America's Episcopal Church, which ranks amity among the highest virtues, has faced considerable discord ever since its 1976 vote to allow women priests. Thousands of members fled the denomination over that decision; a larger number of traditionalists remained within the church. Seven dioceses still refuse to recognize female clergy, but most of the 2.7 million Episcopalians have accepted the on-marching women, who now constitute 10% of the church's 14,000 clergy.
Next comes the creation of women bishops. Though women nominated for the hierarchy failed to win in three U.S. dioceses this year, the election of the first woman bishop appears inevitable...
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