By 2010 the Church of England may witness the consecration of women bishops for the first time.
The first steps were taken this week at the General Synod meeting in Westminster, with legislative procedures expected to start in July.
Women were first accepted as priests in 1994 but obstacles have been put in their path preventing their recognition as bishops.
But according to the Times, fundamental objectors have now left the synod, if not the Church easing the path to acceptance of the reforms.
The Church has traditionally fallen outside of the terms of the sex discrimination regulations. Speaking to the paper, Rachel Beck, 24 from Sheffield said:
“Most people were amazed that the Church was exempt from sex discrimination legislation. The fact that the Church has no women in the episcopate appears to most people outside it as strange and archaic.”
Earlier this month, the Church announced its intentions to create an HR department.
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