Printer Friendly
Email to FriendWomen bishops approved by Church of England's General Synod
After a four-hour debate and 13 proposed amendments, two of which were carried, the church's main legislative body approved the following motion:
That this Synod:
(a) affirm that the wish of its majority is for women to be admitted to the episcopate;
(b) affirm its view that special arrangements be available, within the existing structures of the Church of England, for those who as a matter of theological conviction will not be able to receive the ministry of women as bishops or priests;
(c) affirm that these should be contained in a statutory national code of practice to which all concerned would be required to have regard; and
(d) instruct the legislative drafting group, in consultation with the House of Bishops, to complete its work accordingly, including preparing the first draft of a code of practice, so that the Business Committee can include first consideration of the draft legislation in the agenda for the February 2009 group of sessions.
The final motion was carried by 28 to 12 votes in the House of Bishops, 124 to 44 in the House of Clergy, and 111 to 68 in the House of Laity.
The summary of business, including audio streams of the sessions, is available here.
The Church of England's General Synod has a tricameral legislature -- normally meeting in plenary, but occasionally meeting separately -- in contrast to the Episcopal Church's General Convention, which operates a larger bicameral system, typically meeting in two houses, but with occasional plenary sessions.
Further information about how the Church of England's General Synod contrasts with the Episcopal Church's General Convention is available here.
An overview of the Church of England's legislative processes is available here.
An overview of the proposed amendments and votes is available on the Thinking Anglicans website here.
In 2006, the synod passed a motion calling for the practical and legislative arrangements of admitting women to the episcopate to be explored and inviting dioceses, deaneries and parishes "to continue serious debate and reflection on the theological, practical, ecumenical and missiological aspects of the issue" of ordaining women bishops.
It is estimated that women bishops in England will not be canonically possible until at least 2014.
» Respond to this articleSearch
Browse by Topic:
