It was always understood from the date of its inception that the LDG would have an extremely difficult task in attempting to reconcile the diametric opposite views of organisations such as Forward in Faith, Reform or the Church Society on the one hand, and Watch, GRAS or the Modern Churchpeople's Union on the other.

In some FIF circles I think it is true to say that it was hoped that the LDG would search for and find - like the philosopher's stone - some kind of formula that would satisfy traditionalists in a future church where women bishops (and archbishops) would take their place.

There is little doubt I imagine that within the foreseeable future - say five to ten years - the Church of England will have female bishops (mothers in God?). People of orthodox persuasion will have to decide therefore whether they can live in a church that will have departed from practices that have endured for nearly two thousand years. Their choice will be stark indeed.

The thrust of this article is simply that when the LDG has sifted through and reviewed all the evidence presented to it, it will find it impossible to find a formula that will enable traditionalists to stay in the church of their baptism without compromising their beliefs. Let us see why.

COLLEGIALITY: Traditionalists in holy orders will find it impossible to join in acts of collegiality (such as meeting at clergy chapters) with revisionist bishops, priests or deacons of either or both sexes. Why? Because queries are bound to be raised as to whether such revisionists are actually in holy orders.

OATHS OF OBEDIENCE: Traditionalist bishops, priests and deacons will be unable to make oaths of allegiance to revisionist bishops or archbishops of either sex.

SACRAMENTAL ASSURANCE: Given that there can be nothing provisional about the work of a bishop, particularly that sacramental acts carried out by such an individual must be real, traditionalists ordained and lay will be unable to accept that such acts executed by women or by men "ordained" by women can be valid.

REVISIONIST-HEADED PROVINCES AND DIOCESES: For all of the above considerations, traditionalist clergy will be unable to participate in the work of such provinces and dioceses especially if they think that revisionist bishops may not be ordained.

PETITIONING PARISHES: Traditionalist bishops must have total control of their parishes, be it jurisdictional/administrative, pastoral or spiritual. Unless there were permanent ring-fencing of such parishes, it would only be a matter of time before any such protection given to them at the start was whittled away by revisionists

ORDINATION: Traditionalist bishops must possess the authority to ordain their own subordinate clergy, and to consecrate their successor bishops. If this authority were not given, again it would only be a matter of time before the taint of revision had permeated through the traditionalist ranks.

The two alternatives facing traditionalists therefore amount to these:-

EITHER they will be pressed to accept a cobbled-together compromise plan devised by Manchester and his colleagues which would permit the introduction of women bishops, a plan incidentally which might give temporary protection to petitioning parishes (say for a stated period of time),

OR they will be given the only structure that will meet all of the above seven demands, namely a free province.

Many readers may well think it highly unlikely that the LDG will be able to concede the above seven demands. The revisionists are in a big majority in Generall Synod and the dioceses, and the ecclesio-political currents are moving in their favour. They are not likely to permit the formation of a free province even to keep Anglican Catholics within the Church of England. If Forward In Faith is to retain any credibility among its members it must face up to this likelihood and plan accordingly.

---Roland W. Morant is a cradle Anglican who has spent his professional life as a teacher, and latterly as a principal lecturer in education in a college of higher education, training students as teachers and running in-service degree courses. He is based in Canterbury, England.