Church of England enacts historic legislation for women bishops
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London: The Church of England Monday officially enacted legislation to enable women to be ordained as bishops in the church.
The enactment, formally passed at the general synod of the church Monday, was supported in a vote by the synod in July, Xinhua quoted the Church of England as saying in a statement.
The legislation has been approved in British parliament and received royal assent.
The amendment means that women will be allowed to stand as bishops in Anglican churches for the first time in history, following years of intense debate between church reformers and traditionalists who opposed the plan.
"Today we can begin to embrace a new way of being the church and moving forward together. We will also continue to seek the flourishing in the church of those who disagree," said Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury.
The final legislative requirements took place during a session chaired by John Sentamu, the archbishop of York, on the first day of the synod's meeting in London.
Following the passing of the amendment, the legislation was signed into law by the archbishops of Canterbury and York in front of the whole synod.
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the mother church of the Anglican Communion worldwide.
