The ordination of women could be on the cards for Bermuda, with both candidates for the post of Anglican Bishop signalling support for the move.

Canon Dr. Patrick White and Archdeacon Andrew Doughty are contenders in an election for the position later this month.

Bermuda has been without a Bishop since Ewen Ratteray stepped down in March. He was reported to be against the ordination of women.

In a leaflet setting out his aims and objectives, Archdeacon Doughty said: "The Anglican Church of Bermuda is called to reflect God's kingdom by becoming an inclusive church where all people are welcomed and where all may find communion and absolution – mercy, nourishment and healing. Our ordained ministry shall reflect our people and our congregations.

"Our clergy and ministry teams shall include blacks and whites, but also women and men, Bermudians and non-Bermudians.

"I believe that the ordination of women to the diaconate and the priesthood must be made an immediate priority.

"Let me also say that I am a firm believer that our Bermuda human rights legislation needs to be amended to include sexual orientation in its protections. Discrimination of any kind is unacceptable in our Island or within our Anglican Church. We believe in a God of mercy and justice – a God of non-discrimination and wholeness."

In a similar leaflet, Canon White said: "Many Anglicans in Bermuda have been saying for some time that we need to reconsider our policy of not ordaining women.

"I hear that, and will go on record as saying I think we should proceed. However, I will also go on record as saying this must be a church decision taken only after we have listened to one another and concluded together that this is the right thing for us to do.

"What is more, if we need to speak of women's ordination we also need to do more for and with our men than invite them to business meetings. Life is the business of the church and not vice-versa."

The Church of England's General Synod passed a vote to ordain women priests in 1992.

It voted in July to press ahead with the ordination of women bishops.

The ordination of women in Bermuda could not come without the approval of the Synod of the Anglican Church of Bermuda.

According to figures in Archdeacon Andrew Doughty's pamphlet, the Church has an active membership of 1,800 and a "sleeping" or nominal Anglican population of 12,211, according to the 2001 Government census.