Bradford churches back plans for diocese shake-up (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford churches back plans for diocese shake-up

3:10pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News

It was a resounding ‘yes’ from Bradford churches who met today to debate and vote on radical plans to reorganise three dioceses in Yorkshire.

Dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds and Wakefield simultaneously voted on plans to dissolve the three bodies and replace them with a new super diocese for West Yorkshire and the Dales.

Bradford’s vote was 90 in favour of the plans, with four against. The Ripon and Leeds Diocesan Synod also backed the plans with 70 votes for the change, 18 against and two people choosing not to vote.

But Wakefield Diocese rejected the plans with 76 votes against, 40 votes in favour of them and four people not voting.

Its decision was met with sighs of disappointment when it was announced to Bradford church representatives gathered in Skipton today.

But the split does not mean the plans, which would lead to a large diocese with five regional areas within it, will not go ahead.

The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, will decide whether to put the issue before the General Synod for ultimate approval in July.

The Bishop of Bradford the Right Reverend Nick Baines is behind the plans for a super diocese.

He said the shake-up would offer the benefits of scale together with the intimacy of smaller, more homogenous areas.