[Telegraph] 9 Feb 2009--Under proposals to be debated at the General Synod – the Church's parliament – a new class of "complementary" bishops will be recommended as an arrangement to satisfy both sides of the debate.
The bishops would provide support to parishes that are opposed to female clergy by performing duties such as confirmation and ordination, but would be answerable to women bishops.
Members of the Synod will vote on whether to endorse the draft legislation, which has been heralded as a significant step in paving the way for women to be consecrated.
It had been put forward as the Church's best hope of appeasing campaigners for women bishops while preventing a mass exodus of traditionalists.
However, the Anglo-Catholic leaders who would be expected to act as complementary bishops attacked the plans as "totally unacceptable", "limited", and "theologically incoherent".
They said it was inconceivable that the current proposals will heal the rift over the issue.
Two of the "flying" bishops who currently have a legal right to serve traditionalist parishes claimed that the new arrangement would not work.
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