A Yes Vote to Allow Female Bishops by Church of England
For the first time in its history on Monday, the Church of England could vote to allow female bishops, ending half a century of bitter divisions over the role of women.
For the first time in its history on Monday, the Church of England could vote to allow female bishops, ending half a century of bitter divisions over the role of women.
The party carried on outside as female priests and their supporters took in the scale of a change pushed through after half a century of debate over women's place in the church.
"There is just this wonderful sense of relief," said Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, a vicar in northeast England and vice-chair of campaign group Women In The Church (WATCH).
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Next to her, a male colleague cracked open a bottle of champagne and unfolded a tea towel reading: "A woman's place is in the House of Bishops", a pun on the old saying: "A woman's place is in the home."
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"I felt like I had been in a room with a really low ceiling... and it just feels like suddenly we're in a big spacious room and the sky's the limit," she added.
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As more people emerged from the hall, swelling the crowd to around 150, there were cries of "Hallelujah!" and "here's to women bishops!"
Some were lost for words and simply hugged each other, shedding tears of joy.
Claire Turner, who works as a junior priest in the west Midlands, was taking a deep breath of relief after the result.
"I can breathe for the first time in about a fortnight," said Turner, sporting a bright blue shirt underneath her dog collar and cropped hair.
"You just feel like you've been holding your breath for a fortnight and suddenly you feel you can breathe again."
She thought the move would deepen the spiritual life of the church.
"Because we're all made in God's image, if you've only got half the human race leading the church, you don't fully represent God," she added.
"This allows us to be more of who God wants us to be."
Lindsay Southern, another female priest from West Yorkshire in northern England, described the vote as a fantastic result.
"I feel like I just want to sit down with a quiet cup of tea and process it because I didn't think I was sure it would happen," she said.
"We have got so many talented and gifted women who will contribute so much."
Most of those celebrating said it would take time for the full impact of women bishops to be felt in the church -- the first ones are not even likely to be appointed until the end of this year.
But just for tonight, the focus would be on champagne and celebrations.
Source-AFP
