“They will only intensify levels of unproductive conflict,” he said. “It would be good if people do not go away from this Synod feeling like they have engaged in a ‘zero-sum’ transaction.”
During the debate the Church of England Youth Council representative, Tom Pugh, said that he had no issue with women bishops because he came from a different generation where men and women seem to be treated equally at all levels.
He jokingly stated: “I am told there was a woman prime minister, but that was well before my time. I have never known the world without the ordained ministry of women. Please help me understand your view. We would urge Synod to include young people in the many conversations that are taking place on this issue.”Prior to the vote taking place on the amended motion, Archbishop Williams reminded the Synod of the four governing principles of “clarity, charity, affirmation and action”, and applauded them for their efforts so far in moving forward the issue.
He urged: “We're here because God has given us certain gifts and we're trying to work out what to do with them and how to respond to them,” he said.
“Loyalty, obedience, mutual obligation, recognition, are the seedbed of a genuinely fruitful, evangelical and ecclesiastical ministry. I plea that we see this process as the seedbed for the creativeness for the future.”
The full text of the successfully amended motion is as follows:
14. 'That this Synod, endorsing Resolution 111.2 of the Lambeth Conference 1998 "that those who dissent from, as well as those who assent to the ordination of women to the priesthood and episcopate are both loyal Anglicans" and believing that the implications of admitting women to the episcopate will best be discerned by continuing to explore in detail the practical and legislative arrangements:
(a) invite dioceses, deaneries and parishes to continue serious debate and reflection on the theological, practical, ecumenical and missiological aspects of the issue;
(b) invite the Archbishops' Council, in consultation with the Standing Committee of the House of Bishops and the Appointments Committee, to secure the early appointment of a legislative drafting group, which will aim to include a significant representation of women in the spirit of Resolution 13/31 of the Anglican Consultative Council passed in July 2005, charged with:
(i) preparing the draft measure and amending canon necessary to remove the legal obstacles to the consecration of women to the office of bishop;
(ii)
(iii) preparing a draft of possible additional legal provision consistent with Canon A4 to establish arrangements that would seek to maintain the highest possible degree of communion with those conscientiously unable to receive the ministry of women bishops;
(iv)
(iii) submitting the results of its work to the House of Bishops for consideration and submission to Synod; and
(c) instruct the Business Committee to make time available, before first consideration of the draft legislation, for the Synod to consider, in the light of any views expressed by the House of Bishops, the arrangements proposed in the drafting group's report.'
