Outline
The General Synod met in London from Monday 6th to Thursday 9th February. Before the Synod itself met, there were meetings of the Convocations of Canterbury and York and of the House of Laity. The major topic of the week was a discussion over the ordination of women as bishops in the Church of England, which was split into three different parts of the agenda. We have yet to reach the stage of a final vote on this issue, but there is a strong feeling on all sides that we are moving towards women bishops in our church. The debate now centres on how this can be achieved in a way that keeps the church together and makes provision for those who cannot accept women as bishops. There being no legislative business, we were able to spend more time on “desirable” business, including several private members or diocesan synod motions. On the second day The Archbishop of Canterbury preached a sermon, the text of which can be found at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr19b.html

Pensions
The secretary of the pensions board, Shaun Farrell, gave an excellent briefing about what’s going on the pensions world. He put the situation facing pension providers generally and the Church of England pension fund in particular in a historical and contemporary financial and sociological context. He then added the overlay of the recent Turner report and drew some conclusions about the implications for contributions to the churches pension scheme. There is to be a special meeting of the inter-diocesan finance forum to discuss this on 27 March. In the meantime, listen to the presentation at www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gspmeve0602.html

Ethical Investment. GS 1604
A report by the Ethical Investment Group, which advises the Church Commissioners, the CBF Church of England funds and the Clergy Pensions Board, (with combined assets of over £5 billion.) The group aims to promote a high standard of corporate behaviour while balancing the best possible returns with good ethical investment criteria, avoiding investments which would be inimical to church purposes and companies with questionable management practices. Not content with simply a passive role in avoiding certain investments the group engages in discussions with companies and seeks out companies, which conform to their standards. Most welcome this dialogue. An amendment, narrowly approved, criticised the American Caterpillar Company, a manufacturer of heavy earth-moving equipment, which has been used in Israel to demolish Palestinian homes. Some thought this unfair - to what extent should a company be responsible for the misuse of its products? The Group’s advice is available to any church body. See www.cofe.anglican.org/info/ethical. See also the Archbishop of Canterbury’s letter to the Chief Rabbi http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr2006.html

Seeds in Holy Ground: GS 1606
This was an important debate on the needs of rural communities and the place of the Church in those communities. Most rural communities have a church building and often the life of the Church is the glue that holds those communities together. One speaker said that the Church contributes to the fabric of local communities in real terms, which other agencies can only dream about. The crisis of farming was the subject of some contributors, as well as the limitation of choice suffered by many who live in rural areas. The Government seems indifferent to the problems caused by the monopoly of the four large supermarkets. At the same time, Government interference can be overwhelming; the regulations covering duck eggs, for example, running to some 29,000 words. The problems caused by second-homes were highlighted, as was the fact that the National Rural Officer is seriously under funded.

Pushing at the Boundaries of Unity: GS Misc 801
This is an imaginative and positive report, which opens discussion, with searching questions, about current and proposed Anglican-Baptist relations. The Baptist Churches involved in this dialogue are linked to the Baptist Union. The report has good theological and historical content and encourages the churches to work together for mission. Certain joint Anglican/Baptist enterprises were celebrated, eg. the work of The Leprosy Mission, local Churches’ Together groups and Local Ecumenical Projects and there were many examples of good practice. It was very evident in the debate that many Anglicans have Baptist links. Issues relating to baptism were highlighted as an area for continued discussion. A Study Guide is to be produced. The Bishop of Peterborough moved the motion ‘That this Synod commend the report for study throughout the Church of England and for local discussion with Baptists; and request that comments be sent to the Council for Christian Unity by 30 November 2007.’ The Synod carried the motion.

Mutual Expectations: GS 1601
Did you know that the Church of England has 11 Colleges of Higher Education/Universities serving approximately 115 -120,000 students, many of them adults on vocational courses. Many of these were founded in the 19th century as teacher training colleges but they have expanded from that base and now offer a range of distinctive courses. A report by the Board of Education acknowledges the pressures of market forces and government policy while encouraging the colleges to develop their identities as institutions, which are recognizably Christian. Hear the debate at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gspm0702.html

Admission of Children to Communion: Item 500 and GS 1596Y
For a number of years Bishops in many dioceses (including ours) have been admitting baptised Children to Holy Communion. Synod needed to regularise this practice and pass legislation authorising this whilst still acknowledging that the normative position remains Baptism, Confirmation, and Communion. At the November 2005 Group of Sessions members gave their overwhelming support with a few minor alterations being recommended. In this February Session Approval was given in both Houses before Synod spent some time rehearsing arguments which had been heard before and then voting overwhelmingly in favour of approving the regulations. http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gspm0702.html

Readers
A private member’s motion was presented, calling attention to the fact that our 10,000 Readers are under-used, and asking the Archbishop’s Council to consider the implications of this. A decline in numbers is however more than matched by an increase in NSM and OLM clergy and those involved in other forms of lay ministry. A greater emphasis on eucharistic services requiring a priest has had a bearing on the matter, and while there is clearly some confusion between the various categories of unpaid ministry, it was strongly felt that Readers have a valuable role and many varying gifts. Dioceses should be encouraged to emphasise their availability.

Slavery
A motion was brought by Southwark Diocesan Synod to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Parliamentary Act to abolish the slave trade. Both the shameful involvement of the C of E in slavery and its gallant work in abolishing it were highlighted. An apology was offered to those who are the heirs of those who were enslaved and all were urged as a matter of priority to do their part in ridding the world of the continuing scourge of slavery and human trafficking.

Into the new Quinquennium: GS 1607
Your reporter admits to have been baffled by this where this debate, which was full of references to structural relationships, the tone of conversations, process and relationships. Perhaps the problem was that the debate came towards the end of a long day when I was focusing on the following debate. Anyway, you can find out for yourselves by listening to the debate at www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gspm0807.html

The Human Genome
A fascinating debate took place on the Human Genome. A motion sent to General Synod from the Guildford Diocesan Synod brought about the debate. We were told that we live in the middle of a race for power over the commercialisation of the human genome. The tension here is between the needs of humanity and the need for expensive technology to return a profit. Some of the discussion covered the question of whether or not we should be able to patent human genes. It was also said that this technology makes the rich richer (literally) from the blood of the poor. These issues are highly complex and it was agreed to ask for a report to be prepared and brought back to Synod next year.

Hospital and Health Care Chaplaincy: GS 1609
The Bishop of St Albans moved a motion to affirm and support chaplaincy and spiritual healthcare as a part of wholeness and healing, to support and encourage all who work in this area of the NHS, and to request the Government and NHS Trusts that this should continue. The Bishop described the many pressures that the NHS is under, financial, managerial, and technological and how this all impacts upon the world of chaplaincy as it seeks to proclaim eternal truths whilst taking note of changing circumstances. This was the first time that hospital chaplaincy work has been debated by Synod, and there were many moving stories of the valuable work being done by ordained and lay chaplains and the variety of contexts in which they work, hospices as well as hospital Trusts, their contributions to ethical debates and their role as critical friends in management meetings. Mention was also made of the marginalisation of Chaplains by some Clergy and Chapters who saw them as not doing ‘proper’ work – although this has improved greatly recently. The motion was overwhelming carried and this important ministry affirmed. http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gspm0802.html

Church Buildings. GS 1610
A report presented by the Bishop of London reviewing the value of church buildings not only as symbols of mission but also in providing for tourism, education, community cohesion and cultural activities, and calling on the government to be more generous with help for repairs. Of our 16,226 churches and 42 cathedrals three-quarters are listed buildings. Major repairs in 2003 cost £112 million, helped by grants of only £26 million. There is a backlog of repairs needed of £373 million. The average cost of complying with disability requirements was £49,000 per church. Heritage Lottery funds now being diverted to Olympic preparations will reduce grants further. Discussion emphasised the need to develop and extend the use of buildings as the best way to preserve them and called on the government to increase financial support and to continue the current VAT relief scheme for repairs to listed churches after March 2008 unless it has by then been permanently favourably resolved by Europe. Further information: rebecca.payne@c-of-e.org.ukhttp://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gspm0902.html

Women Bishops: GS 1605
There were three separate debates or presentations on Women Bishops. The first was a presentation with questions dealing with ecumenical responses to the Guildford Report from the Methodists, the United Reform Church and the Roman Catholic Church. Professor Frances Young for the Methodists spoke of the ‘non-negotiable principle of equal opportunity’ whilst recognising the threefold order of ministry. Defining a bishop was a real question. But should not the same logic that permitted women to be ordained priest also apply to them being ordained bishop? Revd Anthony Milner also touched on this by saying that Roman Catholics find it difficult to see who should be in the role of bishop unless it was commonly understood ‘what a bishop was or did’. Without resolving these sort of questions through dialogue, communion could be impaired on an ecumenical basis. The URC position was put by Revd Dr David Thompson, a former moderator of their Assembly. For him ordination of women to the priesthood was irreversible and the role of bishops was seen ‘as an embodiment of unity’. Thus alternative Episcopal arrangements were not ecumenically viable, nor pastorally sustainable.

The second debate was to “take note” of the report, which gave people the chance to debate the content of the report. The three main proposals were:

• A "Single Clause" Measure - a simple provision that women could now be bishops.
• A "Third Province" - in effect creating a separate Church of England with its own ministry, structures and governance.
• Some kind of "Transferred Episcopal Arrangements" (TEA) which would hold the Church of England together but create sacramental and pastoral provision under a male Provincial Regional Bishop (PRB) for those parishes which could not accept women bishops.

The third bite at this particular cherry, this time with a very specific and lengthy motion moved by the Archbishop of Canterbury, came on the final morning. The motion welcomed the review of options in the report, asked for further explorations along the lines of “Transferred Episcopal Arrangements” (TEA), sought further work on the theological, ecumenical and canonical implications of this approach, asked for a debate at the July Synod to determine the next steps, and invited everyone to reflect prayerfully on the serious decisions facing the Church. Three and a quarter hours was allowed for this debate and many angles were presented. In his opening speech the Archbishop emphasised the importance of managing diversity, of continuing theological exploration, and warned against looking for the neat and tidy way ahead that would fail to hold people together. He said that we were in unchartered territory, and as we sought to manage diversity and conflict we could well find out important things about ourselves and model something for the whole church.

As one would expect there were speeches from all the main standpoints though clearly the Third Province option was a non-starter since no one spoke about this nor was an amendment moved in that direction. Many of the imponderables about TEA were raised, not least by Chancellor Collingsby who listed a myriad of legal minefields. The Bishop of Willesden emphasised that this wasn’t the finished article and that we were looking at a pragmatic evangelical solution to a Catholic problem (!).Many spoke of TEA being the only answer for a muddled world. Our own Robert Key made his maiden speech proposing an amendment that removed TEA and asked for a ‘simple enabling Measure with an enforceable code of practice” to be considered. This amendment had the backing of WATCH and Affirming Catholic members – and his speech received prolonged acclaim, but was lost on a show of hands. Another amendment that asked for a “Single Clause Measure” to be looked at alongside TEA was lost on a vote by Houses. To some this was surprising given the talk in the corridors about the unsatisfactory nature of TEA, but clearly the Archbishop’s earnest appeals to Synod to finding ways ahead that are inclusive and not adversarial, that simple solutions will only drive us apart, were ones that won the hearts of the vast majority of Synod. After a very long but well-mannered and generous debate the motion was passed with 348 in favour and one against (abstentions are not counted – and there may well have been several). The July Synod awaits what comes from the continued theological reflection and possible ways ahead. The devil will be in the detail and if women are to be bishops on an equal footing with their male counterparts then there is some very hard work still to be done.
http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/pr19a.html We suggest that you read the arguments, including the theological and structural basis for TEA in the Guildford Report, which can be found at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/gs1605.rtf

Questions
79 written questions were submitted by members of Synod. The responses will be available online in the near future. Questions relating to the Octavia Hill Estates were taken on Wednesday morning. The questions were far ranging and included - the availability of theology degree courses to part-time ordinands; statistics re Curacies and curates; support and guidance for ordinands; the inclusion of deaf people in ministry; numbers and gender of non-stipendiary priests by Diocese, cuts to primary healthcare trusts; study of doctor-aided deaths; initiatives to counter ignorance of Christianity; representations in support of Mordecai Vanunu; civil funerals; civil partnerships; homosexual practice: public expression of views; threat to freedom of religious speech; Racial Hatred Bill and comment on proposed legislation, sale of clergy retirement housing; Shell: ECCR Resolution; Legal Office out-sourcing;: financial assistance for opponents of women Bishops, pension issues, criteria for delegation of dioceses as ‘rural’, policies of delaying appointment to parishes; Fresh Expressions: report; Mission-Shaped Church; 2008 Lambeth Conference cost and numbers; Senior appointments: supporter and opponents of ordination of women; Jerry Springer – the Opera; Thirst for Life campaign; and denial of Virgin birth: disciplinary implications. All the questions and answers can be found at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gspm0702.html

Some Synod quotes:
‘Nothing is more destructive of true understanding than spurious simplicity’. The Bishop of Guildford (quoting Lord Hope) in introducing the women bishops debate.

‘You may as well fall flat on your face as lean over too far backwards’. Also the Bishop of Guildford.

‘We share 99.8% of our genes with each other, 98% with chimpanzees and 50% with prunes.’ Canon John Ashe introducing the debate on human genomes.

A question to close: The Revd Paul Perkin (Southwark) to ask the Chairman of the Cathedrals and Church Buildings Division: "In the light of:
(a) recent guidance from the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group that the 2005 Working at Height Regulations apply to church buildings; and
(b) media reports late last year that four people and scaffolding were needed to change five light bulbs 40 feet above ground at St Benet’s Roman Catholic Church in Beccles at a cost of £1,300, has the Division made any assessment of:
i) how many Anglicans it would take to change all the light bulbs in similarly lofty locations within Church of England buildings; and
ii) what the total cost of such work would be for Parochial Church Councils across the country!!”

The next group of sessions will be held at the University of York from Friday 7th to Tuesday 11th July