General Synod update
Posted on Wednesday 27th February, 2008
The Church of England is “synodically governed and episcopally led”. “Synod” means “people on the way”. It is important for members of the Church of England to know what has been discussed and decided at the General Synod. The Synod last met in February 2008 in Westminster. Here is a summary of their meeting:
Presidential Address
The Archbishop of Canterbury gave the Presidential Address, clarifying his recent remarks on the issues surrounding the place of Islamic law within the English legal system, looking ahead to the Lambeth Conference, and reflecting on the situation in Zimbabwe.
Detention without Charge
Synod discussed the need to balance the demands for security from terrorist attack with the protection of civil rights and liberties, and carried a motion expressing “grave concern” that an extension to the current 28-day maximum period for detention without charge would disturb that balance unacceptably.
Mental Health
Following debate, Synod affirmed the importance of improving services for the care and treatment of people with mental health problems. Synod welcomed the recognition within mental health services of the significance of spirituality for assessment and treatment, and encouraged parishes to ensure that care for people with mental health problems, their carers and NHS staff is a key priority for the Church’s ministry.
Casinos
A Private Member’s Motion from Tom Benyon (Oxford) enabled Synod to endorse the public opposition expressed by church leaders to the introduction of regional and large casinos. Synod requested that the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport introduce a statutory levy on the gambling industry to fund programmes of education, research and treatment with the aim of checking the growth in problem gaming.
Clergy Terms of Service
The draft Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure and associated draft legislation was considered in detail by the Synod at Revision Stage. Proposals to change the traditional clergy freehold to enable parsonages to be vested in diocesan parsonages boards had been the subject of a number of representations by Synod members and others to the Revision Committee. Following debate, during which members made clear their opposition to such plans, an amendment overturning these proposals was carried, but other aspects of the legislation were approved. The draft Measure as amended was committed by the Synod for final drafting.
In other legislative debates, Synod passed a new code of practice aiming to address the need for the oversight of new forms of Church developing alongside traditional ones. Synod also adjourned a debate on Ecclesiastical fees, for future consideration.
Anglican Communion Covenant
The Church of England’s Response to the Draft Covenant for the Anglican Communion, submitted to the Covenant Design Group at the end of last year, was formally noted by the Synod.
Crown Appointments
Synod endorsed a number of proposals on how some Crown appointments should be made in future, following a consultation process conducted at the end of 2007 after the Prime Minister indicated that he no longer wished to exercise a direct role in church appointments.
Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue
Synod discussed a major contribution to Anglican – Roman Catholic theological dialogue: the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission report, Growing Together in Unity and Mission. The report, presented as an Agreed Statement on doctrinal accord and areas where further work towards convergence was required, also set out a range of recommendations for practical collaboration between Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops and lay people, which the Synod encouraged the two Churches to take forward.
Other business
The Synod carried a motion from the Diocese of Durham requesting the House of Bishops to prepare Eucharistic prayers suitable for occasions when a significant number of children are present.
Synod also carried a Private Member’s Motion from Tim Cox (Blackburn) encouraging dioceses to help ensure that anyone entering a church should have ready access to one of the various ‘recommended’ versions of the Bible.
Background papers for each debate, alongside links to an audio archive of each session, are available at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/feb2008.html
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