Church to vote on women bishops

The Church of England\'s ruling body, the General Synod is to vote later on the conditions under which women may be consecrated as bishops.



The York meeting will decide whether to accommodate opponents to women bishops and if they could opt to remain under the ministry of male bishops instead.



However, women in the church have said such a move would institutionalise division.



At least 1,300 clergy have threatened to leave the church if safeguards are not agreed to reassure traditionalists.



They made the threat in a letter to the archbishops of Canterbury and York, but critics said many of the signatories are retired rather than serving clergy.