Beyond Belief - Women in leadership

Ernie Rea and his guests explore the place of faith in our complex world. Ernie is joined by three guests who discuss why the idea of women in positions of religious leadership is so controversial. It is 35 years since the first woman was appointed as a Rabbi in the UK. Since then, women have become priests but not bishops in the Church of England; there are continual calls to ordain women to the Catholic church; while the idea of female Imams is almost unimaginable in Muslim circles. So why aren't women breaking through the glass ceiling into positions of leadership? How do theological issues influence equality? And do men and women bring different but equal skills to positions of religious leadership? Joining Ernie to discuss these issues is Canon Lucy Winkett, currently Precentor of St Paul's Cathedral and shortly to become Rector of St James, Piccadilly; Lorna Ashworth, lay member of the General Synod of the Church of England and member or Reform, an organisation which opposes women Bishops and Khola Hassan, the director of Albatross Consultancy which focuses on issues concerning Muslims in Britain. Jackie Tabick tells Ernie what it was like to be Britain's first female Reform Rabbi and whether opposition to women in positions of leadership has changed in the 35 years since she joined the Rabbinate. Producer: Karen Maurice.