General Synod in York, July 2011
GENERAL SYNOD DIARY
Friday 8th – Tuesday 12th July 2011
York University
Friday 8th July
Drove to York through lashings of rain and spray.
Stopped at designer outlet for lunch [don't tell my husband!].
Arrived to find modern buildings, comfortable en-suite room accommodation. Large campus around lake.
Clergy disappeared for union meeting, lay members unpacked.
Opening worship at 4.30pm in Central Hall, large tiered theatre, big stage, two large screens, efficient sound system.
Notice Rowan Williams has had a good haircut!! John Sentamu missing due to delayed recovery from recent op.
4.30-6.15pm
Addressed by RW on the situation in Southern Sudan [new nation celebrating and rejoicing] but still impoverished and unstable. Welcomed Bishop Anastasios of all Tirana, Durres and all Albania: Bishop of Copenhagen and ecumenical reps.
Anastasios
Moved to Albania in 1991, found church buildings destroyed, held services in open air, founded seminary to train priests and started Church again after decades of oppression. 150 new churches built, 160 repaired, 70 new schools. Thousands of workers benefited from building programme. Mixed backgrounds of people, Serbs, Balkans, many refugees from Kosovo.
River Jordan runs to the Sea of Galilee which does not keep its water but allows it to run on to Dead Sea. Dead Sea receives water but does not share it, so it dies.
'receiving and sharing is the secret of real love' was his key message.
Business Committee report
[This committee organises the agenda for GS]
Following points raised:
Why number of lawyers increased from 25-28? Answer= only claim travelling expenses, meets 2-3 times a year, experienced In different areas of law.
8.30pm-10pm
Questions
There were 96 questions!
Some get written answers which are put on noticeboards, some get spoken answers in debate. Allowed to ask supplementary questions then.
Some of the topics:
Saturday 9th July
9.30am-10am
Sunday 10th July.
10am Holy Communion in York Minster. Half GS taken down on coaches, half walked the two miles. Walked down and past two churches, one with vicar outside after service with coffee in hand greeting passers-by. Bells ringing out across city. We filled the cathedral. RW leading service, girls' choir plus men, sermon by Bishop of Copenhagen. He referred to invasions of England and asked forgiveness!!
Coffee in nearby hotel with Lichfield group and came out to find it spotting with rain again. Accepted lift back to uni and the heavens opened, all walkers drowned, including Bishop Jonathan and Rev Stephen [who was very gallant and gave his coat to a soaking woman on way- these TA types, hardy souls!] Incidentally his regiment in Lichfield Cathedral next week....
1.00pm Open Synod group and WATCH had arranged for Rt Rev Victoria Matthews from Christchurch, New Zealand to come and talk after lunch. She spoke very movingly about her experiences as a bishop and the aftermath of the earthquakes and subsequent shocks. There have been 7000 earthquakes, 5 of them major. National govt and city council have turned to the Church for help. 181 people have died. The people of Christchurch are weary and apprehensive. 23 Anglican churches are not safe and a number of schools and halls. 5000 homes will need to be demolished. Clergy are exhausted and letters of encouragement would be helpful. She is working with her RC colleague, Barry Jones. Schools and people need support still.
As a woman bishop of 17 years she has faced prejudice. Been in 3 dioceses, Toronto, Edmonton, then Christchurch. Always has coffee with objecting priests, tries to agree what she can share with them, communion, the peace etc. Relationships fail if there is a winner and a loser. Lydia is an example of leadership and vocation, Paul targeted men and women, Mary Magdalene was an apostle to the disciples, able and eager to witness to the resurrection, the first celebrant of Eucharist. She spoke about the work of the spirit, liberation and the black led Pentecostal churches, the need for all voices to be heard. She deals with emotional responses by going for long walk, praying.
2.30-6.15pm.
RW statement on request for emergency debate on Sudan. He will write to Prime Minster from GS to express strong concern for Christians in Sudan.
Higher Education funding
Reader training, training of ordinands, increasing fees create problems for future. Should church keep links with external training establishments or have its own C of E professional award? Currently 12 universities and 17 institutions with courses. Need value for money, ecumenical links especially with Methodists. What will happen to subsidised accommodation for families of ordinands?
Motion to approve funding for candidates currently in training, create bursary schemes, limit training for ordinands to those 50 years or under when finished training.
Voting for 342/ against 0/ abstentions 6.
Anglican Methodist Covenant
Report printed by Methodists and been to their conference. Some want full visible unity soon. 4 Anglican/Methodist partnerships in rural Shropshire. Comments were some churches doing baptism and marriage preparation together, Fresh Expressions working together, some buildings with shared use, Methodists need to have bishop in authority. Methodist deacons are in religious order. Anglican priests remain deacons, do not have to resign diaconate as Methodists do. Proposal to have extended area partnerships.
Voting to accept the report and recommendations, For 269/ against 12/ abstentions 14.
Admission of baptised adults to communion
Bradford Diocese motion to make communion service more inclusive to adults who have not been confirmed. Comments: not necessary as no questions asked at communion rail, baptism is sacrament not confirmation. Amendment to ask that profession of faith should be given- LOST. Move to next business meant this cannot come back to GS in life of this synod.
Audit committee report
Cost of audit cheaper- £36000
SAP accounting system introduced.
Report reduced to 22 pages.
Annual report of Archbishops' Council
200 staff for Church House.
4745 schools. 47 academies. 41 cathedrals. 16000 church buildings [12500 listed]
mission projects, Wedding project, now Funeral and Baptism being funded.
Could people leave their houses to the church centrally? [can leave assets to church centrally to be distributed locally].
I asked about funding for less well resourced dioceses. [Lichfield diocese receiving £1.9million this year]. Was told that this money should remain in central budget, look at patterns of grants.
Monday 12th July
9.30am- 1.00pm
Personal statement from Bishop of Dover
Withdrawing from recommendation to appoint him as Chair of Business Committee which sets agenda. He was not elected to this position in Feb. Was standing again.
Personal statement from RW
Not pleased that trust in bishops not being expressed. Lay members all looking at each other in consternation- what is going on? Turns out to be connected to Bishop of Willesden's blog [which he wrote after the event apparently, not aware myself as I don't normally read such things] and attitude of others about power of bishops!
No-one elected to position.
Marriage measure finally approved. Carried unanimously.
Additional Eucharistic prayers for children
Two sets of prayers for children. Trialled in 800 churches. Welcomed by most but criticisms made about some adjectives and phrases. I spoke to say it is difficult to write prayers that will suit a wide age range, these prayers are good beginning and children should write their own too. Guidelines for use welcomed and children's input to preface. Suggestions that churches use visual symbols too- flags, streamers etc. Gone for further consideration.
Elections to GS by laity
Moved by London diocese who have a problem with deanery synods electing GS members. Should members on churches' electoral rolls have vote? Minority ethnic candidates not elected. Comments: young people too busy to give time, GS members reflect real church, 40-65 yr olds cannot devote time, deaneries not interested.
Amendment 'ensuring that diverse membership of C of E is fully reflected and represented'. CARRIED. Should we have wider electorate, what about over 80s, should church wardens have vote, how do electorate know candidates? Investigation into other methods of election already underway.
Voting to investigate other methods in groups:
House of Bishops. For 17/against 3/ abs 4
Clergy. For 88/ against 24/ abs 11
Laity. For 92/ against 66/ abs 9
2.30-6.15pm
Report of Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglicans
Report to recommend more Black Minority Anglicans for vocations.
Some describe church leaders as 'pale, male and stale'. MEA feel not truly welcome. Rev Stephen Pratt spoke about care in collecting data, he does not fit into categories listed as man with black father, needs to tick 'Black Other'.
RW spoke about all minority groups including Roma, travellers, Fresh Expresssions, need clear and achievable targets.
Comments: good intentions, need to encourage vocations, think of other languages eg Spanish, support for diocese in Europe, British expats.
Amendment to gather statistics carried.
Voting. For 285/ against 1/ abs 0
Archbishop's draft budget and apportionment
Comments: signing speech by deaf Anglican complaining of 90% cut to central post in 2013. 11% cut for national responsibilities, no consultation taken place.
Gratitude from mission agencies for financial help, 4500 children in camps this summer. Contributions to retired clergy housing welcomed. Coordination of procurement could save £10 million. Admin costs going down, employees doing more than one job. Expenditure accepted and voted through.
Presence and Engagement
Report into social needs of neighbourhoods with problems of racial/social tension. 4 regional centres in Leicester, Bradford, London, E Bimingham. Grant from govt for Near Neighbours project of £5 million. BNP influence waning, interfaith cooperation important, CUF acting as agent. Appeal to roll this out to other areas eg Liverpool. Asked to use 4 regional centres. Recommendations for future work voted through.
8.30-10pm
Conversations with United Reformed Church
Report from World Council of Churches. Rt Rev Christopher Hill, previously in Lichfield diocese, led motion to approve further conversations with URC. Rev Elizabeth Welch, former URC moderator, welcomed to GS as co- convenor of group.
RW spoke about need to show repentance for way ministers were treated at Great Ejection. Service of Reconciliation during GS in February 2012. at Westminster Abbey.
I spoke for 5 mins about The Church At Perton, an LEP on W side of Wolverhampton with a single congregation. Asked for more ecumenical cooperation, more respect for women in authority in other denominations. Ecumenical ventures can be successful.
Comments: much in common, worship together, need for Anglican repentance for throwing out URC ministers in 17th century, training with URC colleagues, great potential at local level, URC ordains elders, URC has Basis of Union to work to. Ecumenical county in Cumbria underway.
Voting For -All, except for 4 abstentions.
Tuesday 12th July
John Sentamu arrived.
9.30- 12.30
Statement by RW on Christians in Holy Land. DVD of RW with Rev Vincent Nicholls, an appeal for prayer for them and practical help. Asked to support Friends of the Holy Land. Prospect of E Jerusalem having no Christian people, churches as museums. Politically sensitive.
Church Commissioners' report
Investing has been successful despite recession. Views shown of investment in forestry and land. Graphs of investments, confident of ability to meet obligations. Comments: what will happen when govt pulls out of Churches Conservation Trust? Money from rents in central London good, sales of residential properties reinvested. Financial crisis not over, banks still hiding bad loans, govts over- extended, achieving resilience by diversification. Auckland Castle situation now resolved.
Comments: housing for bishops under review, could Church spend in north to stimulate economy, request for additional funds for parishes, have policy on reserves. Keep 6 months money in liquid form.
I asked again about funding for dioceses. Could we have longer term reassurances for future strategic planning? They 'will not pull the rug'. Patterns of subsidy will continue. 3 year plans because that is view of actuaries.
Report from Board of Education
200 years of church school education.460,000 exam entries.
Comments: representations to govt about lack of RE in Eng. Baccalaureate, need for philosophy in curriculum, academies wooing primaries, changes in education system are great, church schools do not reflect in congregations, need new alliances in urban areas with black led churches, more ecumenical cooperation needed, should encourage vocation of Christian teachers. Church is taking over failing schools and turning them round. Church Army playing vital part in some urban churches.
Amendment to include further education in the review was carried.
SACRES no longer to be funded by LEAs. Concern over funding for future.
1/4 primary schools in country are Anglican. 1/3 if include RC schools.
Agreed to accept report recommending improving standards in RE, support for schools becoming academies, private donor has promised funding for resource for schools.
All this with very good food in generous portions, helpful staff, site with plenty of exercise, lots of walking between bedroom , dining room and hall. Conversations with the great and good, various bishops, lay people from York, Chester, Truro, London etc, even the man who printed the order papers.
Was pleased to have a conversation with RW and give him greetings from our area. He really obviously enjoyed the service in the Minster and greeting everyone at the door later [note to Minster clergy- no-one manning the side doors at the end of the service]. Pleased to hear reassurance over money from central funds for our diocese. One older lay member coping with distances between buildings on a scooter [quite a sight and amused the uni staff].Protest by gay men asking for civil partnerships in church.
Feel that we have cleared the decks of all the previous items from last GS ready for issue of women bishops in February.
Enjoyed the fellowship, watching the political antics [see Bishop of Dover]- mystifying at the time; walking to the Minster and the service, watching RW and the bishops' reactions to humour and generally feeling I am starting to understand how it all works. Am not afraid to stand and speak and hope that reading this gives you a flavour of what GS does. Busy, time consuming, tiring but interesting, even if you are just people watching! Some inspiring worship each evening too.
Penny Allen
327 Lichfield
13/07/11
Friday 8th – Tuesday 12th July 2011
York University
Friday 8th July
Drove to York through lashings of rain and spray.
Stopped at designer outlet for lunch [don't tell my husband!].
Arrived to find modern buildings, comfortable en-suite room accommodation. Large campus around lake.
Clergy disappeared for union meeting, lay members unpacked.
Opening worship at 4.30pm in Central Hall, large tiered theatre, big stage, two large screens, efficient sound system.
Notice Rowan Williams has had a good haircut!! John Sentamu missing due to delayed recovery from recent op.
4.30-6.15pm
Addressed by RW on the situation in Southern Sudan [new nation celebrating and rejoicing] but still impoverished and unstable. Welcomed Bishop Anastasios of all Tirana, Durres and all Albania: Bishop of Copenhagen and ecumenical reps.
Anastasios
Moved to Albania in 1991, found church buildings destroyed, held services in open air, founded seminary to train priests and started Church again after decades of oppression. 150 new churches built, 160 repaired, 70 new schools. Thousands of workers benefited from building programme. Mixed backgrounds of people, Serbs, Balkans, many refugees from Kosovo.
River Jordan runs to the Sea of Galilee which does not keep its water but allows it to run on to Dead Sea. Dead Sea receives water but does not share it, so it dies.
'receiving and sharing is the secret of real love' was his key message.
Business Committee report
[This committee organises the agenda for GS]
Following points raised:
- need to discuss situation in Sudan
- no way of introducing emergency debates in GS
- reform of House of Lords will close before next GS, should have recommendations to make.
- Equality legislation advice received by members, need for secular law knowledge
- News of World scandal needs debate
- Why does Bus. Comm meet so close to GS? [Ans= follows Archbishops' Council].
- Only presidents can add to agenda, why?
Why number of lawyers increased from 25-28? Answer= only claim travelling expenses, meets 2-3 times a year, experienced In different areas of law.
8.30pm-10pm
Questions
There were 96 questions!
Some get written answers which are put on noticeboards, some get spoken answers in debate. Allowed to ask supplementary questions then.
Some of the topics:
- reform of House of Lords, reduction to 12 bishops [in proportion to other reductions to 300 members overall]
- ordinands and training, new forms ask no questions about marital status
- why C of E no longer member of Jubilee Debt campaign?
- civil partnerships [discussion next year]
- women bishops [are prospective clergy asked if they approve=no, are they asked if they approve of women in clergy=no]
- how many black minority ethnic group clergy trainers? [don't know]
- could we have self- supporting bishops? [complex]
- can clergy job-share? [only two at moment]
- Joanna Monckton [Lichfield]- will C of E lobby gvmt to change law to allow Christians to express views at work [now under sect 5 Public Order Act]
- Rev Stephen Pratt [Lichfield}- do we have a national officer for Mission and Evangelism? [Dr Jordan just appointed]
- Anglican Covenant
- which bibles can be used in church? [not paraphrased!]
- more options than Morning or Evening Prayer services [See Transforming Communities website]
- Ethical investment in alcohol [new policy from June 29 covering supermarkets]
- how can lay members be more involved in churches? [new resources for lay on discipleship, measurable progress at diocesan and parish level]
Saturday 9th July
9.30am-10am
- RW address
- 10.30am- 1.15pm. Workshops and groups where we get to know one another more and discuss how to engage young people in the church.
- 2.30- 6.15pm Legislation
- Marriage measure making the qualifying connections with a parish wider; amendment moved to take account of Fresh Expression churches but not thought necessary; another amendment about banns, which still be must be read, but may be read at another service other than main service.
- Churches Conservation Trust. 341 churches, 2 million visitors, 4200 cultural events. 20% cut in govt grant but state still finding 68% money needed. Looking for alternative uses. £2 million set aside for more churches.
- Parochial church fees. Rev Stephen Pratt spoke about his two churches, one pretty, one not and need for differentiation in fees. Rev Maureen Hobbs spoke about expensive nearby wedding venues nearby, need to show fees transparently to couples, agreed that flexibility needed. Comments about £85 fee to bury ashes only cost of tank of diesel! Other comments about standardized fees, clergy not consulted about proposals, extra costs of heating rural churches in winter, deanery complaints. Rev Pat Hawkins spoke about practicalities, some of her congregation in poverty have to pay fees in instalments and in cash. Voting took place. Those in favour of fees order 134/ against 166/ abstentions 18. Motion lost.
- Reorganisation Schemes rules for compensation when posts are lost was carried.
- Pension scheme for Isles of Sodor and Man was carried.
- 8.30pm- 10pm Mission Action Planning in the Cof E. Rev Mark Ireland's motion, but moved by Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham as Mark has joined Archbishops' Council. Asking for national mission strategic thinking and plan. Need to engage young people, vision and strategy. Someone said it was too secular to adopt such a plan, some commented best left to diocese and parish; should national church take a lead ? Amendment to simply have report to GS from dioceses. I spoke against this, we know MAP works in Lichfield diocese, national church need to take a lead, money,energy and time can be saved in preparation of resources, everyone in parishes needs to know what initiatives are coming forwards, we need to be more business-like, no organisation survives well without planning [GS would not meet!], GS report is not enough! Others thought planning needs to be in context.
Sunday 10th July.
10am Holy Communion in York Minster. Half GS taken down on coaches, half walked the two miles. Walked down and past two churches, one with vicar outside after service with coffee in hand greeting passers-by. Bells ringing out across city. We filled the cathedral. RW leading service, girls' choir plus men, sermon by Bishop of Copenhagen. He referred to invasions of England and asked forgiveness!!
Coffee in nearby hotel with Lichfield group and came out to find it spotting with rain again. Accepted lift back to uni and the heavens opened, all walkers drowned, including Bishop Jonathan and Rev Stephen [who was very gallant and gave his coat to a soaking woman on way- these TA types, hardy souls!] Incidentally his regiment in Lichfield Cathedral next week....
1.00pm Open Synod group and WATCH had arranged for Rt Rev Victoria Matthews from Christchurch, New Zealand to come and talk after lunch. She spoke very movingly about her experiences as a bishop and the aftermath of the earthquakes and subsequent shocks. There have been 7000 earthquakes, 5 of them major. National govt and city council have turned to the Church for help. 181 people have died. The people of Christchurch are weary and apprehensive. 23 Anglican churches are not safe and a number of schools and halls. 5000 homes will need to be demolished. Clergy are exhausted and letters of encouragement would be helpful. She is working with her RC colleague, Barry Jones. Schools and people need support still.
As a woman bishop of 17 years she has faced prejudice. Been in 3 dioceses, Toronto, Edmonton, then Christchurch. Always has coffee with objecting priests, tries to agree what she can share with them, communion, the peace etc. Relationships fail if there is a winner and a loser. Lydia is an example of leadership and vocation, Paul targeted men and women, Mary Magdalene was an apostle to the disciples, able and eager to witness to the resurrection, the first celebrant of Eucharist. She spoke about the work of the spirit, liberation and the black led Pentecostal churches, the need for all voices to be heard. She deals with emotional responses by going for long walk, praying.
2.30-6.15pm.
RW statement on request for emergency debate on Sudan. He will write to Prime Minster from GS to express strong concern for Christians in Sudan.
Higher Education funding
Reader training, training of ordinands, increasing fees create problems for future. Should church keep links with external training establishments or have its own C of E professional award? Currently 12 universities and 17 institutions with courses. Need value for money, ecumenical links especially with Methodists. What will happen to subsidised accommodation for families of ordinands?
Motion to approve funding for candidates currently in training, create bursary schemes, limit training for ordinands to those 50 years or under when finished training.
Voting for 342/ against 0/ abstentions 6.
Anglican Methodist Covenant
Report printed by Methodists and been to their conference. Some want full visible unity soon. 4 Anglican/Methodist partnerships in rural Shropshire. Comments were some churches doing baptism and marriage preparation together, Fresh Expressions working together, some buildings with shared use, Methodists need to have bishop in authority. Methodist deacons are in religious order. Anglican priests remain deacons, do not have to resign diaconate as Methodists do. Proposal to have extended area partnerships.
Voting to accept the report and recommendations, For 269/ against 12/ abstentions 14.
Admission of baptised adults to communion
Bradford Diocese motion to make communion service more inclusive to adults who have not been confirmed. Comments: not necessary as no questions asked at communion rail, baptism is sacrament not confirmation. Amendment to ask that profession of faith should be given- LOST. Move to next business meant this cannot come back to GS in life of this synod.
Audit committee report
Cost of audit cheaper- £36000
SAP accounting system introduced.
Report reduced to 22 pages.
Annual report of Archbishops' Council
200 staff for Church House.
4745 schools. 47 academies. 41 cathedrals. 16000 church buildings [12500 listed]
mission projects, Wedding project, now Funeral and Baptism being funded.
Could people leave their houses to the church centrally? [can leave assets to church centrally to be distributed locally].
I asked about funding for less well resourced dioceses. [Lichfield diocese receiving £1.9million this year]. Was told that this money should remain in central budget, look at patterns of grants.
Monday 12th July
9.30am- 1.00pm
Personal statement from Bishop of Dover
Withdrawing from recommendation to appoint him as Chair of Business Committee which sets agenda. He was not elected to this position in Feb. Was standing again.
Personal statement from RW
Not pleased that trust in bishops not being expressed. Lay members all looking at each other in consternation- what is going on? Turns out to be connected to Bishop of Willesden's blog [which he wrote after the event apparently, not aware myself as I don't normally read such things] and attitude of others about power of bishops!
No-one elected to position.
Marriage measure finally approved. Carried unanimously.
Additional Eucharistic prayers for children
Two sets of prayers for children. Trialled in 800 churches. Welcomed by most but criticisms made about some adjectives and phrases. I spoke to say it is difficult to write prayers that will suit a wide age range, these prayers are good beginning and children should write their own too. Guidelines for use welcomed and children's input to preface. Suggestions that churches use visual symbols too- flags, streamers etc. Gone for further consideration.
Elections to GS by laity
Moved by London diocese who have a problem with deanery synods electing GS members. Should members on churches' electoral rolls have vote? Minority ethnic candidates not elected. Comments: young people too busy to give time, GS members reflect real church, 40-65 yr olds cannot devote time, deaneries not interested.
Amendment 'ensuring that diverse membership of C of E is fully reflected and represented'. CARRIED. Should we have wider electorate, what about over 80s, should church wardens have vote, how do electorate know candidates? Investigation into other methods of election already underway.
Voting to investigate other methods in groups:
House of Bishops. For 17/against 3/ abs 4
Clergy. For 88/ against 24/ abs 11
Laity. For 92/ against 66/ abs 9
2.30-6.15pm
Report of Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglicans
Report to recommend more Black Minority Anglicans for vocations.
Some describe church leaders as 'pale, male and stale'. MEA feel not truly welcome. Rev Stephen Pratt spoke about care in collecting data, he does not fit into categories listed as man with black father, needs to tick 'Black Other'.
RW spoke about all minority groups including Roma, travellers, Fresh Expresssions, need clear and achievable targets.
Comments: good intentions, need to encourage vocations, think of other languages eg Spanish, support for diocese in Europe, British expats.
Amendment to gather statistics carried.
Voting. For 285/ against 1/ abs 0
Archbishop's draft budget and apportionment
Comments: signing speech by deaf Anglican complaining of 90% cut to central post in 2013. 11% cut for national responsibilities, no consultation taken place.
Gratitude from mission agencies for financial help, 4500 children in camps this summer. Contributions to retired clergy housing welcomed. Coordination of procurement could save £10 million. Admin costs going down, employees doing more than one job. Expenditure accepted and voted through.
Presence and Engagement
Report into social needs of neighbourhoods with problems of racial/social tension. 4 regional centres in Leicester, Bradford, London, E Bimingham. Grant from govt for Near Neighbours project of £5 million. BNP influence waning, interfaith cooperation important, CUF acting as agent. Appeal to roll this out to other areas eg Liverpool. Asked to use 4 regional centres. Recommendations for future work voted through.
8.30-10pm
Conversations with United Reformed Church
Report from World Council of Churches. Rt Rev Christopher Hill, previously in Lichfield diocese, led motion to approve further conversations with URC. Rev Elizabeth Welch, former URC moderator, welcomed to GS as co- convenor of group.
RW spoke about need to show repentance for way ministers were treated at Great Ejection. Service of Reconciliation during GS in February 2012. at Westminster Abbey.
I spoke for 5 mins about The Church At Perton, an LEP on W side of Wolverhampton with a single congregation. Asked for more ecumenical cooperation, more respect for women in authority in other denominations. Ecumenical ventures can be successful.
Comments: much in common, worship together, need for Anglican repentance for throwing out URC ministers in 17th century, training with URC colleagues, great potential at local level, URC ordains elders, URC has Basis of Union to work to. Ecumenical county in Cumbria underway.
Voting For -All, except for 4 abstentions.
Tuesday 12th July
John Sentamu arrived.
9.30- 12.30
Statement by RW on Christians in Holy Land. DVD of RW with Rev Vincent Nicholls, an appeal for prayer for them and practical help. Asked to support Friends of the Holy Land. Prospect of E Jerusalem having no Christian people, churches as museums. Politically sensitive.
Church Commissioners' report
Investing has been successful despite recession. Views shown of investment in forestry and land. Graphs of investments, confident of ability to meet obligations. Comments: what will happen when govt pulls out of Churches Conservation Trust? Money from rents in central London good, sales of residential properties reinvested. Financial crisis not over, banks still hiding bad loans, govts over- extended, achieving resilience by diversification. Auckland Castle situation now resolved.
Comments: housing for bishops under review, could Church spend in north to stimulate economy, request for additional funds for parishes, have policy on reserves. Keep 6 months money in liquid form.
I asked again about funding for dioceses. Could we have longer term reassurances for future strategic planning? They 'will not pull the rug'. Patterns of subsidy will continue. 3 year plans because that is view of actuaries.
Report from Board of Education
200 years of church school education.460,000 exam entries.
Comments: representations to govt about lack of RE in Eng. Baccalaureate, need for philosophy in curriculum, academies wooing primaries, changes in education system are great, church schools do not reflect in congregations, need new alliances in urban areas with black led churches, more ecumenical cooperation needed, should encourage vocation of Christian teachers. Church is taking over failing schools and turning them round. Church Army playing vital part in some urban churches.
Amendment to include further education in the review was carried.
SACRES no longer to be funded by LEAs. Concern over funding for future.
1/4 primary schools in country are Anglican. 1/3 if include RC schools.
Agreed to accept report recommending improving standards in RE, support for schools becoming academies, private donor has promised funding for resource for schools.
All this with very good food in generous portions, helpful staff, site with plenty of exercise, lots of walking between bedroom , dining room and hall. Conversations with the great and good, various bishops, lay people from York, Chester, Truro, London etc, even the man who printed the order papers.
Was pleased to have a conversation with RW and give him greetings from our area. He really obviously enjoyed the service in the Minster and greeting everyone at the door later [note to Minster clergy- no-one manning the side doors at the end of the service]. Pleased to hear reassurance over money from central funds for our diocese. One older lay member coping with distances between buildings on a scooter [quite a sight and amused the uni staff].Protest by gay men asking for civil partnerships in church.
Feel that we have cleared the decks of all the previous items from last GS ready for issue of women bishops in February.
Enjoyed the fellowship, watching the political antics [see Bishop of Dover]- mystifying at the time; walking to the Minster and the service, watching RW and the bishops' reactions to humour and generally feeling I am starting to understand how it all works. Am not afraid to stand and speak and hope that reading this gives you a flavour of what GS does. Busy, time consuming, tiring but interesting, even if you are just people watching! Some inspiring worship each evening too.
Penny Allen
327 Lichfield
13/07/11