Voice of Lincoln: Should women be bishops?

By Nicholas Beaumont nick

Women may soon be able to become bishops, thanks to Lincoln Diocesan Synod voting in favour of the move. The decision will be passed to the General Synod in 2012, so that the first women may be consecrated as bishops as early as 2014.

We asked Lincolnites what they thought would be the implications of such a move:

Michael Needham

Michael Needham – 83

“I’m against it myself, because I’m a Catholic, and the Catholic Church does not welcome the idea. There will be quite a bit of opposition I think, but it will go through whether we like it or not. There is a sizable Catholic population around Lincolnshire, we have three Catholic Churches in the city itself. I don’t think having a women bishop will make a great deal of change, it’s just people don’t like to change the way things have been run for centuries.”

Rose Kelham

Rose Kelham – 68

“I think it is a good idea. Women are as good as men, we’re the same as men, so yes, if a women wants to be a bishop, then let them be one. I think it may cause a bit of controversy because a lot of people don’t want to move into the 21st century. We have got to move on. I am religious myself, and think this is a reason why a lot of people don’t go to church, because they’re stuck in the past. They have to move on to the future like everything else.”

Aidan Knifton

Aidan Knifton – 20

“I think it is a good idea. It’s equality: everyone should have the right do to it if that’s what they want. I think it’s a step forward, because a lot of old Christian values are a bit patriarchal. I think there will be a lot of outrage from certain schools of thinking, especially in conservative areas, which Lincoln tends to be. So I think there will be a bit of backlash, but generally is a good idea. Any move towards equality is a good thing.”

Robyn Wells

Robyn Wells – 18

“To me, people can do what they want. If they want to become a bishop, then feel free to by all means. For me, I’m not religious at all, and it doesn’t make any difference to me personally. But each to their own I guess. There will be backlash. The church is a big social thing, in the sense that everyone has an opinion on it. But it doesn’t affect me personally, so I don’t mind either way.”

Main Photo: St Paul’s Bow Common Church

Nicholas is studying at the University of Lincoln for an MA in Creative Writing. He is a published poet, and an editor of arts magazine b[liminal].