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If it were possible to sum up the problems of the Church of England in one job advert. This might just be it. An ambiguous organisational setting requires a policy advisor who may or may not understand, or be committed to, the purpose of the organisation but must be committed to reflecting diversity within the organisation and be able to build strong relationships in numerous settings, in order to…
Today, this quinquennium of General Synod came to an end. The synod was officially 'dissolved' - though by looking at the chamber at that time it seems many had left before the service of Holy Communion, for theological or practical reasons, and headed back to their homes and dioceses. The brief version: The delayed Private Members' Motion, Support for Looked After Children and those in care was…
Today began with a variationof Synod business to allow the 'Kairos Palestine' debate that was adjourned yesterday to be completed this morning. The Private Members Motion, 'Support for Looked After Children and those in care', will now be debated tomorrow. Business in brief The controversial Kairos Palestine motion passed in all three houses, in an amended form, despite a plea from the Bishop of…
Today, the much vaunted 'King motion' came before General Synod. The motion, about the compatability of same-sex relationships with christian discipleship, has been discussed at length. The wording was as follows: That this Synod affirm that there are no fundamental objections to being in a committed, faithful, intimate same-sex relationship, and that such a relationship can be entirely compatible…
While many in England were more concerned about the results of the World Cup and Wimbledon, General Synod members were hard at work in York. Saturday morning A Private Members Motion seeking a review of digital communications of the Church of England was brought to an end when a motion for 'next business' was proposed and passed on a show of hands. The Legislative Committee explained that the…
The final meeting of this 'General Synod' began with a relatively uncontroversial first session: There were anodyne addresses from the Archbishop of York and an ecumenical guest from the Roman Catholic Church. The debate on the Business Committee raised a questions about the purpose of fringe meetings, the armed forces covenant, CNCs, members joining online, the way question time operates, the…
Even Anglican nerds, like those at Anglican Futures, struggle to read the ink off every paper being put before Synod - so this is a quick-ish guide to the key themes and debates coming up. The full agenda can be found here. This is last synod of the five-year term for elected members. Thus, it is a time to tie up loose ends, and the Business Committee have worked hard to include any number of…
[Please forgive the acronyms in the title - it is the only way to avoid them becoming far too long. For those unfamiliar with the alphabetti spaghetti of Anglican life this blog may be helpful. In the meantime, here are a few relevent reminders: ACC - Anglican Consultative Council - an elected body of bishops, clergy, laity who make up one of the four 'Instruments of Communion' of the Anglican…
Next week the General Synod of the Church of England will meet in York for the final Synod of this quinquennium. The majority of those currently serving on General Synod will face re-election in the Autumn, leaving only the diocesan bishops and other ex-officio members to be certain to return in November. Whatever the results of those elections there are some big issues that will need to be…
In 2017, Bishop Martin Morrison of the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa (REACH SA) was one of those who travelled to NE England to consecrate the Rt Revd Jonathan Pryke, a long-standing curate at Jesmond Parish Church. It was claimed that this radical action was necessary because it would allow Pryke "to provide ongoing episcopal ministry to Jesmond Parish Church, related…
