CHURCH of England bishops will be asked today to prevent the consecration of Canon Jeffrey John, the homosexual theologian, as the next Bishop of Reading.

Canon John, who is due to be ordained a suffragan bishop in the Oxford Diocese in a service at Westminster Abbey in October, claims that he is now celibate and is no longer in a long-standing relationship that began when he was at St Stephen’s House, Oxford, studying for the ministry.

However, the Church of England Evangelical Council will write to all the Church’s bishops today, warning them of “far-reaching consequences for the unity of the Anglican Church, both locally and further afield”.

In the letter, they will urge Canon John “to withdraw his acceptance of this appointment out of consideration for the unity of the Church”.

The letter continues: “We are unanimous in believing that this consecration should not proceed.”

However, the council emphasises that its “concern over this issue stems not from homophobia, but rather from a pastorally motivated concern to be true to the Scriptures and to the Church’s teaching on sexuality”.

The debate on Canon John’s choice as bishop has split the evangelical wing within the established Church. The Church Society, a conservative evangelical organisation, issued a statement yesterday claiming that “liberalism is destroying the Church”.

The society had called for an invitation to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, to speak at the ten-yearly national evangelical congress this year to be withdrawn. However, after the council’s vote on Wednesday to let the invitation stand, the society is now planning to boycott the conference, in Blackpool.

Dr Williams has publicly expressed his sadness at the authorisation of same-sex blessings in a diocese in Canada, although one source said he was privately delighted. He has so far declined to comment on the appointments of homosexual bishops.

In a statement, the society said: “Sadly, it appears plain to us that the reluctance of some evangelicals to take a stand has encouraged radical liberals to be more bold.

“Our troubles in the Church of England are merely the beginning. The present turmoil in the Anglican Churches in Canada and the United States show that the radical liberal agenda will only end in schism and the destruction of the Anglican Communion.”

The “militant tendency” in the Church of England was attacked in the House of Commons yesterday.

During exchanges on parliamentary business, Jane Griffiths, the Labour MP, demanded an “urgent debate on the activities of the militant tendency within the Church of England”.

She added: “At present that same tendency is campaigning to overturn the appointment of the duly and legitimately appointed Canon Jeffrey John as the next Bishop of Reading.”

John Reid, as Leader of the Commons, said: “My enforcement credentials do not extend to the theological sphere.” But there were occasions, during Questions on the Church Commission’s business, when such matters could be raised in the House.

Dr Reid added: “I know that you will accept, having raised it today, that it will not be propitious or proper for me to express a view on such matters.”

Scots Anglicans vote for women bishops

The Anglican Church in Scotland was on course to have the first woman bishop in Britain after its synod voted overwhelmingly yesterday to allow women to become bishops (Ruth Gledhill writes).

The Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church, which met in Edinburgh, decided to join Anglican Churches in Ireland, the United States, Canada, Polynesia and New Zealand in elevating women to the episcopate.

The vote comes after a 12-month consultation period after a large majority supported the proposal at its first reading a year ago. It needed a two-thirds majority to be carried. Twentyfour members of the synod were against women bishops and 124 voted for them.

The first woman bishop could be appointed in Scotland as early as next year with the impending retirement of the Right Rev Douglas Cameron, the Bishop of Argyll.

The Primus of the Church, the Most Rev Bruce Cameron, described the decision as “momentous”. He added: “For some it will be received with great joy, for others with pain. I want to reassure everyone who has taken part in this debate that we will be sensitive to all in our Church.”

The Rev Ruth Edwards, from the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney, said it was “absurd” to oppose the motion. She added: “Women in the Church should not be fixed by a stained glass ceiling. Their talents should be used.”

The Rev Gabrielle Robertson, from the Diocese of St Andrews, said allowing women bishops would be “profound and irrevocable”.

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