Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed has urged General Synod of Church of England to endorse introduction of women bishops in historic vote on the issue on July 14 in University of York (United Kingdom).

It would be a “step in the right direction”, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, stressed in a statement in Nevada (USA) today.

Rajan Zed suggested the Church to empower the women bishops with exactly equal roles as men bishops and without any limits or conditions. As women were equal partners in the society, they should be equal partners in Church also. Women could disseminate God’s message as skillfully as men and deserved equal and full participation and access in religion, Zed added.

Quoting Hindu scriptures, Zed says: Where women are honored, there the gods are pleased.

How could an official church of a country with Her Majesty the Queen as its Supreme Governor continued to discriminate against its women for so long? Rajan Zed asked.

Monday’s Synod agenda includes “To make provision for the consecration of women as bishops”.

The General Synod, currently meeting July 11-15 in York, is the national assembly of the Church of England (headquartered in London whose tagline is "A Christian presence in every community"), which is recognized by law as the official church of England. About 1.7 million people take part in a Church of England service each month, about 12 million people visit its cathedrals annually, and it has over 19,500 licensed ministers and over 16,000 churches. Most Reverend Justin Welby is the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal.