THE P RTAL
August 2014
CofE votes for
Women Bishops
UK Pages - page 14
Anglican
News
The Revd Paul Benfield gives us his own observations
on the decisive vote
O
n 14th
July 2014, the General Synod of the Church of England gave final approval to the legislation
to allow women to become bishops. In November 2012, a different set of proposals had been defeated
by six votes in the House of Laity because some supporters of women bishops voted against; they felt there
were not enough provisions for those who, on grounds of theological conviction, could not accept women
priests and bishops. Since this group of people were now satisfied with the new package, there was no doubt
in my mind that the legislation would secure the necessary two-thirds majority in all three houses, but many
supporters were nervous that it might not pass.
We will never know the
precise reasons for people voting
in a particular way
The debate was not particularly inspiring as we have
been round the arguments for and against so many
times that I think everyone was tired of rehearsing
them. The Bishop of Burnley spoke very well in his last
appearance at Synod before retiring.
There were some surprising speeches, including one
from Adrian Vincent, who declared that he would vote
against his conscience and vote in favour because of
the views of the people that had elected him. We will
never know the precise reasons for people voting in a
particular way, but I suspect that there were some who
are opposed to women bishops who voted in favour results have not been published and so we cannot yet
or abstained because they feared that if the legislation see which of those who voted against in 2012 voted for
failed again then those opposed would get no provision or abstained this time.
at all in the future.
After the vote the Archbishop of Canterbury said,
singing and dancing started by
“The challenge for us will be for the church to model
the Archbishop of York
good disagreement and to continue to demonstrate
Before the vote, Fr David Houlding asked the love for those who disagree on theological grounds.
chairman if the normal practice of receiving the result Very few institutions achieve this, but if we manage
of a vote in silence could be dropped because ‘there this we will be living our more fully the call of Jesus
is something very real to celebrate’. In doing that, he Christ to love one another. As delighted as I am for the
was not speaking for the Catholic Group and he was outcome of this vote I am also mindful of those within
heavily criticised afterwards but, in any event, the the Church for whom the result will be difficult and a
Archbishop of York declined his request. The singing cause of sorrow.
and dancing which you may have seen on television
a place of welcome
was later started by the Archbishop of York.
The final voting figures were
House of Bishops: for 37; against 2; Abstentions 1
House of Clergy: for 162; against 25; Abstentions 4
House of Laity: for 152; against 42; Abstentions 5
At the time of writing, the full electronic voting
contents page
and growth for all
“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. Today is a time of blessing and gift
from God and thus of generosity. It is not winner
take all, but, in love, a time for the family to move on
together.”