The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has welcomed this month's decision by the Church of England General Synod to reaffirm its support for women bishops.

In a statement this week, the LWF General Secretary Rev Dr Ishmael Noko said the vote had immediately opened the way for stronger ecumenical ties between Lutheran and Anglican churches and "the fuller recognition and celebration of the gifts of women called to ministry".

He spoke positively of the experience of Lutheran churches with women bishops, since the first consecrations in 1992.

It was, he said, "already clear that the leadership of women in all the roles of ordained ministry has been a blessing to those churches which have experienced it".

Dr Noko went on to state that women bishops in the Church of England would "bring gifts of leadership for the enrichment of the entire Anglican Communion".

He acknowledged, however, that there were divisions in the LWF as well as the Anglican Communion over the theological grounds for the ordination of women.

"Discerning the ways of faithfulness is a road we must walk together," said Dr Noko. "On this issue, as on others which remain controversial in our communions, no one has yet articulated the insights which can be convincing to all other positions.

"We accompany prayerfully the Church of England as she seeks pastoral means to
embrace those who remain of an opinion different than the Synod's decision."

He said that the vote had removed an "obstacle" to deeper relations among the Porvoo Communion of Nordic and Baltic Lutheran Churches and Anglican Churches in Britain and Ireland.

"The Porvoo Communion is an inspiration for relations between Lutherans and Anglicans in many places around the globe, and we are very pleased that this obstacle to the fullness of its life in communion can now be removed," he said.