This is a text-only version of an article first published on Wednesday, 15 June 2016. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
The Bishop of Oxford has welcomed the positive progress towards the ordination of women as bishops in General Synod.
(C) Keith Blundy Associates The Church of England's ruling body voted in favour of proposals which could allow the ordination of women bishops next year.
"We're under way!" he said immediately after the debate on Wednesday."A very positive debate at General Synod and an overwhelming vote in favour (378 in favour, 8 against and 25 abstentions) has led to an open door and a clear path."The legislation now goes to revision and then to dioceses before its final journey to General Synod next July."In retrospect it seems we were saved from ourselves last November and I believe we now have much better, simpler legislation.
We have five strong guiding principles, a clear declaration from the House of Bishops, and provision for an Independent Reviewer to handle disputes."We still need to work hard with conservative evangelicals over headship but I trust there is help in the distinction between delegated authority (from the Diocesan Bishop) and derived authority (from ordination), and in a deeper understanding of the nature of the oath of obedience (it doesn't add anything that doesn't already exist - Canon C. 1. 3)."Let's move on confidently with the clear aim that we can all flourish."