Diocese backs women bishops move

The first church diocese to vote on whether to allow women bishops has moved overwhelmingly to back the new rules which could see the first women ordained by the end of the year.

Church leaders in Ripon and Leeds were the first to have the opportunity to vote on the measures which were proposed at a meeting of the Church of England's General Synod last month.

The diocese voted 72 to 1 in favour of the motion, with two abstentions.

If a majority of dioceses approve the measures, the General Synod will hold a final debate on the issue at its gathering in York in July.

The General Synod failed to approve women bishops in November 2012 when a two-thirds majority could not be achieved.