Church of England allows female bishops

The final rubber stamp to legislation stating that a man or a woman may be consecrated to the office of bishop was given Monday by a show of hands at a meeting of the Anglican Church's General Synod in London.

"Today we can begin to embrace a new way of being the church and moving forward together," Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (pictured) told the meeting, adding that "we will also continue to seek the flourishing of the church of those who disagree."

The agreement of the Synod was needed to implement a landmark decision in July, after it had been approved by parliament. The decision comes 20 years after the first women were ordained as priests.

There had been strong opposition to appointing female bishops by some in the church.

There are about 80 million Anglicans worldwide, and the move by the English church to allow women to become bishops brings it into line with several other Anglican churches across the world.

The first ordinations of female English Anglican bishops are expected to take place next year.

se/mkg (AFP, dpa)