Church of England to vote on women bishops

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By Annabel Roberts, NBC NewsThe Rt. Rev. Justin Welby, the newly appointed archbishop of Canterbury and future leader of the Church of England, made one thing clear at his first press conference: he is in favor of women becoming bishops.Matthew Lloyd / Getty Images fileRt. Rev. Justin Welby speaks during a press conference after the confirmation of his appointment as archbishop of Canterbury in London, Nov. 9, 2012.It's a contentious issue that has come to threaten the long-term unity of the Church of England, and a historic vote on the matter will take place Tuesday in London at an extraordinary meeting of the General Synod, the Church's governing body.

"I will be voting in favor," Welby told assembled reporters covering the announcement of his appointment, "and join my voice to many others in urging the Synod to go forward with this change."

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