Chichester diocesan synod became the first to refuse to pass the measure to enable the ordination of women as bishops in the C of E at its meeting last week. The motion was defeated in all three houses. In London it was defeated on a narrow clergy majority.
Chichester synod expressed itself in favour of ordaining women to the episcopate but agreed that inadequate provision had been made in the draft measure for those who cannot accept the development on theological grounds.
Voting was quite close with 41 voting No in the House of Laity and 37 voting Yes. In the House of Clergy the figures were 35 to 30. The result was in line with voting in Deanery Synods where 13 deaneries voted in favour and 21 against.
The Bishop of Chichester, the Rt Rev John Hind, expressed satisfaction with the level of debate. In his speech he said that he was not confident about the mind of Christ or of the universal Church about the ordination of women as bishops and added “precisely for this reason, I cannot agree that it is right or necessary.” He claimed that rejecting the measure would invite the House of Bishops and General Synod to think again and come up with proposals that would “maximise the numbers of those who feel able to stay within the Church of England and help preserve our Church’s historic comprehensiveness.”
In Exeter Diocesan Synod the measure failed in the House of Bishops but succeeded overall because it passed in the Houses of Clergy and Laity. Exeter also voted in all three houses in favour of a motion asking the House of Bishops to amend the draft measure to incorporate amendments proposed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Rev Michael Langrish, commented that synod had affirmed the wish for women to be ordained to the episcopate but also the desire to maintain the unity of the Church with proper provision for those who cannot receive the development.
Also meeting last week, Lichfield Diocesan Synod decisively approved the draft measure by large majorities. A motion to enable those opposed to the measure to receive episcopal oversight from a bishop with jurisdiction rather than delegated authority failed.
The London diocesan synod held its debate on the women bishops legislation this week, and voted against the legislation.41 clergy against, 39 for. Laity 45 for, 37 against.