Premier News reports – The House of Lords has approved the decision to allow women to become bishops in the Church of England without the need for a vote.
The General Synod approved the change in July, but it needs to go through both the House of Lords and the House of Commons to become law.
MPs are expected to pass it next week.
Archbishop Welby told the House of Lords: “Over the past 20 years, many women have given outstanding leadership as vicars, archdeacons and cathedral deans.
“Now, for the first time, every post will be open to them. For many people within the Church of England and others it has been a process full of frustration when looked at from the outside.”
He added that letting women become bishops was “long overdue.”
Conservative peer Baroness Berridge said the Church of England could now be a role model for British boardrooms, the British Army and Parliament.
Former Conservative MP and author Ann Widdecombe says she disagrees with the Church of England’s decision.
She was formerly part of the Church of England but has since moved to the Roman Catholic Church, partly because of its stance on women in leadership.
Speaking on Premier’s Inspirational Breakfast, she said: “Christ formed the apostolic succession; he didn’t appoint a single woman apostle. I cannot for the life of me see how we end up with women bishops, but if that’s what the CofE wants to do, that’s down to the CofE. I left.
“This is the man who broke the Sabbath in the terms of the times, the man who was called a glutton and a wine dipper, who feasted with publicans and sinners, who took a whip and drove the merchants out of the temples. He wasn’t constrained by ‘the times’.
“So the idea that he wouldn’t have appointed a woman apostle if he had wanted to is just complete nonsense, particularly when women did play such a major part in his life. His first miracle was at the request of a woman; women were the first witnesses to his resurrection.
“But, he never made them an apostle.” … Read More
Source and Original Content by : Premier News