Church of England Backs Women Bishops
By Daniel Blake
Christian Post Correspondent
Sun, Jul. 09 2006

LONDON – The Church of England General Synod officially approved the concept of women bishops as "theologically justified" by 288 votes to 119 in York this weekend.

The vote by the Church of England ruling body, which resulted from a two-and-a-half-hour debate led by the Archbishop of York, sees the introduction of women bishops move one step closer.

Dr John Sentamu called for the Synod to “welcome and affirm” the views of the majority of the House of Bishops that women bishops should be accepted to the episcopate. In answer to this call, more than two-thirds of the Synod supported him.

The Synod also approved the statement that it would be a “proper development in proclaiming afresh, in this generation, the grace and truth of Christ.” Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams will address the Synod on Monday to support setting up a legislative drafting group to tackle the issue.

Already in 2005 it was decided in principle that the obstacles to the ordination of women as bishops should be removed, and during this weekend’s Synod just 119 members, including the Bishop of London, the Rev Richard Chartres, voted against the move.

Currently 14 of the 38 worldwide Anglican Churches have already decided to give their consent to women bishops.

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