The diocese of London is soon to appoint a new bishop. It has just issued a Statement of Needs, setting out what sort of bishop is required. It does not specify that the new bishop must be in favour of women’s ordination.

We, the undersigned, are Anglicans who are concerned by this omission. We do not want a bishop who does not ordain women as priests or recognise the spiritual authority of female bishops – including the archbishop of Canterbury! Such a bishop would be a sign of division rather than unity. We would not accept his authority.

We also call for a change in the Church’s rules, so as to preclude the possibility of such an appointment. We seek the amendment of the Declaration and the Five Guiding Principles to ensure that no opponent of women’s ordination is ever again appointed to a diocese. It is too glaringly contrary to episcopal order and Church unity, that a diocesan bishop can oversee clergy whose authority he denies. We demand a vote in Synod on the issue.