Church legislation on women bishops clears revision stage

The Church of England came a step closer to consecrating its first woman bishop today after legislation cleared the revision stage.

The draft Measure on women bishops was approved after a lengthy and at times impassioned debate stretching over several days in York. A last minute attempt by one traditionalist to have the draft Measure sent back to the Revision Committee for further consideration was rejected by Synod as supporters made it clear they were anxious for the legislation to move to the next stage.

The legislation will now pass to diocesan synods for consideration. If it is approved by the majority of dioceses, it will be brought back before General Synod in 18 months for the final drafting stage.

The outcome of the debate is a victory for supporters of women bishops, who have long campaigned for them since the Church of England first started ordaining priests in 1994.

Christina Rees, Synod member and prominent women bishops campaigner, said the outcome of today's debate was a "wonderful result".

"There is a wonderful sense of being in a place where the Church has finally taken the decision to go to the next stage of the process," she said.

"People out in the dioceses are ready and willing to have women bishops and they are wondering why it has taken so long."

While some traditionalists said they doubted the legislation would pass at final approval stage following the defeat of the Archbishops' amendment on Saturday, Ms Rees said she did not share their "doom and gloom".

"This is the last meeting of the current term of Synod before elections take place and there will be around a 30% change in membership. Who's to say Synod won't be more representative of the Church by the time the Measure comes back for debate?" she said.

"The current Synod is less in favour of women bishops than the Church overall and it may be that the next Synod is a more representative body."