The general synod of the Church of England has voted against the appointment of women as bishops.
The decision came at the end of a day of debate by supporters and opponents - and a 12-year legislative process.
The measure was passed by the synod's houses of bishops and clergy but was rejected by the house of laity.
Controversy had centred on the provisions for parishes opposed to women bishops to request supervision by a stand-in male bishop.
The measure needed two-thirds majorities in each of the synod's three houses.
The votes were 44 for and two against in the house of bishops, 148 for and 45 against in the house of clergy, and 132 for and 74 against in the house of laity.
The vote in the house of laity, at 64%, was just short of the required majority.
A handful more of "yes" votes would have tipped them over the two-thirds mark.
As a non church goer, this doesn't affect me one way or the other but I think it a shame that this has happened.
Presumably women have ' a calling' to serve in the church just as much as men do and presumably the 'call' comes from God. So how then is it ok to deny a higher post to a woman because of her sex? If God didnt want women He wouldn't 'call' them would He?
The decision came at the end of a day of debate by supporters and opponents - and a 12-year legislative process.
The measure was passed by the synod's houses of bishops and clergy but was rejected by the house of laity.
Controversy had centred on the provisions for parishes opposed to women bishops to request supervision by a stand-in male bishop.
The measure needed two-thirds majorities in each of the synod's three houses.
The votes were 44 for and two against in the house of bishops, 148 for and 45 against in the house of clergy, and 132 for and 74 against in the house of laity.
The vote in the house of laity, at 64%, was just short of the required majority.
A handful more of "yes" votes would have tipped them over the two-thirds mark.
As a non church goer, this doesn't affect me one way or the other but I think it a shame that this has happened.
Presumably women have ' a calling' to serve in the church just as much as men do and presumably the 'call' comes from God. So how then is it ok to deny a higher post to a woman because of her sex? If God didnt want women He wouldn't 'call' them would He?
