NEWS RELEASE
Issued 6.2.09 For immediate use
The Dean of Ripon has called for those on all sides of the debate over the issue of women bishops to come together in a special Prayer Vigil at Ripon Cathedral next Wednesday morning, February 11th, as a crucial vote on Women Bishops takes place in London. The Very Revd Keith Jukes has invited both pro- and anti-women bishops groups, along with clergy and lay people throughout the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds, to join him at the Cathedral for a day-long vigil as the General Synod of the Church of England debates the issue, 250 miles away in London.
The General Synod (or ‘parliament’ of the church) meeting at Church House, Westminster (from Feb 9th-13th) will decide next Wednesday morning whether or not to accept draft legislation on women bishops which has been drawn up on the basis of previous debates and to allow the new legislation to continue on to the revision stage. Alongside the legislation will be a draft national code of practice for those opposed to women bishops.
Dean Jukes says that he has specifically invited members of both WATCH (Women and the Church), the pro women's ordination group, and Forward in Faith, an ’anglo-catholic’ organisation opposed to women’s ordination, to take part in the vigil. It will be held in the Cathedral’s Chapel of the Resurrection starting at 8.30am and concluding with Evening Prayer at 5.30pm.
He says that it is important that all sides come together at this crucial time. "As the Cathedral is the 'mother-church' of the diocese, we felt it important to make it available for people on all sides of the the debate to pray for the General Synod debate. This is something I have decided to do with the encouragement of the Bishop of Ripon and Leeds who will be one of those in London, and we will be joined by Bishop James Bell, the Bishop of Knaresborough during the vigil. A diocese has to be open and accommodating to people of all opinions, and we will be praying for members of Synod, recognising the responsibility and pressure on them as they go through the debate and processes."
ENDS
The Very Revd Keith Jukes, Dean of Ripon can be contacted via his secretary on 01765 603462
Issued by John Carter (Revd)
Press and Communications Officer,
Diocese of Ripon and Leeds
jhgcarter@aol.com
07798 652707
01423 530369
All news reports can be found at www.riponleeds.anglican.org