Church Of England Finalises Plans For Women Bishops

The Church of England has formally adopted legislation which means its first female bishops could be ordained next year.

The general synod voted to back plans for female bishops in July.

The first women priests were ordained in 1994, but to date they have not been able to take on the Church's most senior roles.

Divisions remain between Anglicans who feel it is consistent with their faith and traditionalists who disagree.

A prior move to allow women to stand as bishops was defeated in 2012 by six votes cast by lay members of the general synod, the law-making body of the Church of England.

The vote on Monday at the general synod meeting at Church House in Westminster gave the final seal of approval to the legislation, following its passage through Parliament in October.

[BBC]