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Women bishops law debated by Church of England synod Women bishops: Church of England synod votes for new law
(about 4 hours later)
The Church of England's ruling general synod has begun debating revised plans to allow women to become bishops. The Church of England's ruling general synod has voted to restart work on allowing women to become bishops.
Delegates at the meeting in York will vote on the wording of a new church law, which will be decided at a future gathering. Delegates voted by 319 to 84 to move forward on a new draft law, although this isn't expected to get final approval until July or November 2015.
Previous attempts at creating similar legislation have been thrown out because of internal disagreements.Previous attempts at creating similar legislation have been thrown out because of internal disagreements.
Opening the debate, the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich said there was an urgent need for agreement. The Archbishop of Canterbury said he remained "extremely optimistic" agreement could be reached.
The last attempt to introduce women bishops was narrowly defeated at a synod meeting in November.The last attempt to introduce women bishops was narrowly defeated at a synod meeting in November.
It passed in the Houses of Bishops and Clergy, but failed to gain the required two-thirds majority in the House of Laity. The lay members who blocked the draft law said it gave traditionalist parishes inadequate guarantees of access to an alternative, male, bishop.It passed in the Houses of Bishops and Clergy, but failed to gain the required two-thirds majority in the House of Laity. The lay members who blocked the draft law said it gave traditionalist parishes inadequate guarantees of access to an alternative, male, bishop.
The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, the Right Reverend Nigel Stock, said: "Last November's decision caused profound mystification and unhappiness around much of the Church of England. 'Mood shift'
"It was a serious blow to our female clergy. It means that it will be at least two years longer than we hoped before woman are able to enrich the episcopate. So, there is a degree of urgency however we look at it." Following the vote, the Most Reverend Justin Welby said: "There is a strong desire to get it done.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, said there was "a significant absence of trust" over the issue within the synod. "We aren't at the stage of saying should we ordain women as bishops, we are at the stage of saying we are going to ordain women as bishops, how do we go about that?
"This is not about whether, but about how, so that women are ordained on exactly the same basis as men and all parts of the Church of England may be enabled to flourish. "It is going to take a little while, we are going to have to go on working at it, there has been such a shift in mood over the last six months. I remain extremely optimistic."
"History and contemporary experience show that detailed arrangements not only embed division, they are also unworkable and lead to frequent and prolonged litigation."
But the Reverend Rod Thomas, from Plymouth, of conservative evangelical group Reform said: "If we go ahead with it, then we will not have achieved that objective of mutual flourishing, because instead of allowing people of my integrity to flourish within the Church, there will be a sense of gnawing anxiety on our part if we go down the route as it stands."
'Further alienation'
The general synod is on the fourth day of a five-day meeting at the University of York.The general synod is on the fourth day of a five-day meeting at the University of York.
Delegates are being asked to back new proposals from the synod's House of Bishops, which has been welcomed by supporters of women bishops. Delegates were asked to back new proposals from the synod's House of Bishops, which has been welcomed by supporters of women bishops.
It was created in response to a report submitted in May by a working group from all three houses.It was created in response to a report submitted in May by a working group from all three houses.
Opening the debate, the Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, the Right Reverend Nigel Stock, said there was an urgent need for agreement.
"Last November's decision caused profound mystification and unhappiness around much of the Church of England. It was a serious blow to our female clergy," he said.
'Further alienation'
The traditionalists are not happy with the plan as the proposal moves away from enshrining concessions to the opponents of women bishops in the legislation itself.The traditionalists are not happy with the plan as the proposal moves away from enshrining concessions to the opponents of women bishops in the legislation itself.
The House of Bishops proposals suggest the concessions should be in a separate declaration by the synod or by the bishops.The House of Bishops proposals suggest the concessions should be in a separate declaration by the synod or by the bishops.
During the debate, the traditionalists warned the synod they would be alienated from the Church unless safeguards were written into the law, but an attempt to do so was defeated.During the debate, the traditionalists warned the synod they would be alienated from the Church unless safeguards were written into the law, but an attempt to do so was defeated.
BBC religious affairs correspondent Robert Pigott says the synod is likely to approve the plans for the legislation to go forward for a possible vote in 2015, but it could come at the expense of further alienation of its traditionalist minority.
He said many speakers have acknowledged a serious loss of trust between Anglicans resulting from the dispute about women bishops.
More than 20 years after the introduction of women priests, they now make up about a third of the Church's priests.More than 20 years after the introduction of women priests, they now make up about a third of the Church's priests.
Some - but not all - of the CofE's evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics oppose the appointment of women bishops.Some - but not all - of the CofE's evangelicals and Anglo-Catholics oppose the appointment of women bishops.
Anglo-Catholics revere the traditions and ceremonies of the Church. Some believe a woman cannot be a valid bishop and ordaining women prevents unity with the Roman Catholics.Anglo-Catholics revere the traditions and ceremonies of the Church. Some believe a woman cannot be a valid bishop and ordaining women prevents unity with the Roman Catholics.
Evangelicals place great stress on the teachings of the Bible. Those who oppose women bishops say scripture requires male headship in the Church.Evangelicals place great stress on the teachings of the Bible. Those who oppose women bishops say scripture requires male headship in the Church.