Church in Wales to hold public meetings on code for women bishops

The Church in Wales Governing Body will discuss the Code of Practice at its next meeting in April

Public meetings are to be held across the six dioceses of the Church in Wales on a code for ordaining women bishops.

The Church is holding the consultation after passing legislation for the ordination of women bishops last September.

The legislation stipulated that the bishops must draw up a Code of Practice to ensure that all members of the Church, including those who cannot in conscience accept the oversight of a woman, can continue to feel accepted and valued within the Church.

The public meetings start on January 22 and continue until February 20.

They are taking place to give Church members a say on what the code should include ahead of a discussion at the next meeting of the Governing Body in April.

The Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said, "While we, as bishops, welcome the decision that women can now be ordained as bishops in Wales, we recognise that there are some people who do not.

"We want to make sure that adequate provision is made for them so that they will still feel valued and accepted in the Church and will continue to worship and minister alongside us.

"We have been entrusted to draw up a Code of Practice within a year of the legislation being passed and we are keen to consult as widely as possible with church members in order to reflect their views as best we can."

The deadline for written submissions has now passed but everyone is welcome to attend and contribute to the open meetings.

They will be take place as follows:

Llandaff Diocese
January 22, 7.30pm: St Catherine's Church Hall, Pontypridd

Bangor Diocese
January 22, 7pm: Bangor Cathedral

St Davids Diocese
January 28, 7pm: Holy Trinity Church hall, Aberaeron
January 29, 7pm: Peniel School, Carmarthen
January 30, 7pm: St Mary's Church, Haverfordwest

St Asaph Diocese
February 17, 7pm: St Peter's Church, Holywell
February 20, 7pm: St John's Church, Pool Quay

Monmouth Diocese
February 20, 7.30pm: Newport Cathedral

Swansea & Brecon Diocese
February 4, 7pm, Brecon Cathedral