Female bishops voted in by Church in Wales

Supporters and women's rights groups call decision long overdue, as Church of England comes under pressure to allow ordination of women

The Guardian, Steven Morris, Thursday 12 September 2013

The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has said there are 'good signs'
 that the ordination of women will be approved in England. Photograph:
Gareth Fuller/PA

The Church of England will come under increasing pressure to appoint female bishops after Anglicans in Wales on Thursday voted to allow women to be ordained in the most senior posts there.

There were cheers after the governing body of the Church in Wales ruled that from around this time next year women will be able to become bishops. Supporters and women's rights groups called the decision long overdue, arguing the exclusion of women from the top roles made the church less relevant in modern society.

The decision adds to the pressure on the Church of England to follow suit – given that Scotland and Northern Ireland already allow female bishops. In England the issue is due to be discussed again in November; the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has said there are "good signs" that the ordination of female bishops will be approved.

Before the debate the archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said it made "no theological sense" not to ordain women as bishops when the church already allowed them to become deacons and priests.

During a passionate debate among the 144 members of the Church in Wales's governing body in Lampeter, south-west Wales, Canon Jenny Wigley, from Radyr in Cardiff, asserted that the Bible says there should be no differences between people.

"It's Christ-like people that the church chooses as bishops, and I hope and pray that the Church in Wales gives an unqualified and unreserved yes to the Christ-like qualities of our women priests alongside our men," she said.

Canon Patrick Thomas of Christ Church, Carmarthen, said: "I'm happy with Bishop Wyn [referring to the bishop of St David's, Wyn Evans] but would be just as happy with Bishop Wynona."

However, some critics claimed that Christ had chosen only men as apostles. Father Ben Andrews, from Barry, said it could be difficult for some people to stay in the church if female bishops were allowed. "The bishop's role is to hold the diocese together, and for those of us who in good conscience cannot accept the sacramental ministry of a woman bishop means we cannot be in communion with that bishop," he said.

"We are told we have an honoured place within the church but that place is going to be difficult if not impossible for us to remain. There may come a time when it is impossible for me to function as a priest in the Church in Wales."

A two-thirds majority was needed in each of the governing body's three houses – laity, clergy and bishops. In the end it was fairly comfortable for those in favour of change. Laity voted 57 for and 14 against, with clergy backing the move 37 to 10. The bishops voted unanimously in favour.

One possible way forward for those against the reform had been for a change in the church's constitution to be brought in to cater for priests who did not want to be led by a woman. This would have required a further vote. Instead, the governing body decided that it would be sufficient for bishops to draw up a code of practice.

This result is bound to lead to supporters of female bishops in England to call for a similar scheme to be introduced. In England the General Synod narrowly voted against legislation last year to allow women to become bishops.

Related Article:

"The Recalibration of Awareness – Apr 20/21, 2012 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Old Energy, Recalibration Lectures, God / Creator, Religions/Spiritual systems  (Catholic Church, Priests/Nun’s, Worship, John Paul Pope, Women in the Church otherwise church will go, Current Pope won’t do it),  Middle East, Jews, Governments will change (Internet, Media, Democracies, Dictators, North Korea, Nations voted at once), Integrity (Businesses, Tobacco Companies, Bankers/ Financial Institutes, Pharmaceutical company to collapse),  Illuminati (Started in Greece, with Shipping, Financial markets, Stock markets, Pharmaceutical money (fund to build Africa, to develop)), Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Women, Masters to/already come back, Global Unity.... etc.) - (Text version)

“… I gave you a channelling years ago when Pope John Paul was alive. John Paul loved Mary, the mother. Had John Paul survived another 10 years, he would have done what the next Pope [The one after the current one, Benedict XVI] will do, and that is to bring women into the Church. This Pope you have now [Benedict XVI] won't be here long.* The next Pope will be the one who has to change the rules, should he survive. If he doesn't, it will be the one after that.

There it a large struggle within the Church, even right now, and great dissention, for it knows that it is not giving what humanity wants. The doctrine is not current to the puzzles of life. The answer will be to create a better balance between the feminine and masculine, and the new Pope, or the one after that, will try to allow women to be in the higher echelon of the Church structure to assist the priests.

It will be suggested to let women participate in services, doing things women did not do before. This graduates them within church law to an equality with priests, but doesn't actually let them become priests just yet. However, don't be surprised if this begins in another way, and instead gives priests the ability to marry. This will bring the feminine into the church in other ways. It will eventually happen and has to happen. If it does not, it will be the end of the Catholic Church, for humanity will not sustain a spiritual belief system that is out of balance with the love of God and also out of balance with intuitive Human awareness.  …”