DIVISION continues to dominate the Anglican diocese, despite the resignation of embattled Bishop Michael Hough on Saturday.The widely anticipated announcement was made, after months of internal wrangling, at the annual Anglican synod held at Portland, and was welcomed by disgruntled Anglican laity who had petitioned for him to resign.Ballarat Laity Against Bullying spokesman Euan Thompson said the group was pleased with his decision to step down."We (BLAB) had a talk about it when we got there and decided the best thing to do _ seeing as how we're all about unity _ we wouldn't say anything nasty about Michael and praise him for taking this courageous step of resigning and clearing the way for the diocese to become unified again," he said.However, Mr Thompson said he was concerned that the committees in charge of electing a new bishop were still heavily dominated by Hough-supporters."We are troubled they will select someone of the same ilk," he said."It says in the prayer book, `people selected to govern in the church must be selected with great care and the process must not be hurried, the person selected must be a shepherd not a wolf'."There aren't a lot of suitable people around. It takes a particularly special kind of person to be a bishop, particularly in these difficult times."Mr Thompson said part of the reason Bishop Hough had been elected was because of his stance on the ordination of women.He advised the committee to elect the next bishop for personal qualities, rather than personal beliefs."The previous bishop was attractive at the time because he was opposed to the ordination of women," he said."Such issues should have no influence on the committee. The best person should be selected for the job, regardless of their views on various issues."