Members of the clergy in the borough are divided over the Church of England's decision to allow women to become bishops.

On Monday, the General Synod decided to consecrate women bishops and rejected calls for a tier of male 'superbishops' to minister to those who were against the reforms.

The ruling has split the church, with traditionalists arguing all of Jesus's apostles were men, so ultimately bishops should remain male.

Other critics argue the Bible states all worshippers should be equal and, with the introduction of women priests and now bishops, the Church of England is moving further away from the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches.

Father Giles Pinnock, of St Mary's Church, in Kenton, said he was disappointed by the ruling.

He added: "It has been this way for 2,000 years and I do not think anyone has come up with a good reason to say we have been wrong for the last 2,000 years.

"We do not have to ape society and do what it tells us. We do not have to be equal."

Mr Pinnock added the new rules would cause confusion for those who do not believe in women bishops and he is now considering his position in the church.

"The most-important thing the church does is the Eucharist and, if a woman bishop has ordained a priest, it leads us to question the sacrament. I do not recognise women priests, but we work around it.

"We asked the Synod not to do this. I feel I have been shown the door, we cannot stay."

Other clergy members have been supportive of the decision.

Reverend John Root, of St James Church, in Stanley Avenue, Alperton, said: "I am happy with the decision. I think we need to follow the apostles by their teaching and not say they have to be men.

"We have a woman assistant minister in our church and our congregation seems very happy with her ministry."

Reverend Joan Foster, of St Albans Church, in Church Drive, North Harrow, was ordained as a priest in 1998.

She said "I think it is premature to be jumping up and down about this when it is not definite. We have all got to be happy about it. The church has a big and diverse community and we have to work together.

"It is not all plain sailing as a woman priest, I come up against problems and you have to deal with them, but I have a very loving community at St Albans."

The church will now draft a code of practice for women bishops which will be presented to the synod in February 2009. The document will have to receive a majority vote to be passed.

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