Report on the November 2012 General Synod from Salisbury Members General Synod met in London from Monday As well as sharing in worship, fellowship and 19th to Wednesday 21st November 2012. discussion, the Council developed resolutions, Although it is often the case that we do not use which included ‘the environment’, presented this third group of sessions, we had to meet powerfully in dance and music; ‘Israel and because the debate on the ordination of women Palestine’, the Land of Promise, where a to the Episcopate had been adjourned in July resource had been made available for study; and the legislation had been sent back to the ‘trafficking of persons’, seeking to promote bishops for revision, before being returned to awareness and action; ‘birth registration’ us for the continued debate. The whole of highlighting the fact that not all people across Tuesday was given over to this issue. the Communion are registered and thus lose out on education access; and ‘Save the In the opening stages of the synod the usual Church’, in which high standards of care were introductions were made to new members and recommended in cases of violence both there was prolonged applause for the Bishop of domestic and otherwise. Durham, who is not a new member, but who will soon be taking on a new role. The Anglican Covenant: Consultation with the Dioceses had led to rejection of the Business Committee Report: The report proposals for an Anglican Communion focused on the need for Synod to meet this Covenant, so it could not be presented to the November to discuss the Final Approval of the General Synod for Final Approval. Instead, the Measure and Canon for women and the Business Committee will arrange for a episcopate, together with some important substantive debate at a future Synod. discussions following up the Anglican Meanwhile the Church of England recognises Communion Covenant, youth unemployment the range of opinions on the Covenant and will and the living wage. It also gives Synod an continue to work with all parts of the Anglican opportunity to say farewell to Archbishop Communion. The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan in the same group of sessions that we reported that smaller Provinces were more warmly greet Justin Welby as our new enthusiastic about the Covenant, that there was Archbishop. The following debate raised issues still a need for a conflict resolution procedure about the need for a debate on living with and that we must continue to talk to each other. diversity, the value of debating Diocesan The Bishop of Durham said we still need to Synod motions, and concerns around fees and address the issue of the Covenant robustly. churchyards. The Report was taken note of nem con. Questions: As always, the asking of questions gives every synod member the chance to A presentation was given about the work of the compel a senior member of the church to come Anglican Consultative Council and its recent to the rostrum and answer questions on any meeting. This body was set up to facilitate the subject of the moment. Questions on this co-operative work of the Churches of the occasion included such subjects as clergy Anglican Communion and it is one of the four stipends, times of weddings, human sexuality, ‘Instruments’ of the Communion (the others training pathways for ordination, the faculty being the Archbishop of Canterbury, the system, the care of terminally ill patients and Lambeth Conference and the Primates funeral liturgies for pets. The full list of meeting). Every two or three years it meets in questions, and the answers given, can be found different parts of the world at the invitation of on the Church of England Website. one of the Provinces or churches in the Communion. Each province is invited to send The Ordination of Women as Bishops: The up to three members whilst ensuring that the Archbishop of York chaired the debate and lay voice is heard among them. This year it exhorted Synod to be on its best behaviour. was held in Auckland, New Zealand. The Bishop of Manchester proposed the motion. The debate has been running so long that he has had permission to continue some Respect can work as we trust each other time after his 70th birthday to try and see this otherwise we are saying that we are not through. Over 130 people spoke and some capable of that. towards the end of the debate due to the time constraints were only allowed to speak for 30 Bishop Nicholas – We must be able to bring seconds! The main arguments both for and the best of our clergy into the House of against the measure as amended by the Bishops Bishops (the selection of male bishops and male Bishop Justin Welby – expressed priests in a manner which respects the thankfulness for the ordination of women and grounds on which parochial church councils we must now finish the job. We must issue Letters of Request) are summarised as demonstrate the reality of us all being follows: reconciled to God. A Code of Practice will do FOR this in spirit as well as letter. The word ‘respect’ means that the Bishop will have Archbishop Rowan Williams – the Measure to connect with the parish issuing a Letter of is now the best way forward. The Code of Request. Parishes will have a Statutory Right to issue Practice will allow further Discussion . A no such requests and Bishops will have a Statutory vote would not be positive for the Church’s obligation to have a Scheme to deal with them. Mission. We need to liberate ourselves and The Church will be allowed to flourish by the full inclusion of women in all aspects of ministry and move forward to the next stage. will also allow an honoured place for those who cannot accept this Canon Robert Key (our Chair of House of Thousands of churchgoers and 42 out of 44 Dioceses Laity) – in our happy Diocese of Salisbury we now want this measure passed and will look forward have had an inclusive way of doing things for to making it work relationally at the local level 1300 years and will continue to do so. Must seek God’s Kingdom together and not put up virtual fears that may never actually be realised in The Revd Canon Jane Charman (our practice Director of Ministry in Salisbury and on a time A third of all clergy are women and their ministry could collapse if they do not have the opportunity to limit of 1 minute!) – a very inward looking be discerned for leadership debate about rights. Excluding women from Head of the Church is the Queen and all priests have leadership roles is not good news outside the to accept her headship and authority Church. Without women sharing leadership the mission of the Church will stall in this country AGAINST The word ‘respect’ is recognised in law and will carry weight The word ‘respect’ is subjective and vague will not We must not continue to cast doubt on female Orders be enough in law Church is wedded to the past by rejecting women The Code of Practice has yet to be drawn up and who are ministering sacrificially agreed and so it is not certain what the provision will Discussion has been going on for 20 years and there be and may prove to be another battlefield are no new arguments to prevent women entering the Those who hold traditional views will not come Episcopate forward for ordination We must take a leap of faith now and trust that the Those holding traditional views will no longer be bridges will be there as we work together in love legitimate Anglicans Make up of all-male House of Bishops needs to Will have a detrimental effect on our Ecumenical change to reflect the wider Church and potential of relationships women clergy Church of England will no longer be a broad church allowing all traditions to thrive and flourish The Revd Janet Appleby (whose suggested We should wait until we have a consensus wording formed the amendment being We must be able to live in unity with integrity and so debated) - God turns round all things for good. more thinking is required to enable this We have more in common than that which This legislation is bronze and we should be going for divides us and any concession to one side gold Legislation should not be based on goodwill and trust automatically undermines the other and so this for it to work is as good a compromise as we can get to. We should have regard for those who need building The bishops have met to take stock and up and not just go with the strong majority consider the way forward after what has Those holding the minority view will become happened. oppressed in the Church Bishop of Chester – believes women bishops Administration of Communion by Children: should happen but not through this Measure. Should bishops be spending their valuable time signing countless permissions to distribute the We should spend more time getting it right. Holy Sacrament when this could be done, if the After 6 hours of debate a vote was taken by a particular bishop agrees, by incumbents? And Division of Houses and required a two thirds should not children who have been admitted to majority in each House to succeed. Holy Communion prior to Confirmation also be authorised to administer the Sacrament? Results These two partly related matters were debated in a motion moved by the Diocese of House of Bishops – 44 for, 3 against, 2 Southwell and Nottingham.