Succession’s Special Problem (for some)

Ruth Gledhill:

As the consecration of the first female bishop approaches, Christian Today has learned that at the consecration a few days later of traditionalist priest Father Philip North as Bishop of Burnley no bishop will lay hands on him who has previously laid hands on a woman bishop or priest.

Normally at a consecration, all the bishops present would join in laying hands on the episcopal candidate to elevate them to the order of bishop. In the northern province, this would mean more than 20 retired and serving bishops.

The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu and the Bishop of Blackburn Julian Henderson are both expected to lay hands on the Rev Libby Lane when she is consecrated as Suffragan Bishop of Stockport at York Minster on January 26.

Christian Today understands that at the consecration of Father North as Suffragan Bishop of Burnley in the Blackburn diocese on 2 February, also at York Minster, neither Sentamu nor Henderson is expected to lay on hands, although both will be present. It will be extremely unusual for neither the provincial nor diocesan of a new suffragan bishop to lay hands on the candidate in such circumstances.