Archbishops’ Council: Women bishops, what’s next?

Statement on the Conclusion of the Meeting of the Archbishops’ Council
November 2012

“The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England met on November 27-28th to consider
a wide ranging agenda. A substantial amount of time was given over to the discussion of the
recent vote by General Synod on Women in the Episcopate.

“As part of their reflections, many council members commented on the deep degree of
sadness and shock that they had felt as a result of the vote and also of the need to affirm all
women serving the church – both lay and ordained – in their ministries.

“In its discussions the Council decided that a process to admit women to the episcopate
needed to be restarted at the next meeting of the General Synod in July 2013. There was
agreement that the Church of England had to resolve this matter through its own processes as a matter of urgency. The Council therefore recommended that the House of Bishops, during its meeting in a fortnight’s time, put in place a clear process for discussions in the New Year with a view to bringing legislative proposals before the Synod in July.”