Synod Observer (2)

After a service of Holy Communion in the main assembly hall at which the Archbishop of Canterbury preached, the Synod settled down to debate the legislation that will permit women to become bishops.

Peace has broken out in our deliberations, and there seems a new spirit of generosity and sympathy abroad. It was  really, well, quite Christian, and you feel God has really been at work in our midst, working things together for good in a classic Romans 8.28 kind of way..

Of course, not everyone is in favour of women bishops, but even those most strongly opposed on grounds of conscience to the measure, seem content for it to go forward in its new slimmed-down form.

Fourteen months ago the old measure was defeated by those in favour of women bishops who did not feel that enough provision was being made for those opposed, and so voted against. This was a point that the press, the BBC, and the combined Houses of Parliament seemed entirely to miss.

We were not voting against women bishops, so much as against a certain piece of legislation, because we actually believe in keeping the whole church together.

The new legislation approaches things in a different way, is designed to make generous provision for those opposed, and it has a kind of Ombudsman to deal with any disputes that may arise. It seems to be attracting wide support. All went well today, including a motion to speed up the Synod's glacial methods of operation and, as a result,  final approval could be given at the York synod this July.

Please God, we can then concentrate on mission and evangelism, and actually getting the Gospel out to the people of England.

It was with that thought in mind that I went happilly to a synod fringe meeting (often the best part of synod)

on church growth. Around 100 members turned up (where were the other 400?) for a brilliant presentation of the Church of England's most thorough piece of research on church growth, on where it is happening and why.

Adrian and I are bringing copies of the report, From Anecdote to Evidence, back to Bermondsey and it deserves to be widely read across the country. See the research project's excellent website here.

There was a bit more to do on women bishops after lunch and then most of the rest of the afternoon was then taken up with legislative business (or, time for tea, as it is also known).

Business in the Members' Tea Room remained brisk as the synod toiled over the Draft Church of England (Naming of Diocese Measure), the Draft Church of England (Pensions) (Amendment) Measure, the Draft Parochial Fees and Scheduled Matters Amending Order 2014, the Legal Officers (Annual Fees) Order 2014, the Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution.

In due course, with parliamentary approval and Royal Assent, this lot will become the law of the land, and so the legal officers, begowned and bewigged, were on hand to make sure we didn't mess things up.

It was important, detailled, though not thrilling work.

The last debate raised some important issues about lay representation on PCCs, and the first debate will
allow the new diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales to be so-called, changing a custom dating back to the 4th century of only naming diocese after major towns and cities.

Synod concluded a long day with Evening Prayer at 7pm, but the day was not quite over - for some of us it was time (stand by for a massive bit of name dropping....) to cross the river for drinks with the Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth Palace (above).

Reps from a few diocese at a time are invited each synod to a reception at Lambeth. Today was our turn and a very pleasant evening it was too, with good company, stunning historic surroundings, delicious mini-shepherds pie and roast beef canapes, all concluding with a service of compline in the Archbishop's chapel ('the Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end,' 'Before the ending of the day, Creator of the world, we pray, That you, with steadfast love, would keep, Your watch around us while we sleep.'

It was good to talk to our near neighbour, the Dean of Southwark, about a get together of clergy from the riverside parishes to talk about the rapidly changing scene in our part of London, not least the rapid population growth - 3,500 new flats in St James's parish, and a doubling of population in the Cathedral's parish, and a similar picture everywhere from Waterloo to Rotherhithe.

Archbishop's Chapel, Lambeth Palace