Bishop of Ely – sorrow at women bishop vote failure

PRESS RELEASE

20 November 2012

The Bishop of Ely, the Rt Revd Stephen Conway, responding to today’s General Synod vote on the consecration of women to the episcopate, said:

“I am deeply sorrowful about the failure of the General Synod to pass the draft legislation to consecrate women as bishops. The hopes of a very clear majority of churchgoers around the Church of England have been thwarted for the time being. It is terribly wounding not only for our devoted clergy who are women, but also for me and all who long for women to exercise the ministry to which God calls them in all three sacred orders.

“Now we need to pray that we may know the balm of God’s healing love in the pain of the Church’s failure to proceed. Beyond that, we shall look forward steadfastly to the reintroduction of draft legislation at the earliest opportunity which will enable women and men to flourish fully in episcopal ministry for the sake of the Church and the world.”