Church of England OKs Women Bishops

The Church of England today took a pretty large step into the 21st century, voting by a two-thirds majority to allow the ordination of women as bishops. It's a reversal of a 2012 vote that failed by just six votes, notes Sky News, and cements the role of female leadership in an institution that has allowed women priests for two decades. "I am delighted with today's result," said Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in a statement that called the vote "the completion of what was begun over 20 years ago. Today marks the start of a great adventure." The church could see female bishops by year's end, notes CNN.

Some more reaction:

• Archbishop of York John Sentamu: "Generations of women have served the Lord faithfully in the Church of England for centuries. It is a moment of joy today: The office of Bishop is open to them."
• Chik Kaw Tan, a conservative laymember: "The very same arguments that are being used to promote women in the episcopate are the very same arguments that are being used to redefine marriage from that which is between a man and a woman to two persons of the same sex."

(More Church of England stories.)