This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20415689
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Church of England general synod votes against women bishops | Church of England general synod votes against women bishops |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The general synod of the Church of England has voted against the appointment of women as bishops. | The general synod of the Church of England has voted against the appointment of women as bishops. |
| The decision came at the end of a day of debate by supporters and opponents - and a 12-year legislative process. | The decision came at the end of a day of debate by supporters and opponents - and a 12-year legislative process. |
| The measure was passed by the synod's houses of bishops and clergy but was rejected by the house of laity. | The measure was passed by the synod's houses of bishops and clergy but was rejected by the house of laity. |
| Controversy had centred on the provisions for parishes opposed to women bishops to request supervision by a stand-in male bishop. | Controversy had centred on the provisions for parishes opposed to women bishops to request supervision by a stand-in male bishop. |
| The measure needed two-thirds majorities in each of the synod's three houses. | The measure needed two-thirds majorities in each of the synod's three houses. |
| The votes were 44 for and three against with two abstentions in the House of Bishops, 148 for and 45 against in the House of Clergy, and 132 for and 74 against in the House of Laity. | |
| The vote in the House of Laity, at 64%, was just short of the required majority. | |
| Just six more "yes" votes would have tipped it over the two-thirds mark. | |
| Twenty years after the introduction of women priests, the issue has continued to divide traditionalists - among those on the Church's evangelical and Anglo-catholic wings - from reformers. | |
| Had the move been backed by the synod, the proposed legislation would have made its way through Parliament before receiving royal assent. | |
| The Bishop of Norwich, the Rt Rev Graham Jones, said: "It is very disappointing that the vote was lost so narrowly." | |
| Campaign group Women and the Church (Watch) said the outcome was a "devastating blow for the Church of England and the country". | |
| The Rev Rachel Weir, chairwoman of Watch, said "This is a tragic day for the Church of England after so many years of debate and after all our attempts at compromise. | |
| "Despite this disappointing setback, Watch will continue to campaign for the full acceptance of women's gifts of leadership in the Church's life." | |
| Watch said bishops would need to act promptly to offer pastoral support in the coming weeks to women clergy and others who felt devastated by decision. | |
| Both the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, and his successor, the Rt Rev Justin Welby, were in favour of a "yes" vote. | |
| The vote came after several speakers at the synod opposed giving final approval to the legislation. | |
| Canon Simon Killwick, a vicar in Moss Side, Manchester, and chairman of the catholic group in the synod, urged members to vote against the move. | |
| "I do not believe that this draft legislation will be good for the Church of England," he said. | |
| "We are all desperate to move on from the sad infighting of the last few years - but this legislation does not provide a clear way forward." | |
| The result means it will be at least five years before the synod gets to vote on final approval of such legislation. | |
| The House of Bishops will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday morning following the decision, a Church spokesman said. |