The debate about provisions offered by Pope Benedict XVI to Anglicans wishing to join the Roman Catholic Church ignores the fact that the majority of Anglo-Catholics are in favour of women’s ministry, say two major Anglican societies.

Over 500 Church of England clergy are meeting today to consider the Pope's offer for them to join their own section of the Roman Catholic Church. But sceptics point out that false claims of a 'mass exodus' have been made before.

Discrimination, segregation, stereotyping – all factor in to women’s lives, says Fran Porter. By its words and actions, the church is part of the conversation. The question is, what is it saying?

The long road towards accepting women bishops in the Church of England became an inch shorter on 11 February as the Church of England's General Synod passed a tentative enabling motion.

History was be made on Saturday 17 January 2009, as the first woman bishop to serve in a British church took office.

The Church of England is publishing draft legislation that could allow the ordination of women bishops in around five years time, opening up episcopal ministry to all for the first time.

The Lutheran World Federation has welcomed the decision by the Church of England to consecrate women as bishops, for its potential to enrich church life and in particular “for its immediate consequences in ecumenical relations”.

Though women are primarily involved as advisers, spouses and fringe participants at the male-dominated Lambeth Conference this year, in future the number of women bishops will grow and one might well be presiding Archbishop.

Great emotion greeted the decision this evening by the General Synod of the Church of England, its governing body, to confirm the Church’s intention to consecrate women as bishops – a historic move following women's ordination in 1994.

There will be no mass exodus of male clergy and no schism over women bishops, MPs, clergy and lay members of the Church of England will say at a press conference today in Westminster