Plan B Forum

The Church of England ended at a stroke the male domination of its hierarchy as the General Synod voted on Monday to allow women to be ordained as bishops for the first time.

Applause in the public gallery at the meeting in York greeted the overwhelming vote in favour of the measure. With a two-to-one vote for the move needed, 152 lay members of the synod were in favour and 45 against. Majorities among bishops and clergy were even greater.

The historic decision came amid threats of parliamentary intervention, and with the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, having prepared contingency plans to dissolve the synod and call fresh elections if the vote had gone the other way. Welby said after the debate that he was "absolutely delighted by the result; grateful to God and to answered prayers", and that he expected the appointment of a female bishop "to happen as rapidly as possible".

A crisis was averted by a change of mind, and vote, among lay members. A previous attempt in 2012 failed when 74 lay members voted against, preventing the attainment of the majority among the laity that was needed. The church voted in 1992 to ordain female priests but has spent the last two decades resisting the next step.

But it took a closing speech of astonishing force and passion by a blind evangelical Christian, who became a managing director of Lloyds bank after he had lost his sight, to win over the last waverers. Speaking to the key evangelical community opposed to the measure, John Spence told them: "Your faith is my faith, is all of our faith, and every one of us has a vital role to ensure that the searing vision of the risen Christ is taken out into this country. Trust not misplaced. You like me will come to see … I am confident that we can walk hand in hand, and return the risen Christ to his rightful place at the centre of this country, its conscience and its culture."

The vote means that the first woman might become a suffragan (assistant) bishop in the spring next year, and her appointment could be announced before the new year. But because the legislative process will not be complete before the synod next meets, in November, it will not be legal to place women on the shortlist for consideration as a diocesan bishop before then.

This means that the earliest a woman might take her place in the synod's house of bishops is next summer.

Gob wrote:No bashing the bishops please.

rubato wrote:But they are only 30 years behind the times on this. Not bad for religion.

Econoline wrote:

rubato wrote:But they are only 30 years behind the times on this. Not bad for religion.

Considering that it took the Catholic church almost 400 years to apologize to Galileo...yeah, you've got a good point!

Crackpot wrote:In all fiat was rube hasn't been around for 400 years. .

Daisy wrote:Rubato, some might accuse you of Jim baiting there.

Daisy wrote:Rubato, some might accuse you of Jim baiting there.

rubato wrote:

Daisy wrote:Rubato, some might accuse you of Jim baiting there.

And some would convict you of selective attention.



yrs,
rubato