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| Justin Welby invited to meet MPs over fast-tracking female bishop resolution | Justin Welby invited to meet MPs over fast-tracking female bishop resolution |
| (4 months later) | |
| The next archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is being invited to meet MPs and Lords to discuss ways of speeding up a fresh attempt for the Church of England to vote for the ordination of women bishops. | The next archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, is being invited to meet MPs and Lords to discuss ways of speeding up a fresh attempt for the Church of England to vote for the ordination of women bishops. |
| The announcement by Tony Baldry, the second church estates commissioner, the official link between the church and parliament, was made as MPs called for more drastic measures to force the Church of England to change its mind after it narrowly failed to back the move in a vote earlier this week. | The announcement by Tony Baldry, the second church estates commissioner, the official link between the church and parliament, was made as MPs called for more drastic measures to force the Church of England to change its mind after it narrowly failed to back the move in a vote earlier this week. |
| Baldry resisted calls from MPs from all main parties for an immediate bill to force the church to accept women bishops, for a moratorium on new male bishops until the change was made, or for disestablishment of the Church of England. | Baldry resisted calls from MPs from all main parties for an immediate bill to force the church to accept women bishops, for a moratorium on new male bishops until the change was made, or for disestablishment of the Church of England. |
| However he warned that the government was not prepared to wait more than two to three years until a new General Synod of the church is appointed, as had been speculated after Tuesday's vote. | However he warned that the government was not prepared to wait more than two to three years until a new General Synod of the church is appointed, as had been speculated after Tuesday's vote. |
| "This is not an issue which can in any way be parked for the next couple of years or so, waiting for another round of synod elections," said Baldry. "This has to be an issue that has to be resolved as soon as possible." | "This is not an issue which can in any way be parked for the next couple of years or so, waiting for another round of synod elections," said Baldry. "This has to be an issue that has to be resolved as soon as possible." |
| The meeting with the archbishop designate – the current bishop of Durham Justin Welby who is a supporter of women bishops – would discuss "how this might be resolved as speedily as possible", said Baldry. | The meeting with the archbishop designate – the current bishop of Durham Justin Welby who is a supporter of women bishops – would discuss "how this might be resolved as speedily as possible", said Baldry. |
| Baldry, responding to an urgent question tabled by Labour MP Diana Johnson, signalled that there would be considerable pressure on the church to change the voting system or find another way to make the change in the near future. | Baldry, responding to an urgent question tabled by Labour MP Diana Johnson, signalled that there would be considerable pressure on the church to change the voting system or find another way to make the change in the near future. |
| "As a consequence of the decision by the General Synod, the Church of England no longer looks like a national church, it simply looks like a sect like any other sect," added Baldry. "If the Church of England wishes to be a national church, reflecting the nation, then it has to reflect the nation." | "As a consequence of the decision by the General Synod, the Church of England no longer looks like a national church, it simply looks like a sect like any other sect," added Baldry. "If the Church of England wishes to be a national church, reflecting the nation, then it has to reflect the nation." |
| Baldry's replies follows a similar tone set by the prime minister, who told MPs on Wednesday that the church must "get on with it" and needed a "sharp prod". | Baldry's replies follows a similar tone set by the prime minister, who told MPs on Wednesday that the church must "get on with it" and needed a "sharp prod". |
| Conservative MP Peter Bone said politicians should be cautious about trying to dictate "how the established church is run". | Conservative MP Peter Bone said politicians should be cautious about trying to dictate "how the established church is run". |
| Baldry replied: "If the Church of England is a national church, the established church, it's right and proper that parliament makes clear its views to the Church of England." | Baldry replied: "If the Church of England is a national church, the established church, it's right and proper that parliament makes clear its views to the Church of England." |
| Baldry also defended the bishops, who voted 94% in favour of ordaining women to the episcopate. Clergy voted 74% in favour, but the measure failed by six votes to get the two-thirds majority needed in the third part of synod, the house of laity, which voted 64% for the change. | Baldry also defended the bishops, who voted 94% in favour of ordaining women to the episcopate. Clergy voted 74% in favour, but the measure failed by six votes to get the two-thirds majority needed in the third part of synod, the house of laity, which voted 64% for the change. |
| Likening the bishops' combined attempts to sway opponents of women bishops to Conservative whips trying to persuade Eurosceptic MPs, Baldry added: "Whatever the bishops had said to them [they] were just not going to listen." | Likening the bishops' combined attempts to sway opponents of women bishops to Conservative whips trying to persuade Eurosceptic MPs, Baldry added: "Whatever the bishops had said to them [they] were just not going to listen." |
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