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Church rejects women bishops bill Church rejects women bishops bill
(about 2 hours later)
The Church in Wales' governing body has narrowly rejected proposals to allow women priests to become bishops.The Church in Wales' governing body has narrowly rejected proposals to allow women priests to become bishops.
The controversial bill was defeated by three votes at the 140-member body meeting in Lampeter, despite being backed by the Archbishop of Wales.The controversial bill was defeated by three votes at the 140-member body meeting in Lampeter, despite being backed by the Archbishop of Wales.
Ahead of the vote, Dr Barry Morgan had urged backing for the bill saying he could not see how women could logically be excluded from becoming bishops.Ahead of the vote, Dr Barry Morgan had urged backing for the bill saying he could not see how women could logically be excluded from becoming bishops.
Afterwards the church leader spoke of his "great disappointment".Afterwards the church leader spoke of his "great disappointment".
"I feel we won the argument, but we narrowly lost the vote," he said "I feel we won the argument, but we narrowly lost the vote," he said.
"I think it is three years before this can be brought forward again and the issue will certainly not be going away.""I think it is three years before this can be brought forward again and the issue will certainly not be going away."
It is essential that the church makes best use of everybody's talents so this outcome was very upsetting Gill Todd, member of the church's governing bodyIt is essential that the church makes best use of everybody's talents so this outcome was very upsetting Gill Todd, member of the church's governing body
More than 100 clergy warned in December last year they would not accept the ministry of women bishops.More than 100 clergy warned in December last year they would not accept the ministry of women bishops.
The bill, proposed by six diocesan bishops, needed a two-thirds majority in each section of the governing body to take effect.The bill, proposed by six diocesan bishops, needed a two-thirds majority in each section of the governing body to take effect.
Voting was split into three separate sections, the House of Laity, the House of Clerics and the House of Bishops.Voting was split into three separate sections, the House of Laity, the House of Clerics and the House of Bishops.
The House of Clerics voted 27 to 18 in favour but, with abstentions, missed the required two-thirds majority. The other houses attained the required minimum.The House of Clerics voted 27 to 18 in favour but, with abstentions, missed the required two-thirds majority. The other houses attained the required minimum.
Its defeat leaves Wales and England as the only UK regions in the Anglican Church that do not allow women bishops. The Anglican Church in Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada and the United States already allows women to be ordained as bishops.Its defeat leaves Wales and England as the only UK regions in the Anglican Church that do not allow women bishops. The Anglican Church in Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada and the United States already allows women to be ordained as bishops.
One of the three voting sections missed the required majorityOne of the three voting sections missed the required majority
Women have been ordained as priests within the Church in Wales since January 1997. There are now 160 women in that role out of a total of 696 clerics in the church.Women have been ordained as priests within the Church in Wales since January 1997. There are now 160 women in that role out of a total of 696 clerics in the church.
Gill Todd, a member of the governing body from the Swansea and Brecon Diocese, said she was "very upset and very sad" about the vote. An amendment for the bill to provide a male bishop for those opposed to the ordination of women bishops was also voted down.
"I think that this was very strong vote for the church which is filled with talented people, both men and women. Dr Morgan said he was pleased the amendment was also defeated as he said it would have changed the constitutional nature of the church by requiring bishops to appoint an assistant bishop.
"But it is essential that the church makes best use of everybody's talents so this outcome was very upsetting." In a statement, he said: "It is likely the bill would have sailed through if the amendment had been passed but that would have meant us, as supporters, compromising our principles, which we were not prepared to do.
The Rt Rev John Stewart Davies, Bishop of St Asaph, had also supported the bill. "Like this bill, the bill to ordain women to the priesthood was initially defeated, but it came back to the governing body and was passed 11 years ago.
Clergy opposed to the change signed a letter published in the Church Times last December warning they would not accept the ministry of women bishops. "This is not the end for this bill either - it will not go away and it will not be ignored, it is something the Church in Wales will have to grapple with.
Among those against was the Rev Roy Doxsey, of St German's Church in Cardiff. "But it saddens me that we will have to go through the whole process and all the work involved once again."
Speaking ahead of the vote, he said: "The bishops are in the apostolic succession and while our Lord had hundreds of disciples, amongst them many, many women, out of those hundreds of disciples he only selected 12 and they were all male." One of those opposed to the bill, Reverend Jeremy Winston, vicar of St Mary's Priory Church, Abergavenny, said he expected the issue to return.
He said the bill might have gone through if the proposed amendment had been passed for more "traditionalist" members of the church.
He said: "It [the amendment] was very much a way in that those who are very devout and committed members of the Church in Wales but are not in agreement on this issue [women bishops], could continue to play a full active and devout, prayerful, part in the life of the Church in Wales, which we want to do."