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Church in Wales to vote on women bishops | Church in Wales to vote on women bishops |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A vote to allow women bishops in the Church in Wales could cause "great disunity" with some clerics considering their futures, it has been claimed. | |
Bishops want their governing body to agree the proposal and amend their constitution to accommodate priests who do not want to be led by a woman. | Bishops want their governing body to agree the proposal and amend their constitution to accommodate priests who do not want to be led by a woman. |
Thursday's vote is the second in five years. | |
Reformers say change is needed but concerns have been raised that some will leave the church. | |
In England the issue of women bishops will be discussed again in November. Previous attempts have been thrown out because of internal disagreements. | In England the issue of women bishops will be discussed again in November. Previous attempts have been thrown out because of internal disagreements. |
On Thursday the Church in Wales' governing body will vote for a second time on the ordination of women bishops after the proposal was defeated in 2008. | On Thursday the Church in Wales' governing body will vote for a second time on the ordination of women bishops after the proposal was defeated in 2008. |
The bill is going before the 144 members of the church's governing body during a meeting at Lampeter, Ceredigion. | The bill is going before the 144 members of the church's governing body during a meeting at Lampeter, Ceredigion. |
The group includes 51 clerical representatives and over 80 non-clerical representatives. | The group includes 51 clerical representatives and over 80 non-clerical representatives. |
The church's six bishops have put forward proposals which say that even if the bill is backed, women bishops would still not be allowed until provision had been agreed for those opposed - involving a second bill some time in the future. | The church's six bishops have put forward proposals which say that even if the bill is backed, women bishops would still not be allowed until provision had been agreed for those opposed - involving a second bill some time in the future. |
However supporters of women bishops have tabled their own amendment which does not require the church to change its constitution and could be adopted after a year. | However supporters of women bishops have tabled their own amendment which does not require the church to change its constitution and could be adopted after a year. |
If the vote fails it could be another five years before such a change is considered again. | If the vote fails it could be another five years before such a change is considered again. |
But Father Ben Andrews, from Barry, Vale of Glamorgan, said it would still be "difficult if not impossible for us to stay" if women bishops were allowed. | |
"The bishop's role is to hold the diocese together, and for those of us who in good conscience cannot accept the sacramental ministry of a woman bishop means we cannot be in communion with that bishop," he said. | "The bishop's role is to hold the diocese together, and for those of us who in good conscience cannot accept the sacramental ministry of a woman bishop means we cannot be in communion with that bishop," he said. |
"We are told we have an honoured place within the church but that place is going to be difficult if not impossible for us to stay and remain. | "We are told we have an honoured place within the church but that place is going to be difficult if not impossible for us to stay and remain. |
"There may come a time when it is impossible for me to function as a priest in the Church in Wales." | "There may come a time when it is impossible for me to function as a priest in the Church in Wales." |
A vote on ordination in Wales was lost in 2008 by just three votes. | A vote on ordination in Wales was lost in 2008 by just three votes. |
But the issue resurfaced last year when the Bench of Bishops drew up a discussion paper confirming their unanimous support for women bishops. | But the issue resurfaced last year when the Bench of Bishops drew up a discussion paper confirming their unanimous support for women bishops. |
'No theological sense' | 'No theological sense' |
In July, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, said there were "good signs" that the ordination of women bishops would be approved by the Church of England after its ruling general synod voted to restart work on the issue, with the aim of final approval in 2015. | In July, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby, said there were "good signs" that the ordination of women bishops would be approved by the Church of England after its ruling general synod voted to restart work on the issue, with the aim of final approval in 2015. |
The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said: "Since we ordain women as deacons and priests it makes no theological sense not to ordain them as bishops since we believe in the three-fold order of ministry. | The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said: "Since we ordain women as deacons and priests it makes no theological sense not to ordain them as bishops since we believe in the three-fold order of ministry. |
"That is why I and my fellow bishops will be asking members of the governing body to vote in favour of the bill." | "That is why I and my fellow bishops will be asking members of the governing body to vote in favour of the bill." |
The Venerable Peggy Jackson, Archdeacon of Llandaff, Cardiff, and Canon Jenny Wigley, from Radyr parish, have proposed an amendment seeking to do away with the need for a second bill, therefore allowing women bishops to be introduced more quickly. | The Venerable Peggy Jackson, Archdeacon of Llandaff, Cardiff, and Canon Jenny Wigley, from Radyr parish, have proposed an amendment seeking to do away with the need for a second bill, therefore allowing women bishops to be introduced more quickly. |
They want a one-stage vote with a provision for the bishops to write a code of practice to provide for those against the proposals. | They want a one-stage vote with a provision for the bishops to write a code of practice to provide for those against the proposals. |
In a previous interview, Canon Wigley told BBC Wales she has been "disappointed for years" that women had not yet been ordained. | In a previous interview, Canon Wigley told BBC Wales she has been "disappointed for years" that women had not yet been ordained. |
"The truth is the church needs to make sense to the rest of the world and the rest of the world thinks we are bonkers to say there only some things that women can do," she said. | "The truth is the church needs to make sense to the rest of the world and the rest of the world thinks we are bonkers to say there only some things that women can do," she said. |