This petition was submitted during the 2015 to 2017 Parliament
Rejected petition Philip North: Decline Bishop of Sheffield or affirm all clergy equally valid
Rejected on
Bishop North’s opposition to women's ordination means he does not accept ordained ministry of female clergy, or any male ordained by a female bishop. Women account for 1/3 of clergy in Sheffield diocese. A non-ordaining Bishop of Sheffield is a serious matter for female clergy in such large numbers.
Sheffield City and Diocese have a proud record on justice and equality. Inequality that would be introduced through Bishop North accepting the nomination to the See would have profound, disturbing ramifications for the Church of England's public witness in the region, and for pastoral oversight of female clergy in the Diocese.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/feb/24/new-bishop-sheffield-opponent-female-priests-urged-decline
http://modernchurch.org.uk/news-blog/bishop-north-resignation
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.