Members of the General Synod voted to press ahead with an amendment to discipline procedures making it ''unbecoming'' or ''inappropriate'' conduct for clergy to be members of a political party with policies and activities declared ''incompatible'' with Church teaching on race equality.
Under the proposals, Church of England bishops would make a declaration on parties or organisations deemed incompatible with Christian teaching.
Vasantha Gnanadoss, a Metropolitan Police civilian worker, and General Synod member who first won backing for the ban two years ago, welcomed the amendment and a new statement on race equality from the bishops.
This put the Church's mission to ''resist racism'' on a firm footing, she told the Synod.
''It is very important when the English Defence League and others are posing a fresh threat to the well-being of our diverse society. I hope that this statement will be used widely,'' she said.
r Philip Giddings, a General Synod member from Reading, said he ''deplored'' racism but warned that such groups could ''re-form'' to get round the ban.
''Even worse, is the ability of these kinds of proceedings to create martyrs who do more damage to the cause which we are seeking to fight, because we appear to be invading their right to free speech, a very important human right which is now well entrenched in British and European law,'' he warned.
Clive Scowen, a General Synod member from Harrow, north west London, suggested General Synod clergy and laity members should have a right to ratify decisions on political parties made by the bishops.
''We all know that this was passed to deal with membership of a particular odious party which few of us would have any difficulty in saying is so far beyond the pale that support for it is incompatible with Christian ministry,'' he said.
''But the clause as approved clearly could apply to cases which were not as clear cut as membership of that particular party.''
The Telegraph
