Church to lose credibility after rejecting to introduce women bishops

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams has told the Church of England has “lost a measure of credibility” after rejecting to introduce women bishops.

He said that the ruling general synod that the Church could be seen as “wilfully blind” to modern trends and priorities.

The proposed legislation paving the way for women bishops needed to gain two-thirds majority support in each of the synod’s three houses – bishops, clergy and laity. While 324 synod members voted in favor of women bishops, but fell short by six votes in the House of Laity.

The Bishop of Truro, Tim Thornton has also said  that the Church of England’s decision not to allow the ordination of women bishops was “wrong” and told that everyone should be treated equally in the Church, adding that “something should be done” following the decision.

However, the Archbishop of York said the principle had been accepted.

Prime Minister, David Cameron has also condemned the decision of defeating moves to allow women to become bishops.

He told the Commons: “I’m a strong supporter of women bishops. I’m very sad about the way the vote went yesterday and I’m particularly sad for the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, because I know he saw this as the major campaign he wanted to achieve at the end of his excellent tenure of that office.”

He has added: “I’m very clear the time is right for women bishops, it was right many years ago. They need to get on with it, as it were, and get with the programme.

“But you do have to respect the individual institutions and the way they work while giving them a sharp prod.“

The Equalities Minister, Maria Miller is studying the decision and considering whether to make a Commons statement on it.

An emergency meeting is to be called later with the Church of England’s bishops to consider the consequences of the vote.

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