Report of Proceedings 2012 General Synod November Group of Sessions Volume 43 No. 3 Officers of the General Synod Presidents The Archbishop of Canterbury The Archbishop of York Prolocutors of the Lower Houses of the Convocations Canterbury York Ven. Christine Hardman Revd Canon Glyn Webster The House of Laity Chair Vice-Chair Dr Philip Giddings Mr Tim Hind Secretary General Mr William Fittall Clerk to the Synod Chief Legal Adviser and Registrar Dr Colin Podmore Mr Stephen Slack Administrative Secretary to the House of Bishops Standing Counsel Mr Ross Gillson Sir Anthony Hammond KCB QC Secretary to the House of Clergy Deputy Legal Adviser Mr Jonathan Neil-Smith Revd Alexander McGregor Secretary to the House of Laity Mr Nicholas Hills Officers of the Convocations Synodical Secretary of the Convocation of Canterbury Registrar Revd Stephen Trott Mr Stephen Slack Synodal Secretary of the Convocation of York Registrar Ven. Alan Wolstencroft Mr Lionel Lennox Contents Full Synod: First Day Monday 19 November 2012 Introductions 1 Progress of Measures and Statutory Instruments 1 Report by the Business Committee 2 Anglican Consultative Council Meeting 8 Draft Act of Synod Adopting the Anglican Communion Covenant 18 Questions 33 Second Day Tuesday 20 November 2012 Legislative Business: Draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration of Women) Measure and Draft Amending Canon No. 30 81 Third Day Wednesday 21 November 2012 Presidential Statement 157 Diocesan Synod Motion: Amendment to Canon B12 and Regulations 160 Private Member’s Motion: Living Wage 177 Dates of Groups of Sessions in 2013 194 Farewells 200 Youth Unemployment 205 Farewell to the Archbishop of Canterbury 227 Index 239 i Full Synod: First Day Monday 19 November 2012 THE CHAIR The Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr Rowan Williams) took the Chair at 2.15 p.m. Revd Canon Glyn Webster (York) led the Synod in prayer, remembering those who had died since the July group of sessions, namely Sir Charles Frossard KBE who had represented Guernsey for over 20 years, initially in the Church Assembly and subsequently on the General Synod; Mr Roger Godin, who had represented the Southwark diocese on Synod for a total of 23 years between 1970 and 2005; Mr Patrick Locke, who had been on the staff of the Church Commissioners for 41 years (1957–98) and who had served as the Secretary to the Commissioners from 1992 until his retirement in 1998; and Sir Stuart Bell, who had been the longest- serving Second Church Estates Commissioner since the creation of the role in the 1850s, serving from 1997 to 2010. Introduction of New Members The Chairman: I introduce and warmly welcome the Rt Revd John Goddard (Bishop of Burnley); Revd Neil Patterson (Hereford); Revd Rupert Shelley (Southwark); Revd Canon Dr Gary Wilton (Europe); and Mr Ian Yemm (Bristol). (Applause) There is one other matter which Synod may like to note on this occasion. Not exactly a new member of Synod but someone who is shortly to be a member of Synod in a new capacity. I will ask Bishop Justin to stand, to be greeted by Synod in great appreciation. (Applause) While we are on the subject of good news, many of you will know of the long-standing legal battle that the diocese of Harare has had over its property in the face of the depredations of Dr Nolbert Kunonga, former Bishop. I am very happy to tell you that this morning we received the news that the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe has ruled in favour of the diocese of Harare and Bishop Chad sends this message: ‘Just to inform you all, dear friends, we won! Praise be God!’ (Applause) I hope the Synod will be happy if I send on behalf of Synod our assurances that we share in the joy and thanksgiving of the diocese of Harare and continue to uphold them in our prayers. Will that be acceptable to you? (Agreed) Progress of Measures and Statutory Instruments The Chairman: I am required to report to the Synod as follows: that the Church of England Marriage (Amendment) Measure has been approved by the House of Commons and is due to be considered by the House of Lords this evening. If the Measure is approved by the House of Lords, it is hoped that it will receive Royal Assent on a date in December. I report also that the Diocese in Europe Measure and the Clergy Discipline (Amendment) Measure have been submitted by the Legislative Committee to the 1 Report by the Business Committee Monday 19 November 2012 Ecclesiastical Committee of Parliament. Also, that the Legal Officers (Annual Fees) Order 2012 and the Ecclesiastical Judges, Legal Officers and Others (Fees) Order 2012 have been laid before Parliament and will come into force on 1 July 2013. For the convenience of members, these matters of report will be set out in a notice paper. THE CHAIR Canon Ann Turner (Europe) took the Chair at 2.35 p.m. Report by the Business Committee (GS 1880) The Archdeacon of Dorking (Ven. Julian Henderson) (Guildford): I beg to move: That the Synod do take note of this Report.’ We welcome one another to this group of sessions. It comes as a result of a decision that Synod took in July, which then prompted the Presidents to call a November Synod. Being a third meeting in the year, we are all truly grateful to those who have had to take further holiday time in order to be present. Their willingness to do so is much appreciated and should not go unrecognised. Also much appreciated was the package of paper we received for this Synod. It was the lightest it has been for a very long while, prompting the question ‘Can this be all there is? There must be more. Will there be another one tomorrow?’ However, let us be assured that there is no relation between the light weight of the package and the very significant business outlined in it. The applause a moment ago expresses our relief that we meet after an announcement has at last been made of the name of the next Archbishop of Canterbury. We all assure Bishop Justin of our support and prayers as he prepares for the future that he has been called to embrace. That is the positive way of expressing it! Maybe Synod should at some time consider whether the practice of a blindfolded boy pulling out a name from a box in the context of worship would be a good way for the Church of England to discover the will of God in important appointments. It is around that theme of decision-making that I want to set the scene for the agenda this week. How do we decide how to vote when we are confronted by many opposing voices? How do we discern the will of God for his Church at a particular time? How do we discover the mind of Christ? How grateful we should be for those around the country who have made a commitment to pray for us during this week. I am sure that we are aware of all kinds of groups offering earnest prayer for certain outcomes from tomorrow, but I would not want to be sorting out the heavenly in-box, with all those conflicting requests. Whatever our longing, we need to come to the place where we pray that most difficult of prayers, as it was when it was first uttered, ‘Not my will but yours be done.’ Surely, over and above all our personal convictions and preferences, we need to align ourselves with that will of the Lord of our Church. Whatever our view of the Measure that outlines the legislation for women as bishops, we find ourselves at this Synod close to a decision. We reach a decision tomorrow after years of debate, and it is right that we come to this moment. Not everyone will 2 Monday 19 November 2012 Report by the Business Committee be able to speak during the debates of the Synod – at least, I hope that, as we come towards the end of the day tomorrow, some who had hoped to speak will feel there is nothing that can usefully be added – but all of us as members of Synod can pray, can listen and can vote. That is the prime responsibility of members of Synod. Inevitably, there is an atmosphere of tension as we allow the process of voting to decide the way forward. Whichever way the debate and the voting goes, there will be anxiety and emotion; but let us handle that moment with grace to one another and in the faith that the Lord is fulfilling his promise to build his Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The decisions of the Business Committee regarding the agenda were quite limited this time because, according to our Standing Orders, certain items of business just had to be taken. We did have a choice as to the order of the agenda but, with all of tomorrow required for the legislation, even that was somewhat limited. The item on the referral of the Covenant to the dioceses and the report from the Anglican Consultative Council are a natural pair and healthy way to begin this group of sessions, as we reflect on the relationships within the Communion and the response of the Church of England to the proposal of a Covenant. The following motions, passed by a number of diocesan synods, will be taken at a future group of sessions – for three reasons. First, to allow more time on our agenda than is possible this November for such an important debate.