Members of General Synod met at York University from Friday 7th to Tuesday 11th July 2007.

Is Modern Childhood all that it should be?

General Synod opened with a presentation from Sir Albert Aynsley-Green, England's first Children's commissioner. He began by referring members to www.11million.org.uk, the web site of the organisation he now represents, and encouraged visiting it. His role is to be the independent voice of all children and young people and represent their views, opinions, interests and rights to those who make decisions that affect them. The Vision of 11 Million (formerly boringly called "The Office of the Children's Commissioner") is the participation and engagement of children and young people themselves to address issues of well-being. He referred to the UNICEF report Child Poverty: An Overview of Child Well-being in Rich Countries published in February 2007 in which the UK comes bottom of 21 countries in terms of poverty, health, family and peer relationships, risky behaviour, expectations, education and self-assessed well-being. He spoke passionately of the need to address these findings and spoke optimistically about The Children's Society's Good Childhood Enquiry, yet to be published.

You can hear this address on http://217.207.180.12/synod/jul0702.wax

Questions

Three quarters of the 77 questions were answered orally, more than 10% of which concerned clergy pensions. Answers clearly showed that more avenues need exploring to deal with the current problems, particular regarding the retireds’ housing needs and if the Church Commissioners can release further funds to make good the deficit. 14% of questions sought assurance that proper and fair practice exists in the Theological colleges. Otherwise, questions covered a wide range of topics largely arising out of press coverage of issues in recent months. For example, the video game Resistance: Fall of Man using images from an English cathedral without permission. Synod strongly showed how they deplored the stance of Sony in continuing to sell the product, failing to make a financial good-will gesture for charities and the absence of an apology.

Marriage Measure Qualifying Connections

After a process which has taken eight years, we came to the “final vote” on the Marriage Measure, which gave overwhelming approval to a piece of legislation that will, subject to Parliamentary approval, significantly increase the choices for those who wish to get married in our parish churches or places of worship. The vote, by houses due to its national importance, had only 3 clergy and 3 lay people voting against. It is expected that Parliament will give approval in 2008.

Please note that bookings for 2008 weddings should only be taken on the basis of the existing legislation.

Full details will be provided to clergy and can be found on the Synod web site but the new position will, in summary, be as set out below:

Under the legislation to be married in a church or building licensed for worship by banns or common licence one party must have a qualifying connection. The qualifying connections are now as follows:

The person seeking to marry in the parish under the Measure:

• was baptised in the parish;
• has his or her confirmation recorded in the register belonging to the parish (ie prepared for confirmation there);
• has at any time had his or her usual place of residence in the parish for at least six months; or
• has at any time habitually attended public worship in the parish for at least six months.

2. That person's parent has at any time during the person's lifetime:

• had his or her usual place of residence in the parish for at least six months;
• habitually attended public worship in the parish for at least six months;

3. That person's parent or grandparent was married in the parish.

It should be noted that Electoral Roll membership is now irrelevant. Evidence can be obtained in many ways but the minister may ask for a statutory declaration in support of information supplied.

Fees

The annual debate on parochial fees took its usual form. There is always a tension between those who wish to charge a more commercial rate for the services of the Church of England and those who feel that we should charge less, for the sake of mission. There was less debate this year, as we are promised a full debate of the structure of fees in February. Fees for 2008 were increased with an above average increase for funeral fees.

Standing Orders

These rules that govern the flow of business in Synod are reviewed from time to time and currently changes are being made to enable Electronic voting to be introduced. Though some members expressed concern about removing the provision to ring the ‘bell’ in advance of a vote of the whole Synod, this together with other necessary changes were approved by the majority.

Clergy Pensions

The General Synod voted substantially to accept the proposals to adjust the pension remuneration package. The debate itself had been preceded by a meeting of the House of Clergy on this subject. The new package makes some significant changes to the present arrangements. Although the defined benefit scheme remains it will be necessary now to work for 40 years rather than 37 to gain the full package. Furthermore pension increases will have a ceiling increase of 3.5% per annum. In the past increases kept pace with National Minimum Stipend (NMS). Depending on inflation rates the difference between the two may well be significant over the years. If the last 20 years are an indication then the figures produced by Canon John Ashe and reported in the press are cause for concern in respect of adequacy. Moreover those already in retirement have lost their discretionary link to NMS. This has enabled a further redistribution by the Church Commissioners of around 200 million pounds for other mission purposes. Alistair Magowan tabled an amendment to support Canon Ashe because he wished to test Synod's mind on this matter and as to whether they were truly content to allow those in retirement who have no voice to loose this benefit. The spectre of contribution rates well above the 40% ceiling required by dioceses and the news that despite stock market gains the Pension Board funding gap has substantially grown from around 93 million pounds to a predicted level of approximately 140 million pounds gave the synod very little room to manoeuvre. What is now in place is a scheme that comparatively is better than many but is nevertheless a marked diminution of what has been delivered until now.

Military Action on Iran

A debate on possible US military action against Iran was still-born on Saturday afternoon, when Synod members expressed concern about the potential for creating difficulties for Iranian Christians. Canon Simon Bessant introduced his private member’s motion: “That this Synod, in the light of growing international concern about possible US military action against Iran, believes that, in present circumstances, unilateral pre-emptive military action by the US or any other government against Iran cannot be justified.” Canon Chris Sugden moved a procedural motion. He said that a new Bishop of Iran was to be installed on 5th August, and Iran had recently made arrangements to allow the restoration of some Anglican churches in the country. All this could be put at risk if the government of Iran took exception to something said in the debate. The Synod agreed in a division by 113 votes to 97 to move to next business.

Transforming Worship: Living the New Creation

The Bishop of Wakefield (Chairman of the Liturgical Commission) introduced this report with the sentiment that unless worship is vibrant and engaging it will be in vain. What a pity his Commission have produced such a lifeless and exclusive report. It was inevitable that the debate became a liturgical love-in and significant that all bar three speakers failed to engage with the report we were debating. Honorable mentions go to the Bishop of Willesden for his realism in pointing out that reports with as many pious recommendations as this one never get anywhere and to the Bishop of Durham who made a jolly good speech which would have been even better if all the audience had degrees in liturgical practice to better understand his wisdom. The report’s view of those with learning difficulties and serious mental illnesses needs to be challenged.

.However there are some good things in this report, which is worth looking at. The point is well made that, after years of revision, the time has come to ask in what ways our worship needs to be developed so that it becomes a real point of transformation for each Christian community.

The Anglican Covenant

This Covenant seeks to hold together the 38 provinces of the Anglican Communion at a time of tension when actions taken by some parts threatens to fracture the whole. It has largely arisen through the consecration of an openly gay man to the episcopate in the US and the pressure to approve same sex blessings there as well as in Canada, both of which some other parts of the Communion are unable to countenance.

At the present time a ‘First Draft’ has been compiled by the Covenant Design Group, chaired by the Rt Revd Drexel Gomez, Archbishop of the West Indies, who presented to our General Synod a valuable summary of how the Communion had arrived at its present position.

Synod was asked to approved this process and for ‘the Presidents [the Archbishops of Canterbury and York], having consulted the House of Bishops and the Archbishops’ Council, to agree the terms of a considered response to’ this first draft.

During debate strong anxieties surfaced from two groups of people. One rejected the whole process as, ‘an unjustified and extensive innovation in Anglican ecclesiology’. The other expressed the need for Synod rather than just the Presidents to approve the final draft and was concerned about how and when they would be able to interact with the final wording. In addition, as highlighted in an amendment, there was some strong feeling about upholding ‘the historic Anglican formularies’ within the Covenant wording. This amendment failed to be approved largely because there are differences in the way the formularies are expressed in the various parts of the Anglican Communion. More importantly, the current debate is about process, not the detail, which might well not be concluded for another couple of years. At the conclusion the unamended motion was approved by more than a 2/3 majority with some noticeable dissent.

The Anglican/Methodist Covenant

The Synod commended the second interim report of the Joint Implementation Committee for the Anglican-Methodist Covenant “as a basis for study and action, to be undertaken wherever possible with representatives of the Methodist Church”. In the debate many inspiring examples of co-operation and joint working were mentioned. Sadly, however, there were still issues over lay presidency and bishops to be worked through.

Present and Participating: A place at the table

This report from the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns was introduced by the Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin who told Synod that whilst matters were improving, deeper commitment was needed so that the ethnic variety of the Church of England was further recognised. She spoke of the needs for younger people to see themselves reflected in the leadership of the Church.

In the debate speakers made the point that hospitality and involvement needed to be genuine, that actions needed to follow words – that the experience of minority ethnic group was still very often that there were not welcome, or least they didn’t themselves feel welcomed, and it is for all of us to work at this. There have been several papers to Synod in recent years on minority ethnic concerns, and the point was made that the best result would be that no such further report would be needed again. Many spoke of the nature of covert racism, and how the BNP is now putting out much subtler forms of racism in its literature.

Presidential Address

The Archbishop of York spoke on a theme of “ Fear Not – Do not be afraid”. He drew together a variety of threads to illustrate the effects of fear on some features of national life including terrorism, international relations, the discernment of Islam, schism, a celebrity driven society and his own boating holiday on the Trent & Mersey canal. The address was a timely exhortation to renewed confidence with a powerful reminder that in God all things are possible.
Read the address at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/abypresjul07.html
or listen to it at http://217.207.180.12/synod/jul0716.wax

Annual report of the Church Commissioners

Under Standing Order 97, Mr Andreas Whittam Smith (First Church Estates Commissioner) and Mr Timothy Walker (Third Church Estates Commissioner) gave a presentation on their Annual Report. Whilst fund managers are chosen, the actual investments are not, although managers are required to comply with the ethical investment policy. However, the Commissioners do select properties to buy and sell. There is a global increase in the cost of food will should make the Commissioner’s farms more profitable. Commissioners have maintained the recent year-on-year increase in expenditure on parish mission and ministry support, and have also maintained the reduction in overall Commission administration costs, helped by collocating in Church House with other organisations.

In a break with tradition the Commissioners then answered questions from the floor. Commissioners do not control farms, but do provide support when a farmer chooses to diversify. The salt extraction lease is due for renewal in 2008 and the existing 6d/1000 gallons of brine and £5 per hole may be increased to current commercial levels (substantially higher!). Commissioners hold about 750 Lord of the Manor titles!

Disability Issues for Ministry in the Church of England

The debate arose from a survey of clergy with disabilities completed in 2006 and was presented by the Revd. John Naude, himself in a wheelchair. The motion was moved by the Bishop of Sheffield. A supportive and interesting debate followed, which included the Maiden Speech of the Revd. Maureen Allchin from our Diocese. Two useful amendments were made to the original motion which was overwhelmingly passed.

'That this Synod affirm the value of the contribution made by clergy with disabilities in the life and witness of the Church of England and its commitment to and support for their ministry by asking dioceses to: (a) take note of the report Clergy with disabilities in the Church of England and the outcome of this debate; (b) ensure that a "lead" person on disability issues is appointed in each diocese and that appropriate training is made available; and (c) ensure that disability issues are made an integral part of the functioning of diocesan structures, particularly Diocesan Advisory Committees and Parsonage Boards".

Senior Appointments

A major report on Senior Appointments had to be modified in the light of the announcement from No 10 Downing Street that in future the Prime Minister will not be involved in the choice of Diocesan Bishops. The existing system remains, but in future the Church will pick the candidate and the Prime Minister will pass that name on to the Queen. The report suggests that there should be a more open system for all senior appointments. Certainly the current system is now changing and we will have to wait and see whether No 10 will give up all involvement with “crown livings” including many of the Deaneries. Tribute was paid to the Prime Minister’s Appointments Secretary, who has provided an excellent HR resource for the Church over many years and at no cost to us.

Church Army presentation.

A spirited presentation was given by the new Chief Executive of the Church Army, Mark Russell. To the traditional three objectives of the Church Army, conversion, consecration and church membership he seeks to add co-operation, particularly ecumenical, compassion, particularly to outsiders and contemporary, particularly culturally relevant. His aim is to raise the profile of the Church Army whose main thrust is mission, and consideration is to be given to adopting a less military title.

Ethical Investment

A Private Member’s Motion was raised seeking publication of the Ethical Investment Advisory Group’s list of restricted investments so that they could be used to advise everyone on ethical investments. There were major concerns raised: a company could, potentially, take legal action if it was not on the list and, therefore, could be considered by others to be “un-ethical”; since the market changes daily, the list could be obsolete as soon as it is published; and it could be considered as financial advice. Instead, an amendment was raised to urge the Church Commissioners, Pensions Board and trustees of the CBF funds, in collaboration with the Ethical Investment Advisory Group, to make available more details of how they carry out their ethical investment policies. This was carried.

Archbishops' Council Budget 2008. (GS 1665)

Michael Chamberlain as Chairman of the Finance Division presented this. The budget is in five parts, training, national support, grants, mission agency pensions and housing assistance for retired clergy.

The biggest increase is on training, which accounts for over 40% of the total. There are currently more ordination candidates in residential and part-time training than at any time since 1970, half of these non-stipendiary. The only other unusual item is a big reduction in the retired clergy-housing scheme. This reflects the lack of popularity of the scheme. Partly this is due to loan levels not having kept up with housing cost and partly to the poor value for individuals of equity sharing arrangements in an inflationary market. There are many calls for better housing assistance for retired clergy and urgent consideration is being given to this. Meanwhile loan levels are being increased. The overall budget increase has been kept down to 2.7% partly by the use of reserves. Michael Chamberlain who steps down as Chairman was profusely thanked.

Farewells and Prorogation

The Archbishop of York, Dr Sentamu, praised the contribution of two Bishops who were retiring. He described the Bishop of Worcester, Dr Peter Selby, as a “shaper of our corporate life” and “an apostle for justice, the poor, the vulnerable, and the marginalized.” He praised his work as the Bishop for Prisons

Dr Sentamu described the Bishop of Coventry, Colin Bennetts, as “relaxed bishop –nothing surprises him.” He praised his work at the Centre For reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral—he was a man who took risks for the gospel.”

Dr Sentamu prorogued the Synod at 12.30pm on Tuesday with prayers

Some quotes

'Stop fantasising that by passing recommendations we're going to do anything to further the kingdom of God. I'm not sure why we're debating this except to make the Liturgical Commission happy.' (The Bishop of Willesden during the debate on the Liturgical Commission report)

'I'm amused by the seasoned synodical reflections of the Bishop of Willesden, slightly world-weary on this occasion if I might say so'. (The Bishop of Wakefield, in reply.)

'I'm always worried when a Bishop of Durham finds himself in York during a thunderstorm'. (The Bishop of Durham during a thunderstorm).

You can find papers and audio recordings relating to this group of sessions at http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/jul2007.html

Reports in this synopsis were written by General Synod members from the Diocese of Salisbury, who are always ready to come and talk to deaneries about any of the issues contained in this report.