Thirty-three years after the General Synod passed its motion that “there are no fundamental objections to ordination of women to priesthood,” women have inched closer still to the highest positions of spiritual power and authority in the Church. But there are still at least six years before the consecration of the first woman bishop.

First, the bishops and their functionaries must draw up legislation and a draft code of practice that will persuade traditionalists that there is still a place for them in a Church. This must then come back to the synod next February for debate, and then go back to officials who will revise it. Further debates will follow, with revision completed by July 2010. The synod is reelected every five years and it will probably not be until November 2010 that the revised measure and code of practice will be referred to dioceses.

A majority of the 43 diocesan synods would need to approve it before it came back to the General Synod, probably in February 2012. Final drafting could take another 12 months, taking the synod to the final approval stage in February 2013. This will require two-thirds majorities in each house of bishops, clergy and laity. The measure and code would then go to both Houses of Parliament for approval.

After Royal Assent the measure will be “promulged” by the synod. If a vacancy occurs, the first woman could be consecrated at Christmas 2014.