Archbishop blessing for women bishops vote

Mar 28 2008 Western Mail

A VOTE on the ordination of female bishops in Wales will take place next week, it was announced yesterday.

The move was proposed by the six diocesan bishops of the Church in Wales, and the 140 members of the church’s Governing Body will now decide whether or not to pass the Bill.

If the Bill is passed, it will come into effect immediately, making England the only part of the UK whose Anglican Church does not allow women priests to be ordained as bishops.

Archbishop of Wales Dr Barry Morgan said, “I do not personally see how having agreed to ordaining women to both the diaconate and priesthood the church can logically exclude women from the episcopate.

“That is why I and my fellow bishops will be asking members of the Governing Body to vote in favour of the Bill.”

The Governing Body, the church’s legislative section, is meeting at the University of Wales, Lampeter, next Wednesday.

The Bill has to be passed by a majority of two-thirds in each section of the Governing Body – the House of Clergy, House of Laity and House of Bishops.

In December, 101 clergy from the Church in Wales warned they would not accept the ordination of female bishops. A letter published in the Church Times called for a separate bishop for those who felt unable to serve under a female bishop.

In the letter, the Rev Alan Rabjohns, vicar of St Saviour’s in Splott, Cardiff, described the ordination of women bishops as a “novelty”.

“The Bill does not give much provision for those who don’t agree with it,” he said yesterday.

“It’s a question of authority, and whether the Church in Wales – which is a tiny province of a minority group within Christianity – has a right to change something which is part of 2,000 years of tradition. It makes us different, and I’m not happy with that.”

Christina Rees, chairwoman of Women and the Church, a group that campaigns in favour of female bishops in the Church of England, said she was “very excited” about the vote.

She said, “I really hope it goes through. I’m impressed with how the Church in Wales is dealing with this issue. The Archbishop has made it absolutely clear that he’s in favour of it.

“This is extremely good news for our campaign as well. If it goes through the Church in Wales, it will leave England as the only Anglican church in the UK not to have said yes to women bishops.

“I’m delighted that the vote is taking place, and I believe the Bill will go through.”

She added that she is “certain” there will be a similar vote in the Church of England within the next few years. Women were first ordained as priests in the Church in Wales in January 2007, after a bill allowing the move was passed the previous September. So far, female bishops can be ordained in Anglican churches in Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

Meanwhile, on the evening before the Church in Wales’ historic vote, the church’s bishops will meet to confirm the election of the new Bishop of Swansea and Brecon.

The Very Rev John Davies, Dean of Brecon, was elected Bishop of Swansea and Brecon in January. His election will be confirmed at the Sacred Synod at the University of Wales, Lampeter, on Tuesday evening.