THE first four diocesan synods to consider the women-bishops
legislation referred by the General Synod have voted overwhelmingly
in favour.
All of the bishops in the dioceses of Chelmsford, Guildford, St
Edmundsbury & Ipswich, and Ripon & Leeds voted in favour.
Across the four dioceses, 94 per cent of clergy and laity also
voted in favour. In St Edmundsbury & Ipswich, 100 per cent of
all Houses voted in favour.
Last month, the General Synod voted to suspend a Standing Order
so that reference of the Draft Measure and Draft Canon to the
dioceses, under Article 8 of the Constitution, could be concluded
within three months rather than six. This means that final approval
could be given in July.
In Chelmsford, on Saturday, 86 per cent of members of the
diocesan synod approved the legislation. Seven of the 50 clergy
voted against it, and 11 of the 55 laity.
The motion was introduced by the Archdeacon of Colchester, the
Ven. Annette Cooper: "There is no theological reason why this
exciting development cannot take place. We now have before us a
simple structure that enables this alongside a package of
provisions for those who are unable to accept it."
The Vicar of Harold Wood, the Revd David Banting, spoke against
the motion. He encouraged "all conservatives and traditionalists,
Evangelical or Catholic, in our conscientious opposition".
On Tuesday, he said: "We are already being told that, in
reality, a conservative Evangelical bishop is simply unappointable
as a diocesan or suffragan."