The Anglican Church in South Australia has backed the ordination of women as bishops.
The local Anglican synod approved the move in a vote late yesterday.
It also urged Adelaide's representatives to the general synod in Perth in October to press for a similar decision.
Anglican Archbishop of Adelaide Ian George supported the move and described the local support at yesterday's gathering as strong.
"It has urged Adelaide representatives to the general synod to keep this in mind when it debates the measure," he said.
The diocese of Adelaide has long supported the role of women in the church, after approving the ordination of women as deacons in 1986 and as priests in 1992.
Dianne Bradley, who proposed yesterday's motion, said she was encouraged by the vote.
"This synod has not only affirmed its now longstanding support for the ordination of women, but has gone further in expressing its mind that the Anglican Church now looks forward to the consecration of women as bishops," she said.
In other decisions yesterday the synod urged the Federal Government to hold a national summit to consider rising poverty in Australia.
It also called on all Anglicans to back Anglicare's campaign to halve the number of children living in jobless families by 2008.
"This way we can all launch a personal attack on poverty and not just feel concerned about it," said synod representative Jan Horsnell.
Ms Horsnell said about 680,000 Australian children were growing up in jobless households .