The Church of England has ended a long-standing debate after passing a law that allows women to become bishops, according to the Telegraph.
For over 40 years, the members of the Church have been debating whether or not women will be allowed to join the episcopate.
On Nov. 17, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby met with the Anglican General Synod at London's Church House to address the change in canon law. The law was passed through signatures and a show of hands to symbolize the approval of the council, the Daily Mail reported.
"It has taken a very, very long time but the way is now open to select people to the episcopacy on the basis simply of our sense that they are called by God to be in that position without qualification as to their gender," Welby said.
"We are working very, very hard on training and development of people, men and women, for senior posts in the Church," the archbishop added.
Welby noted that the Church may have an equal number of male and female bishops within 10 years.
The enactment of the law comes months after a legislation campaigning for female bishops was passed in July.
Hilary Cotton, supporter of the campaign and chairperson of Women and the Church said the passing of the law marks a significant change in the Church of England, according to the National Post.
"I can't really believe it - it has gone on for so long, it really is a major shift in the Church of England and a signal to the Anglican Community across the world," she said.
Cotton then noted that even though women are now allowed to become bishops, the community should not think that the practices of the Church will change.
"There is a big piece of work to do," she added. "We mustn't expect that the Church is transformed just because there are two women appearing in the college of bishops."
