Anglican church votes to allow women bishops

London: The Church of England's ruling body has voted its support for women to become bishops without giving traditionalist supporters of male-only priesthood the concessions they had sought.

The archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, said he did not want to limit the authority women bishops had within the church.

"I am deeply unhappy with any scheme or any solution to this which ends up ... structurally humiliating women who might be nominated," he said.

The ordination vote might complicate Anglican relations with the Roman Catholic Church, which does not ordain women. Leaders of the two traditions have been meeting in an effort to find unity.