Women can now be ordained as ministers in the Anglican Diocese of Bermuda.

The landmark decision was the result of a vote by the Synod at its June meeting.

The Anglican Bishop of Bermuda, the Rt. Rev. Patrick White, said support for the move was so overwhelming that a count was not taken. He's been at the helm of the church since January following the retirement of Bishop Ewen Ratteray who was fervently against allowing female ministers.

There has been a strong belief for several years among many local Anglicans that the Bermuda Diocese needed to modernise and accept females as deacons and ministers.

"The feeling among most was: 'Why shouldn't women be able to be ordained?'" said Bishop White. "The vast majority feel women can do the job as well as men."

The matter was never brought to Synod, the governing body of the Anglican Church of Bermuda, because of the Bishop's power to veto any decision.

"We waited 12 years because Bishop Ewen wouldn't entertain the idea," said one member of Synod. "I know a lot of people feel this decision is embarrassing because it's so late."

Bishop White said he's pleased to have addressed the matter so early in his tenure. He said he and Archdeacon Andrew Doughty had agreed to open the priesthood to women at the first opportunity.

"I made a point of saying that while it was something I wanted to do, it needed to be a church decision," said Bishop White. "So I took it to Synod in March and brought it back for a vote in June."

While the motion that women be admitted to holy orders and licensed received overwhelming support from the 51-member Synod, there were five who voted against it. The two youngest clergymen in the diocese Rev. Nicholas Dill and Rev. Musa Daba along with Bishop Ewen Ratteray and two lay people.

"I felt we were ready to do this as a church," said Bishop White. "Certainly the tide was running very strongly in having women fully participating in the ministry."

Women have been ordained in the Anglican Church in America since 1975 and in Canada since 1976. The Church of England followed in 1993 except that women are still not eligible to be bishops. Efforts to open up this final area are in the works in England.

The decision brings Bermuda into alignment with the Church of England where women can apply for positions as deacons and ministers. Applications for bishop will not be entertained.

However, Bishop White noted that by bringing Bermuda in line with the Church of England, any changes made there will be applicable here.

The bishop admitted there are some Anglicans in Bermuda who feel women should not serve as clergy and are saddened by the recent decision. However, most of the responses he's had have been positive he said, with some concerned that the lateness of the move means the church has a lot of catching up to do.

"We are really so far behind here that it will not be easy for women to get ahead in the church here," said a parishioner who asked not to be named. "The mindset against the idea is still there."

But in at least three churches cheers and applause were spontaneous after the announcement.

Sandra Bushara, a lay reader at St. Mary's in Warwick is interested in women's ministry and welcomed the news.

"I am pleased with the decision, especially as I feel that ministry is a 'calling' and that women who feel led by God to preach the Gospel should be able to do so, especially as it is already happening throughout the world in our own faith," she said.

"The precedent was already there. I think that the decision was not a random one either, but one reached due to the prayers of many, both men and women here on this Island.

"I believe that everything happens in HIS time, and that is why this has happened now. There are still many steps to take, but this is a true beginning, especially if this helps to grow the Body of Christ."