Briefing: Women’s leadership accepted at last in the Church of England

After 20 years of turmoil and angry debate, on Monday (July 14) the General Synod of the Church of England said “yes” to women bishops.

The first could be named by the end of the year with the appointment of at least three additional women sometime in 2015, say senior church officials.

The General Synod is the three-tier governing body of the Church of England and it is made up of bishops, clergy and laity.

At a meeting in York, the General Synod gave final approval to legislation introducing the changes by the required two-thirds majority.

Overall, the Synod voted 351-72 on the measure. Ten abstained.

Despite the Archbishop of York John Sentamu calling for the result to be read in silence, cheers and clapping broke out as the dispute that has dogged the established church in England and Wales ended.

After the vote, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby was seen relaxed and smiling as he walked next to women clergy along a corridor at the University of York where the meeting was held.

Earlier, Welby indicated that the General Synod would be dissolved and later reconstituted if the vote was defeated, as it was by six votes in November, 2012.

In a statement Welby said: “Today marks the start of a great adventure of seeking mutual flourishing while still, in some cases, disagreeing.”

In the Episcopal Church, the Rev Barbara C Harris was elected as the first woman bishop when she was named suffragan bishop of Massachusetts in 1988.

Referring to those who have long since opposed the consecration of women, Welby said: “I am also mindful of those within the church for whom the result will be difficult and a cause of sorrow. My aim, and I believe the aim of the whole church, should be to be able to offer a place of welcome and growth for all.”

Unlike the highly controversial issue of homosexuality, the ordination of women bishops is only sporadically controversial in Africa, where the Anglican Church is growing fastest.

“This may not necessarily mean other provinces will follow suit,” said Anglican Bishop Julius Kalu of Mombasa, in Kenya. “I think it’s not a doctrinal issue, but that of the church’s tradition.”

Kalu said it would need to be discussed among the African provinces.

Two African provinces — Nigeria and Central Africa — do not consecrate women to any position in the church.

Most of the other provinces accept women’s leadership. In 2012 and 2013, respectively, the Southern African province consecrated the Rev Ellinah Wamukoya bishop of Swaziland and the Rev Margaret Vertue for the False Bay diocese.

In Uganda and Sudan women bishops have been approved but no woman has been named bishop.

“We do not have a problem with women becoming bishops in the Church of Uganda,” said Archbishop Stanley Ntagali of Uganda. “I support the ordination of women as bishops in the Church of Uganda and elsewhere.”