Bishops back elevation of women priests

3:31pm Tuesday 8th July 2008

THE Bishops of Worcester, Gloucester and Tewkesbury were united this week in their support for women bishops.

At a time when the Church of England is divided over the issue, local church leaders have come out in favour of the ordination of women bishops in a vote on Monday night.

Speaking to the General Synod on Monday, the Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Revd Michael Perham, moved that this Synod affirm that the wish of its majority is for women to be admitted to the episcopate'.

The motion was then carried by a division of all three houses of Synod. The House of Bishops voted 28 to 12 for', with one abstention. The House of Clergy voted 124 to 44 for', with four abstentions, while the House of Laity voted 111 to 68 for', with two abstentions.

The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Revd Dr John Inge, said: "I am very happy with the result, for which I voted, and which represents an historic moment in the life of the Church of England.

"I look forward very much to having women colleagues as bishops. At the same time, I hope and pray that those who cannot, in conscience, accept the ministry of women bishops will feel that they still have an honoured place within our church.

"This is a great step forward which will, at the same time, preserve the comprehensiveness and inclusivity of the Church of England."

Part of the vote on Monday stipulated that special arrangements be available for those who, as a matter of theological conviction, cannot accept the ministry of women as bishops or priests.

These will then be contained in a statutory national code of practice.

The Bishop of Tewkesbury, the Rt Revd John Went, said: "I was not eligible for the vote, which was only for members of the general Synod, but if I had been I would have voted in favour of women bishops.

"However, there are deeply held theological views on this matter, both in the Church and around the world, and I am glad provision has been made for this too."

The Church of England has added that even if legislation is introduced immediately a woman bishop could not be installed before 2014.

Meanwhile, the female Bishop of Rhode Island, USA, the Rt Revd Geralyn Wolf, will join Revd Inge and others for the Worcester Diocesan Assembly this weekend.

Here she will outline her thoughts on what makes a healthy' church and what congregations in Worcestershire can learn from her own experiences of churches in the United States.

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