http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-28300618 The Church of England has voted to allow women to become bishops for first time in its history. Its ruling General Synod gave approval to legislation introducing the change by the required two-thirds majority. A previous vote in 2012 was backed by the Houses of Bishops and Clergy but blocked by traditionalist lay members. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said he was "delighted" but some opponents said they were unconvinced by the concessions offered to them. The crucial vote in the House of Laity went 152 in favour, 45 against, and there were five abstentions. In November 2012 the change was derailed by just six votes cast by the lay members. In the house of Bishops, 37 were in favour, two against, and there was one abstention. The House of Clergy voted 162 in favour, 25 against and there were four abstentions. Analysis It is hard to exaggerate the significance of today's decision at the York Synod. It breaks a hitherto unbroken tradition of exclusively male bishops inherited from the first Christians almost 2,000 years ago. Some Anglicans see it as a "cosmic shift" - arguing that the Church's theology has been changed by its acceptance that men and women are equally eligible to lead and teach Christianity. With the decision, the Church is acknowledging the importance secular society places on equality, signalling that it wants to end its isolation from the lives of the people it serves. The legislation leaves traditionalists relying largely on the goodwill and generosity of future women bishops, a source of anxiety for many, but heralded by some as a sign of a new culture of trust and co-operation in the Church. With the even more divisive issue of sexuality on the horizon, the Church will need that culture as never before. Before he announced the vote, the Archbishop of York John Sentamu, asked for the result to be met "with restraint and sensitivity". But there was a flurry of cheers when it was announced. The result overturned centuries of tradition in a Church that has been deeply divided over the issue. It comes more than 20 years after women were first allowed to become priests. More than one-in-five of priests in the church are now female. The motion will now go before Parliament's ecclesiastical committee, which examines measures from the Synod. The Synod would then meet again on 17 November to formally declare that women can be bishops. 'Big moment' The first woman bishop could potentially be appointed by the end of the year. The Dean of Salisbury, the Very Reverend June Osborne: "It's one more barrier down" The vote followed after almost five hours of debate at the University of York. The Dean of Salisbury, the Very Reverend June Osborne, said it was a "historic day". She told the BBC: "I don't think you can overstate the fact that the Church of England allowing women to take up the role of bishop is going to change the Church. "I think it's going to change our society as well because it's one more step in accepting that women are really and truly equal in spiritual authority, as well as in leadership in society." The Reverend Lindsay Southern, from the parish of Catterick with Tunstall, North Yorkshire, said "it's been a really long journey but we were so pleased with the graciousness of the Synod debate". But Lorna Ashworth, a lay member of the Synod who voted against women becoming bishops, suggested it was "not going to be a smooth road ahead". She said she had no plans to "run away" from the Church but predicted there could be "difficulties" in a number of areas, such as those involving new priests opposed to the changes. Archbishop Welby: "We'll require... a long period of culture change" Another lay member, Susie Leafe, director of the conservative evangelical group Reform, said she was "very disappointed" by the vote. "There is still at least a quarter of the Church for whom this package does not provide for their theological convictions," she said. The motion had the backing of the Archbishop of Canterbury and Prime Minister David Cameron. Speaking in the debate, Archbishop Welby said Church of England bishops were committed to meeting their needs should the legislation be passed. It contained concessions for those parishes that continue to object to the appointment of a women bishop - giving them the right to ask for a male alternative and to take disputes to an independent arbitrator. In a statement issued by Lambeth Palace later, Archbishop Welby said: "Today marks the start of a great adventure of seeking mutual flourishing while still, in some cases disagreeing. The challenge for us will be for the church to model good disagreement and to continue to demonstrate love for those who disagree on theological grounds." The Archbishop of York said it was a "momentous day". He said: "Generations of women have served the Lord faithfully in the Church of England for centuries. It is a moment of joy today: the office of Bishop is open to them." There were celebrations outside the General Synod meeting at York University Mr Cameron said it was a "great day for the Church and for equality". And writing on Twitter, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg praised Archbishop Welby's "leadership" on securing the Yes vote, adding that it was a "big moment" for the Church of England. Labour leader Ed Miliband said it was "wonderful news". But Prebendary David Houlding, a member of the Catholic Group on the General Synod, who voted against the legislation, expressed concerns at the potential impact the result could have on relations with the Catholic Church. The Anglican Communion has the largest Christian denomination in Britain and a presence in more than 160 countries. Women bishops are already in office in a number of provinces including the US, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
Praise the Lord and blessings to the mother church for moving positively and yet allowing the objectors to believe they STILL have a role in the mother church and Communion.
Australia has had women bishops for a couple of years now, the first was in Victoria and the second is Bishop Allison our regional bishop here in Brisbane.
As has Canada, indeed some of our female Bishops have been wonderful shepards of the flock and have led to deeper faith and worship within their sees and the ACC. And we can't ignore the work of Bishop Schiori of the American church. A tough and arduous journey she's had as Primate but the TEC has been boosted by her leadership in a few ways.
We can't forget PB Jefferts-Schori but we shall try. I'm interested to see in what way the good lady has boosted TEC...emigration numbers maybe? or the number of defrocked clerics? those numbers are indeed impressive.
You mean those that jumped ship when they didn't get there way right? Standing up for the Province's right to self determination of direction even while the mother church was rather up in arms of it's decision to do so it a plus. We are a communion, not under the oversight of a Pope after all. Holding together a province that schismatics wanted to have collapse. As well as halting ACNA to take over TEC property and congragations for simply disagreeing with TEC direction and canonical moves. The defending of the TEC's positions of the episcopate and who is qualified to stand for it is to be admired as well as the recognition and potential growth or at least more awareness of the church through the media. What has the ACNA done...well apart from schism and outright breaks of canon? Specially if the trial between the TEC and the "diocese of South Carolina" progress as I believe it will. Not that much. And now I expect even more hubbub cause the mother church has made it's own move towards inclusiveness,relevance and modernity within the traditional framework of the church.
What a horrific tragedy. Awful. We've already gone through dealing with this horror here in the states, my own diocese suffering terribly from TEC, and Catherine Schori the head-priestess herself. Now the English Synod (composed of muslims, methodists and other anti-Anglicans) has imposed the same abominable tribulation upon the Church of England.
I've spoken too harshly... it's just that anyone who knows our situation knows how many hundreds (thousands) of families have been threatened and ruined, so many churches sued, tried to be destroyed, sold off to muslims, anyone but an orthodox christian, by the High Command, Priestess Schori at the head. Now they're use the civil court system and military force (I kid not) to try to force us to give them all we have. There is literally nothing Christian or loving about the whole lot of them, though they preach love. This is what happens when you let heretics in power. at their root, by definition, they're actuated by sin and hate everything a christian is, yes even love. "I come now, the destroyer of Worlds" And now it is the CofE turn next
Specially if the trial between the TEC and the "diocese of South Carolina" progress as I believe it will. All these lawsuits are resolved according to the laws governing trusts and property in the various states where the suits are pressed by TEC. In some states, the relevant trust and property law will tend to favor the departing parish/diocese; in others, not so much. Here in Texas, Bishop Iker and the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth has prevailed at the state's supreme court, and the principles of law it handed down auger very well for several parishes which have (or soon will) initiate a secession from their own diocese. Indeed, I know of one parish which is refining its legal exit strategy based on the particulars of this recent Texas Supreme Court ruling. ... I expect even more hubbub cause the mother church has made it's own move towards inclusiveness,relevance and modernity within the traditional framework of the church ... Modernity within the traditional framework of the church??? Is this funny, or what? TEC reports that in the past reporting year, it planted three (3) new parishes. I was at a meeting this past Sunday evening in a new parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, and I was speaking with that parish's vicar who shared this amazing statistic with me. "How many parishes has Bishop Iker's diocese planted?" I asked. "Four," he replied, "and we also received about a dozen other parishes into our jurisdiction." Likewise the REC is planting new parishes here in Texas. It's not just Anglicans -- observe Christian communities generally, and it's the "old time religion," not the modern stuff, that sprouts, grows, and stays. The modern stuff lasts just about as long as anything modern does. The Edsel was Really Modern too when it flashed onto the scene.
Spherelink is probably right and the C. of E, is being pushed by the Establishment for political reasons. The Conservative party, which was considered to be the Church at prayer has lost votes and the confidence of the middle classes. To regain lost support it is trying to appeal to the young and those people who have nothing to believe in, playing on their sympathies for none Christians who seek only equality based on their feelings of guilt!
My comment was relating to the comment about female Bishops being a horrible tragedy. Our Bishop Allison is an extremely lovely person and an asset to our region.
"Our Bishop Allison is an extremely lovely person and an asset to our region." Gordon, To say that female bishops are a horrible tragedy for the church says nothing at all about the person of any individual woman who thinks (or is thought by others) that she is a bishop. That she would think so is a spiritual tragedy for herself, for she puts herself away from the teaching of our Lord and His Apostles. That others think her to be a bishop is virtually the same tragedy in its results. The same tragedy obtains for women who think (or are thought by others) to be presbyters. In any case, the woman who thinks (or is thought by others) to be a priest or a bishop may herself be a simply wonderful woman -- charming, kind, lovely, an asset to her region. She is nevertheless a tragedy for herself and the others who think her to be a bona fide officer of Christ's church. She is not.
Statement by the Church of Russia regarding the decision of the Church of England to allow women to serve as bishops Introduction of female bishops has eliminated even a theoretical possibility for the Orthodox to recognize the existence of apostolic succession in the Anglican hierarchy. More: https://mospat.ru/en/2014/07/16/news105568/
It is a shame any time that the tool of church unity represented in the office of bishops is twisted and used to deepen the divide between the 3 streams.
I know from your words it seemed as if it was wrong for the Eastern patriarchs to butt into this question, but to me it's a matter of stomping upon the liberals in the CoE. They got the church by the throat, and think they can do anything they want, just as here, the liberals holding the noble Episcopal church hostage. So what can you say/do to a person or people who already have all the power? You speak from your own position of power. Just, bam, you think you can do anything you want? Wrong, we strip you from the title of a church at all.
Discussion moved from thread. Everyone please remember that the honor in references to the Church of England has been protected by the site's Terms of Service, though we are now looking into revising this in light of the recent developments. Above posts fixed to cohere with the current Terms of Service. Stay tuned.
God has created an order. In the last 50 years or less we tossed in what man wants, what the world wants. In the last 50 years the church is losing members left and right. Opening a couple parishes does not fix this. It is a wholesale lost on our part. So if the Church of England wants female bishops good for them cause well more people in england do not go to church than do. England is lost to islam and atheism. She already changed so much other things that even smelled like orthodox christianity.