Anglican Vote Backs Women for Priesthood

The Church of England synod voted Tuesday in favor of women becoming priests in a historic decision taken against the advice of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Robert A. K. Runcie.

The decision by the synod, the church’s parliament, to pass church legislation allowing the ordination of women is the first major hurdle the new law must pass in a process that could take up to four years.

Runcie, while personally in favor of allowing women to become priests, told the synod he feared such a move would cause a serious split in the Church of England.

Hours of Tense Debate

After four hours of tense debate at Church House in Westminster, the synod’s three houses of bishops, clergy and laity all voted in favor of women becoming priests.

The bishops voted 28 to 21 in favor, the clergy 137 to 102 and the laity 134 to 93.

The issue, first debated 37 years ago, has caused deep rifts within the church over the last few years.

Opponents of female ordination have warned of an exodus to the Roman Catholic or Orthodox churches where male priesthood is not being seriously challenged.

Tuesday’s vote was seen as a snub to Runcie. In a 10-minute speech before Tuesday’s vote he said he did not believe there was enough consensus over the legislation for it to “achieve a development which will signal a greater unity and mission and service to our people.”

The new legislation will now be discussed by church dioceses. It needs the approval of a majority of the 44 diocesan synods before being returned to the synod in 1992 when it will need a two-thirds majority--much greater than it received on Tuesday.