THERE are many in the lay world who will struggle to understand the principled stance adopted by traditionalists within the Church of England.

For most islanders, at least the possibility of working for a female boss – if not the actuality – has been around for so long as to be ingrained into our psyches.

Courses are held in offices throughout the island where the rights of staff are examined and discrimination in all its forms – racism, religious belief, homophobia and sexism – is condemned legally and on principle.

That is not to say that discrimination does not exist in the workplace. A glance at the ranks of men who dominate most company boardrooms shows that there is much work to be done on that front alone.

But the concept, at least, that women should have a fair chance of getting to the top has been around for long enough that few would seek to challenge it openly.

But churchmen such as the Rev. Northover, who until recently was acting dean with shared responsibility for the Church of England faithful in the islands, do not see themselves as antediluvian sexists. For them, the Bible is the Word of God and that precludes women from taking the role of bishops.

And some within general synod will also point to the 12 all-male disciples to show that Christ’s followers must be led by a man.

Yet such an idea invites ridicule. A Radio 4 comedy asked whether, by that token, Jewish fishermen would make the best Anglican bishops and should not at least one in 12 church leaders therefore have worked for HM Customs and Revenue?

And that is where the traditionalists must bend to the inevitable. Society, quite rightly, struggles with any organisation which enshrines discrimination. A refusal to accept women as bishops would, for many lay people, underline how out of touch the Church has become.

To stay relevant to both committed church-goers and young Christians, church ministers have to look forward beyond tradition and believe that in the future faith will treat all men and women equally.