The Church of England yesterday set out somewhat hesitantly on a path which may, in seven to 10 years' time, lead it to having women bishops - or may not.
At the request of its general synod its house of bishops has appointed an 11-member working party to consider the theological and practical issues involved.
The working party, which is chaired by the Bishop of Rochester, Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, includes three opponents of women priests, and hopes to include observers from both the Catholic and Methodist Churches.
One factor in its deliberations will be the fact that the ordination of women priests from 1994 onwards has impaired communion within the Church of England, with parishes opposed to women priests insisting on being ministered to by bishops of a like mind.
At a press conference in London yesterday, Dr Nazir-Ali said his working party would take into account the work of the inter-Anglican commission chaired by Archbishop of Armagh, Dr Robin Eames.
The commission was set up after the 1988 Lambeth Conference and studied how Anglican provinces with and without women bishops could remain in communion with each other. Dr Nazir-Ali was secretary of this commission.
The bishop also explained that the working party was set up to consider not just how women could be ordained as bishops within the Church of England but also whether they should be, given that in his view the episcopate was not just an extension of the priesthood.
The working party is due to present an initial progress report to the general synod by July 2002.