church of England clergy? What do you make of the consecration? You can share your thoughts by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number. Outside the Church of England, there are over 20 women bishops in the wider Anglican church, including the Reverend Pat Storey, who was appointed Bishop of Meath and Kildare in the Church of Ireland in September 2013.
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