Lay rep: decision on women bishops right

GUERNSEY'S lay representative has defended his decision to vote against a move to allow women bishops.

David Robilliard, who attended the special sitting at the Church of England General Synod on Tuesday, said the legislation did not have the right provisions for those who could not accept women bishops and needed further work.

He insisted his vote was not one against female bishops but was simply against the proposals.

'The legislation did not have acceptable provisions for either the Conservative Evangelicals nor the Anglo-Catholics.

'It is now just a case of going a little bit further and finding some way, some sort of middle ground, so we can accommodate women bishops.

'For the Conservative Evangelicals, the issue is authority and headship as they believe from the Bible women cannot be ahead over a man.'