CONTROVERSIAL proposals to allow divorcees to remarry in church will come under the spotlight next weekend.

The Ripon diocese will be the last to discuss the proposals before they go back to the General Synod for a final decision.

An "open and frank" discussion is promised when parish representatives meet for the diocesan synod meeting at St Aidan's High School, Harrogate, next Saturday.

Responses from the parishes so far indicate broad agreement with the principle that there are circumstances in which a divorcee may remarry in church while a former spouse is still living.

But some of the parishes, while agreeing with the principle, have raised concerns over the details of the report under discussion.

The diocese's social responsibility officer, Maureen Browell, said: "Several parishes have said the proposals are too 'woolly', and open to inconsistent and individual interpretation.

"Many are worried that the additional responsibility places a significant burden on parish clergy."

The debate was originally scheduled for March but was postponed because of the foot-and-mouth crisis.

It will be chaired by the Bishop of Ripon, the Right Reverend David Packer, who supports the idea.

"I personally believe that there are circumstances where remarriage is appropriate and that we need to devise consistent guidelines," he said.

At the moment, the choice is up to individual clergy - and under the new guidelines, should they be adopted, those priests who cannot agree with such remarriages will not be obliged to conduct them against their consciences.