A PERCEIVED lack of protection for those parishes objecting to the status of women bishops scuppered a Church of England vote on the issue, according to a Worcestershire grassroots church member.

Jenny Barton, one of the Diocese of Worcester‘s three lay members of the General Synod, voted against the motion which would have led to the creation of women bishops.

She said “many concerned people” had been in touch with her before the vote on Tuesday, urging her not to support it.

The vote needed a two-thirds majority of members from each of the three houses: the house of bishops, clergy and laity (made up of church parishoners).

But the vote failed as the house of laity was six votes short of the required number.

Standing church rules make it unlikely – but for some untested procedural point – the measure will be allowed before the General Synod again before 2016.

Outside the Church there has been widespread condemnation of the decision, while leading clergy in Worcestershire have expressed “disappointment” at the result.

However, Mrs Barton, a long-standing member of the congregation at St Philip and St James’ Church in Hallow, near Worcester, who now lives in Newport, South Wales, said the ‘no’ camp were not opposing the idea of women bishops accepting “it is a logical step”.

She said: “The legislation doesn’t provide the protection to those opposed to the ordination of women bishops – they don’t feel safe.

“They feel they would become second-class members of the Anglican communion.”

She said the law-making process had been done “in good faith” but more work was needed.

“There needs to be more detail on what the outcome would be, if we voted for this.

“We had asked for a code of practice initially, but we now don’t think that would be enough on its own – its needs to be written into legislation.

“There’s no joy felt in the outcome of this vote – only sadness. But there was a sense among the laity that ‘look, yes, this needs to happen – but not at any cost’.

“If you have strong feelings about something what do you do, just stamp your feet? Walk away? Do nothing?

“We have to stand up for ourselves, if we feel it’s right, even with love and Christian charity.”

Professor Michael Clarke and Robin Lunn are the other diocesan laity members, and both voted for the motion.

Mr Lunn said he felt “like I have wasted eight years of my life – that’s how long I have been campaigning for this measure.”

Referring to the house of laity vote being just short of the required majority, he said: “Where else would 26 per cent of the vote be able to block legislation?”

Mr Clarke, a member of Worcester Cathedral congregation, said the issue had been discussed “in some great depth” over a number of months.

He said “Jenny Barton is welcome to her view, but I think she’s wrong. There comes a point that this legislation must be heard.”

Diocesan synod clergy member the Rev Canon Stuart Currie, vicar of St Stephen’s Church, off Droitwich Road, Worcester, who also voted in favour said he was “deeply disappointed” at the outcome.

Women bishops: How they voted

Diocese of Worcester membership of the General Synod, and how they voted over women bishops:

Bishops
The Bishop of Worcester, the Rt Rev John Inge – For.
Bishop of Dudley, the Rt Rev David Walker – absent on sabbatical.


Clergy
The Rev Canon Matthew Baynes, Rector of Bredon – For.
The Rev Canon Stuart Currie, St Stephen’s Worcester – For.
The Rev Eva McIntyre, Stourport and Wilden – For.

Laity
Jennifer Barton, member of St Philip and St James’ Church, Hallow – Against.
Canon Professor Michael Clarke, member of Worcester Cathedral congregation – For.
Robin Lunn, member of St Peter’s Church, Inkberrow – For.
l All seven synod members of the Diocese of Hereford supported the motion.