Vote on women bishops due

After decades of debate, the Church of England votes today on whether it will finally admit women to the ranks of bishops — under a compromise proposal that has angered the faithful on both sides of the argument.

A majority of the Church’s governing general synod is ready to say yes, but that doesn’t mean it’s all wrapped up. The vote needs a two-thirds majority to be approved, and an unlikely coalition of advocates and opponents of female bishops may have enough strength to derail the motion.

Some voices on both sides argue that the church’s compromise asks them to concede too much.