OUR diocese has said 'yes' in a vote that helps pave the way for the first women to become bishops in the Church of England

Diocesan synod members hear from Canon Jane Hedges

Our Diocesan Synod approved proposals that would allow women to be consecrated as bishops - and arrangements put in place for those unable to accept their ministry.

It was one of 44 dioceses invited to consider draft legislation from the Church of England’s national General Synod. As all but two dioceses voted in favour, the proposals will be debated again by the General Synod next year.

It will probably vote next July on the issue and the first women bishops could be consecrated in 2014.

Members of the Diocesan Synod – the diocese’s ‘parliament’- from across south-east Hampshire and the Isle of Wight listened carefully to the arguments in favour of the proposals, presented by Canon Jane Hedges, a former Portsmouth priest, and the case against, put by Prebendary David Houlding.

Both of them agreed that women would become bishops, but disagreed about how to preserve a place in the Church for those who object, while at the same time enabling women bishops to exercise their ministry fully.

The draft legislation suggests that parishes could write to their diocesan bishop to ask for oversight from an alternative, male bishop, or to request that only a male priest be appointed to their parish. It also asks the House of Bishops to draw up a code of practice to give guidance on the issue.

Members voted in separate ‘houses’ of bishop, clergy and laity. Bishop Christopher voted in favour of the draft legislation. The clergy voted 36-2 in favour and the laity 36-6 in favour, with no abstentions in any house.

Diocesan Synod then considered two ‘following motions’, one of which aimed to speed up the introduction of women bishops, and the other aimed to change the arrangements for those who feel unable to accept their ministry. Both were rejected.