Synod observer

The General Synod, the Church of England's 'parliament,' met at Westminster this week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, for the first of its two meetings for the year.


Here's what happened: 

Thursday
After opening worship and a debate on the report of the Business Committee (an opportunity for members to comment on the agenda), the Synod had a presentation and a debate on the working of the Crown Nominations Commission, the body that makes nominations for new (diocesan) bishops and archbishops to the Queen.

Next up was Question Time. There were 93 questions on the order paper ranging from human sexuality to safeguarding; from dementia to the deployment of clergy and the use of fixed odd bettings terminals in betting shops.

Evening Worship followed and after that it was time to go home, or attend a fringe meeting - I did the latter and went to the meeting of the Evangelical Group on Geberal Synod (EGGS) which traditionally meets on the first night of every group of sessions.

Friday
Sadly, I couldn't be present for the middle day of Synod but the day included a debate on the links that English dioceses have with various parts of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and a motion from the St Edmundsbury & Ipswich diocesan synod on food wastage.

After lunch the Archbishop of Canterbury gave a Presidential Address (right) which you can read here.

Various items of legislative business followed before the main item of the day which concerned the Church of England's relationship with the Methodist Church.


At present the Methodist Church does not have bishops in the way that the CofE does, and Methodist ministers are not ordained by bishops in the way that Anglican ministers are.

The paper that the Synod was discussing was produced by a group from both churches  proposed a way by which the Methodist Church could bring bishops into its system, and begin episcopal (ie by a bishop) ordination of its ministers.

From the Church Times: voting on 'Mission and Ministry in Covenant)

Not every one was happy with what was proposed and some quite serious reservations had been expressed before the meeting, but in the event, Synod voted by large majorities in all three houses (bishops, clergy, laity), to accept the report 'Mission and Ministry in Covenant' and to call for  work to continue.

Saturday
After opening worship, the Synod turned its attention to the very serious matter of Safeguarding, and received a presentation on national developments in the area of safeguarding and of the national church's preparation for the independent enquiry into institutional child sexual abuse. We shall undoubtedly return to this matter.

Next up was a debate on religious communities, which recognised the contribution made by older religious communities, as well as the many kinds of new style communities that are springing up around the country. The motion called for a Canon ( a kind of church rule) to provide 'a framework for religious life in the Church of England.'

The aim was, I think ( I hope), not to bind religious communities up in red tape, but to give them some official recognition. Synod will return to this in due course.

Before lunch there was time for a presentation on Digital Evangelism by the CofE's splendid Head
of Digital Communications, Adrian Harris (right).

This turned out to be something of a synodical highlight. You can read his report here. It includes details of how their pre-Christmas publicity campaign on social media grew from an audience of 1.5 million in 2016 to 6.8 million in 2017.

Professional. Imaginative. Christ Centred. Excellent.

Here's one of the brilliant Faith Stories that the CofE Comms team are spreading via Facebook, Twitter etc:




Lunchtime is time for fringe meetings and I went to a meeting to hear three visiting Primates from the Anglican Communion (the archbishops of Pakistan, South Africa, & Melenasia) speak about their experiences.

It was fascinating - and sobering stuff - especially to hear of the immense suffering of the Church of Pakistan, currently said to be the most persecuted church in the world. Their love, faith, and humility in the face of immense trials was incredibly moving to behold.

After lunch, Synod turned its attention to 'Valuing People with Down's Syndrome' voting unanimously to pass a motion moved by the Bishop of Carlisle which affirmed the dignity and full humanity of people born with Down's Syndrome, called on parishes and dioceses to review the provisions they make for people with Down's Syndrome, and called on the Governmnt to ensure that 'parents who have been told that their unborn child has Down's syndrome will be given comprehensive unbiased information with regard to this condition'. It was a good debate but I just wished we had said a bit more.

You can see some special Downs thankyous here

'Prorogation' (home time) followed. The Synod meets again in July at the University of York.

Every five years the Synod is opened by the Queen