Women Bishops? What's yor view?

[combust22]

A vote in the Church of England today will decide whether to allow women to become bishops.

Should this happen?

[Cherrypi]

Yes. If you're using your genitalia to be a bishop you're doing it wrong.

[MaryBS]

Yes, I hope it does. Gender is irrelevent, despite what some might think, IMHO

[AntoinetteCosway]

Of course it should happen. It's absurd that this debate is still ongoing. I'm CofE and it infuriates me that my church is so bloody backward about this stuff.

[whereisshe]

The CofE is such an outdated institution I'm surprised any women actually remain in its congregation (personally I don't tend to go to places where I'm explicitly a second class citizen).

But unfortunately the CofE is so enmeshed into the governing fabric of the UK that we can't just ignore them as the dinosaurs they are.

I think it's absolutely offensive that they STILL haven't managed to include women in their senior leadership. It's not only a church decision, it excludes women from certain House of Lords seats for a start. They need to change.

[whereisshe]

Also what Cherrypi said

[msrisotto]

I think it's absolutely offensive that they STILL haven't managed to include women in their senior leadership.

^
This. That this is even a debate is insulting. Religion is bloody prehistoric.

[combust22]

I hope that women are not allowed to be bishops. So fingers crossed for a no vote today.

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

What risotto says it's obscene we are even having this debate in the 21st century.

[Cherrypi]

Will we find out today?

[combust22]

Yes today is the vote.

[weegiemum]

I'm an ex-Anglican and this is one of the (many) reasons I'm not part of that church any more. I hope that they vote yes, with a significant majority at that.

[Lottapianos]

What risotto said. I find it so insulting that it is even a debate - lots of old men searching their souls and examining their consciences to figure out if they can deign to allow women to do the job that they do. Its pathetic. Any arguments against that I've heard are utterly ridiculous.

[combust22]

lotta- I agree- that's why I have my fingers crossed that they vote against women bishops.

[Minnieisthedevilmouse]

It will happen.

It damn well should. It's ridiculous it isn't already and makes the people that run the religion look like complete fools.

Really challenged me last time.

Why are you not in agreement op?

[BitOutOfPractice]

Women bishops?!!! Whatever next? They'll be giving us the vote next!!

[Minnieisthedevilmouse]

What truly shocked me was the amount of lay people that spoke up in 2012 and women that were against. It was not representative of any church I've been to!

[combust22]

I don't want the vote to allow women bishops because I am a feminist and an atheist.

[BitOutOfPractice]

Having said that, bishops of any gender are such a total irrelevance to my life that it's hard to care about it much, apart from the issue of equality

And one of the reasons why they are irrelevant to me and, I suspect, many others, is because if the church's inability to be anything other than an arcane, anachronism, arguing over stuff that people in the real world moved on from decades ago

Of course women should have equal rights and opportunities. I think we've all signed up to that principle. Which is why watching the church still arguing over it is such an unedifying sight.

It makes me wonder what other parts of the Establishment secretly think about equality too. If these people who, after all, do have a part in our system of government via the House of Lords, still believe that this is a debate worth having.

[AntoinetteCosway]

You're a feminist but you don't want women to have equal opportunities? I am confused.

Minnie I completely agree. Last time I believe the vote would have passed if it weren't for the lay people. Bonkers.

[AntoinetteCosway]

(Sorry, that was to the OP.)

[combust22]

antoinette- the church is the single biggest sexist and anti-feminist force that exists.

The sooner that the church implodes up its own anus the better. Disallowing women to become bishops will hasten that process.

[WhosLookingAfterCourtney]

I too find it mind blowing that any women still associate with the church.

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

Sadly it won't OP.

Most ordinary church goers see their bishop once a year and plenary of female clergy week in week out.

I bet most of them don't think about the issue until it makes the news.

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

Plenty

[AntoinetteCosway]

I see!