Sir, Will not “gender havens”, far from averting a split in the Church, simply institutionalise one (report, April 29)?

The powers that be have tended to look askance at those (largely evangelical) parishes that have looked farther afield for alternative episcopal oversight on the basis, I presume, that it would be schismatic. Now there is a proposal that a similar and arguably no less schismatic situation be officially sanctioned for those (largely Anglo-Catholic) parishes who cannot face a female bishop. Why should those who have serious theological objections to the churchmanship of their local bishop not be equally entitled to seek an alternative as those who object to her sex? If this logic is accepted then surely what is needed is not a debate about women bishops but a much wider and hopefully more constructive one about how the Church of England should organise itself so as best to preach the gospel in the 21st century.

Malcolm Bowden

Hartford, Cheshire

Sir, Your religion correspondent tells us that the Church of England is “proposing to tear up hundreds of years of tradition”. What does she think they were doing when they decided in favour of female bishops and priests?

The Rev Canon B. J. Findlay

Monks Eleigh, Suffolk

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