A historic
vote had changed or alters a religious pastime in York yesterday July 14th,
during the general synod as women now have the right to be made bishops. This
scraps the ban on women after a plea from the Archbishop of Canterbury
yesterday gave his blessing to the voting results.
The move
comes 20 years after women were allowed to become priests and just 20 months
after a previous attempt failed when 74 lay members voted against the proposal.
The vote also means that the next Archbishop of Canterbury or York could be a
woman. continue..
Today's historic vote to allow women bishops comes 20 years after women
were first allowed to become priests - and almost 40 years since The Church
first accepted that there was 'no fundamental objection' to female members of
the clergy.
But just two
years ago the Archbishop of Canterbury suffered a body blow when a move to
overturn the ban was controversially rejected.
Following
the vote, MPs threatened to legislate to allow women bishops if the Synod - the
church's governing body - did not do so itself.
Justin Welby
had even prepared contingency plans to dissolve the Synod and call fresh
elections if the vote had gone the wrong way.
But the
crisis was averted by a change of mind among lay members of the Church of
England.
The previous
attempt in November 2012 failed when 74 lay members - Church of England
activists who are not part of the clergy - voted against, preventing the
required two-thirds majority to remove the ban.
Today's
historic vote brings the Church of England into line with Anglican churches in
North America, which have allowed women bishops since 2006.
It means the
first woman might become a suffragan - or assistant - bishop early next year
and her appointment could be announced before the end of the year.
The historic
move was passed after receiving two thirds majority needed to get rid of the
ban.
Some 37
bishops voted in favour with just two against and one abstention. A further 162
clergy were in favour, 25 against and four abstentions. In the crucial lay
votes there were 152 votes in favour, 45 against and five abstentions.
Speaking in
the debate the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, said he
would 'rejoice' if the measure was passed.
Deputy Prime
Minister Nick Clegg said it was a 'watershed moment for the Church of England
and a huge step forward in making our society fairer'.
He said: 'I
would like to congratulate the strong leadership that Archbishop Welby has
shown on this issue.
'Allowing
women to become bishops is another long overdue step towards gender equality in
senior positions. I welcome the Church of England’s decision which means that
women can now play a full and equal role in the important work of the Church.'
David Cameron
added on Twitter: 'I warmly welcome today's vote formally approving women
bishops - a great day for the Church and for equality.'
Rev Welby
yesterday claimed the first woman bishop could be announced within months.
He said he
was ‘hopeful’ the Church would scrap the ban on women priests being ordained as
bishops.
But he said
groups opposed to move would be allowed to ‘flourish’ within the Church. The
two sides in the debate have become bitterly divided since a controversial vote
in November 2012 saw the idea of women bishops defeated by just six votes.
The General
Synod will vote on the issue again this week, with the Archbishop warning the
issue should have been settled years ago
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