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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Church in Wales backs women bishops | Church in Wales backs women bishops |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Women bishops will be allowed in the Church in Wales following a landmark yes vote. | Women bishops will be allowed in the Church in Wales following a landmark yes vote. |
| Bishops within the Church tabled a bill calling for the change and it was finally accepted by its governing body after a previous vote in 2008 narrowly failed. | Bishops within the Church tabled a bill calling for the change and it was finally accepted by its governing body after a previous vote in 2008 narrowly failed. |
| There were huge cheers in the hall as the result was announced. | There were huge cheers in the hall as the result was announced. |
| In England, the issue is due to be discussed again in November. Ireland and Scotland both allow female bishops. | In England, the issue is due to be discussed again in November. Ireland and Scotland both allow female bishops. |
| Despite female bishops being allowed in Northern Ireland and Scotland, none have been elected yet. | Despite female bishops being allowed in Northern Ireland and Scotland, none have been elected yet. |
| The Church of Wales' bishops wanted a second bill to allow the Church's constitution to be rewritten for traditionalist priests who do not want to be led by a woman. | The Church of Wales' bishops wanted a second bill to allow the Church's constitution to be rewritten for traditionalist priests who do not want to be led by a woman. |
| But reformers successfully put forward an amendment earlier in the day to avoid delays in adopting the change during a meeting at Lampeter, Ceredigion. | But reformers successfully put forward an amendment earlier in the day to avoid delays in adopting the change during a meeting at Lampeter, Ceredigion. |
| Their amendment led to the straight yes-no vote | Their amendment led to the straight yes-no vote |
| The governing body comprises over 140 members and is made up of three separate divisions with the six bishops, clerical representatives and non-clerical representatives. | The governing body comprises over 140 members and is made up of three separate divisions with the six bishops, clerical representatives and non-clerical representatives. |
| The groups voted separately with a majority two third vote required before the amended bill could be accepted. | The groups voted separately with a majority two third vote required before the amended bill could be accepted. |
| Back in 2008, the move was defeated by just three votes but this time the vote was strongly in favour. | Back in 2008, the move was defeated by just three votes but this time the vote was strongly in favour. |
| In the breakdown, the laity voted 57 for, 14 against, with two abstentions; the clergy section saw 37 voting for and 10 against, while the bishops voted unanimously in favour. | In the breakdown, the laity voted 57 for, 14 against, with two abstentions; the clergy section saw 37 voting for and 10 against, while the bishops voted unanimously in favour. |
| The Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan called it "an historic day for the Church in Wales." | |
| He told BBC Wales he hoped it would be possible that no-one would be lost to the church and said bishops would now be drawing up a code of practice. | |
| "There are two things we've done today - firstly we've said it's possible for women to be ordained to the episcopate; that's a very important principle for the mission of the church," said Dr Morgan. | |
| "Secondly, we we want to take care of those who find that decision difficult." | |
| Dr Morgan praised the way in which the debate was been conducted and addressing members added: "I hope you will trust us as bishops to prepare a code of practice." | |
| The Bill was proposed by the Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory Cameron, and seconded by the Bishop of Bangor, Andy John. | The Bill was proposed by the Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory Cameron, and seconded by the Bishop of Bangor, Andy John. |
| And Bishop John said: "We can by God's grace ordain women to the episcopate. Thank you governing body." | And Bishop John said: "We can by God's grace ordain women to the episcopate. Thank you governing body." |
| 'More hospitable' | 'More hospitable' |
| Bishop Cameron said the change will come into effect in a year, to allow time for pastoral care to be drawn up for those still opposed to women as a bishop. | Bishop Cameron said the change will come into effect in a year, to allow time for pastoral care to be drawn up for those still opposed to women as a bishop. |
| "For too many years sadly the church has been lagging behind," he said, admitting his surprise by the strength of mood within the governing body. | "For too many years sadly the church has been lagging behind," he said, admitting his surprise by the strength of mood within the governing body. |
| "I'm very glad we got the result we have today. | "I'm very glad we got the result we have today. |
| "The journey has been going in that direction for a little while," he told BBC Radio Wales | "The journey has been going in that direction for a little while," he told BBC Radio Wales |
| "The church changes very slowly and you have to learn to live with that." | "The church changes very slowly and you have to learn to live with that." |
| Mary Stallard, co-director of St Giles' Centre for Religious Education and Faith Development in Wrexham, said she expected the move to "open things up in all sorts of ways". | Mary Stallard, co-director of St Giles' Centre for Religious Education and Faith Development in Wrexham, said she expected the move to "open things up in all sorts of ways". |
| She told BBC Radio Wales: "One of my daughters, who's 16, said spontaneously, 'this opens up a possibility for me, it makes me think that going into the church might be something I would consider'. | She told BBC Radio Wales: "One of my daughters, who's 16, said spontaneously, 'this opens up a possibility for me, it makes me think that going into the church might be something I would consider'. |
| "And I think all sorts of people will see this as an opening, something that makes the church a little bit more hospitable. Anglicans never want to exclude anybody." | "And I think all sorts of people will see this as an opening, something that makes the church a little bit more hospitable. Anglicans never want to exclude anybody." |