Church will ordain women bishops

The Church of England’s ruling body, the General Synod, has voted to confirm the ordination of women as bishops.

But a national code to accommodate traditionalists was approved by the Synod, which was meeting in York.

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Here is the approved motion:

This is the final motion approved by Synod:

      ‘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.’

Img00057The voting was:

Bishops: 28 for 12 against 1 abs

Clergy: 124 for 44 against 4 abs

Laity: 111 for 68 against 2 abs