Anglicans opposed to the ordination of women bishops have been refused concessions they say would secure their place in the Church of England.
BBC reports: The General Synod defeated a bid to increase the power of male bishops to intervene in traditionalist parishes.
But the Synod did opt to back possible further amendments to legislation introducing women bishops in a bid to avoid a split over the issue.
A final vote on the creation of female bishops will be held in the summer.
Legislation as it stands would allow traditionalist parishes to have the right of access to an alternative male bishop – one who would intervene in the diocese of a woman bishop only at her discretion.
The traditionalists had tried to strengthen the hand of visiting bishops, giving them their own power to care for parishes unwilling to serve under a woman bishop.
A number of speakers at the General Synod including Rt Rev Michael Perham, the Bishop of Gloucester, said they were opposed to such changes.
He warned that the Church could face the prospect of campaigners in favour of women bishops unable to vote for final approval of the legislation in July if it was amended in the way proposed by the Manchester Diocesan Synod.