Could the next bishop to be ordained in Te Pihopatanga be a woman?

The likelihood of that happening has taken a lurch forward.

Te Kahu Wahine were scheduled to deliver their report to the  runanganui this evening.

It was, in fact, quite short and sweet.

It consisted simply of a motion put by the Rev Helen Gray, and seconded by Mrs Mihi Turei, to this effect:

“That Te Kahui Wahine o Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa strongly encourages the election of a woman to the Episcopate when the next vacancy occurs in Te Pihopatanga o Aotearoa.”

Both Helen Gray and Mihi Turei, of course, are wives of men presently sitting on the bishops' bench.

And as they spoke to their motion, they were surrounded by other wives of Maori bishops.

There wasn’t a dissenting voice in the house about that kaupapa.

Bishop Kito Pikaahu, in fact, suggested there’d be more bite in their motion if the word election was substituted for the word nomination.

And so it was.

And the Rev Mere Wallace pointed out that the motion was entirely consistent with the themes the runanganui had been majoring on through the day: the sharing of resources, the sharing of educational opportunities – “so why not sharing some of the top positions?”

There was a good deal of levity and hilarity during the course of the brief debate.

But no doubt about a serious intent, either.

As one observer commented: “It’s on the books now.”