The Church of England ended one of its longest and most
divisive disputes Monday with an overwhelming vote in favor of allowing women
to become bishops.
The church's national assembly,
known as the General Synod, voted for the historic measure, reaching the
required two-thirds majority in each of its three different houses. In total,
351 members of the three houses approved of the move. Only 72 voted against and
10 abstained.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin
Welby said the long-awaited change marks the completion of a process that
started more than 20 years ago with the ordination of women as priests. He
called for tolerance and love for those traditionalists who disagree with the
decision.
"As delighted as I am for the
outcome of this vote I am also mindful of whose within the church for whom the
result will be difficult and a cause of sorrow," he said in a statement.
British Prime Minister David
Cameron called it a "great day for the Church and for equality."
Opponents argued that allowing
women into such a senior position in the church goes against the Bible. Others
warned that the church should not be guided by secular ethics.
Lay member Lorna Ashworth, who did not support the
move, said the church has entered new territory. "This is something we
have to work out as we go along," she said.
The Church of England represents
diverse religious groups from conservative evangelicals to supporters of gay
marriage. Major changes can take years, even decades to bring about.
Two years ago similar legislation
narrowly failed to reach the two-thirds majority with lay members, despite the
approval from bishops and clergy.
After that vote failed, the church
worked to build trust with its lay members, who lagged behind church leaders on
the question of female bishops, and make the legislation more acceptable to
opponents.
At the same time the church came
under increasing pressure from the outside to reform in favor of women. Some of
those who changed their vote this time around said they did not want to block
changes the majority was happy with.
Monday's vote marks the latest
advance of women in the church hierarchy.
The General Synod ruled in 1975
there was no fundamental objection to women becoming priests, but it took
nearly two decades for the first women to be ordained.
Things are likely to move faster
for aspiring female bishops. Welby told the BBC he expects the first woman
bishop in the Church of England by next year.
He was less sure when asked if
there will be a female Archbishop of Canterbury in his lifetime: "I've no
idea. I'd be delighted if I did.”
The Church of England was
established by King Henry VIII who appointed himself as its head in 1534. The
government still formally appoints the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual
leader of the church, and Queen Elizabeth II serves as its supreme governor.
Parliament maintains a role in
church affairs, and will be called upon to ratify the female bishop
legislation. Some 26 bishops are allocated seats in the House of Lords.
The Church of England is part of the global Anglican Communion with 77
million members in more than 160 countries. The Episcopal Church in the Unites States was the first member to have a woman bishop and is now led by a woman.
(Source: Matthew Knight July 14, 2014 - London AP. Sent by John Dayal)
The National Council of Churches in India looks forward with eager anticipation to greater partnership between women and men at all levels of Church governance and leadership.
The National Council of Churches in India looks forward with eager anticipation to greater partnership between women and men at all levels of Church governance and leadership.
