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LONDON: The Church of England is facing a serious
split after its ruling General Synod voted to allow women bishops
despite threats by more than 1,300 clergy that they would quit over
the issue.
The Synod, the Church’s
legislative body, voted late Monday to press ahead with the
ordination of women bishops and rejected the legal safeguards
demanded by traditionalists.
The Synod members voted to
approve the drawing-up of a statutory national code of practice to
accommodate parishes and clergy who object to women bishops on
grounds of conscience.
That fell short of demands by
traditionalists, who had wanted new dioceses to be created for
parishes and clergy opposed to women bishops.
The Synod also rejected
compromise proposals to create a new order of three male “super
bishops” to cater for objectors.
The crunch vote at the University
of York in northern England followed a passionate six-hour debate
that pitched conservatives against liberals and ended with one
bishop in tears as he said he was “ashamed” of the Church of
England.
The Rt. Rev. Stephen Venner, the
Bishop of Dover in southeast England, who supports women bishops,
said the failure to agree to create “super bishops” meant that
every opportunity to allow objectors to “flourish” with the
Church had been blocked.
“I have to say, Synod, for the
first time in my life, I feel ashamed,” he said.
Bishops voted to bring forward
legislation to ordain women bishops by 28 to 12, clergy were in
favor by 124 to 44 and lay people by 111 to 68.
--AFP
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