Vote on women bishops ordination

The Church in Wales' governing body is to vote on whether women can be ordained as bishops.

The church's six diocesan bishops proposed the move which will be considered by the 140 members of its governing body in Lampeter next week.

The Archbishop of Wales has backed the idea and said he could not see how the church could logically exclude women.

If the bill is passed, England will be the sole UK region where the Anglican Church does not allow female bishops.

The change would come into effect immediately if the bill is passed by a majority of two-thirds in each section of the governing body which is made up of the House of Clergy, House of Laity and House of Bishops.

The 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."

'Question of authority'

However, last December more than 100 clergy from the Church in Wales signed a letter published in the Church Times warning they would not accept the ministry of women bishops.

Among them was the Reverend Alan Rabjohns, vicar of St Saviour's in Splott, Cardiff.

Responding to news of the vote, he said: "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."

However, Christina Rees, chair of Women and the Church which campaigns for female bishops in the Church of England, said: "I really hope it goes through. I'm impressed with how the Church in Wales is dealing with this issue."

Women have been ordained as priests within the church in Wales since January 1997.

The vote will be taken when the governing body meets at the University of Wales, Lampeter, next Wednesday.

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