General Synod 2010
PENNY ALLEN'S DIARY
General Synod Nov 2010
Monday 22nd
Tuesday 23rd - Inauguration Ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Start of GS business.
Payments to the Churches Conservation Trust Order
Dioceses Measure on compensation rules
Additional Eucharistic prayers [for children]
Christian Initiation
Parochial fees
ARCIC on Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ [no idea what the initials mean yet]
Local unity arrangements
Relations between the Anglican and URC churches
Marriage after divorce and ordained ministry
Church Schools, 200 anniversary of National Society
Chaplaincy in C of E
Participation of minority Anglicans
Ethical investment
Forward look into New Quinquennium
Churches' task in multi faith society
Appointments to Archbishops' Council
Wednesday 24th. Full day of business
Penny Allen
26/11/10
General Synod Nov 2010
Monday 22nd
- 7.45am train to London, plunged into the Tube and arrived at Westminster. Emerged facing Big Ben and checked the map. Encountered the first of many clergy who is also new to general synod but thankfully knows where Church House is and follow him in to collect my pass [which has a strangely elongated photo of my face and a minute number which is apparently very important and has to be learnt as we must preface all our speeches with it!].
- Struggled into the basement to find my coat peg in the cloakroom [rather like school] and go up wide flights of stairs to the tearoom for coffee [must stay wide awake and aware today]. Magnificent building but lots of stairs and a bewildering round corridor at the assembly hall level. This is induction day and the hall is half full. One third of us are new. A brief introduction to the history of the Church of England and the GS and then an afternoon of humorous drama when the mechanics of synod business become more obvious. Strong similarities to parliament in procedures which had already understood through looking at the Standing Orders, an inch thick book which arrived in the post with several weighty reports.
- Delighted to stop for tea and find everyone pleasant and helpful.
- Off to the hotel and dinner and meet husband who has arrived to share the excitement of tomorrow. Walk the embankment from Waterloo bridge to Westminster bridge and see the London Eye reflected in the river and floodlit houses of Parliament.
Tuesday 23rd - Inauguration Ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Start of GS business.
- Up early as we are required to be at Church House for 8.45pm for security checks. Wait for 20 mins outside, into the cloakroom to leave the briefcase then through more checks into the cloisters. Look longingly at the coffee stand but realise we have to be in Westminster Abbey for the service at 10.45 and then straight into the assembly hall to hear the Queen's speech to us all. Long lengths of waiting and meeting all our colleagues from the diocese. Clergy resplendent in their robes but we are all feeling the cold. Finally into the abbey parading alongside the clergy. Lofty grandeur and patient processing as we are all seated. Have been warned that we will not see much from our seats as we are seated towards the rear of the south transept but crane my neck to see the Queen and spot her hat and the Duke of Edinburgh's head. [Clearly there are advantages in having a diocese beginning with an earlier alphabetic letter.] Find myself sitting with the Bishop of Lincoln, a jovial man who will retire shortly and chats in a disarming way.
- Rowan Williams has the greetings and we sing the Gloria. William Fittall, the good natured secretary general that we met yesterday, reads the first lesson, Acts 15v22-29. O Thou who camest from above then Archbishop John Sentamu with the second lesson, Luke 24v28-35.
- Dame Mary Tanner, the President of the World Council of Churches gives the sermon and encourages us to think of improving the way that GS and the Church functions and engages with the world. A diminutive figure, she has authority and experience and is issuing a challenge to rise to the problems that will arise during the next five years and beyond.
- The Peace and shaking hands with Jonathan, our bishop, and my neighbours.
- Come Down O Love Divine and a collection for One World Fund.
- The Eucharist. I arrive at the chalice to find that the server apologising that the Host has run out and the wine. We stand obediently and the final hymn starts before we are served, a race to the finish! The procession starts as soon as we are all back in our places.
- Pealing bells and away we go in an untidy straggle through Dean's Yard.
- Stream up the stairs and into the assembly hall to wait for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
- The Queen arrives in a very salmon splendid outfit and Rowan Williams welcomes her and alludes to the royal wedding next year. The Queen speaks about the challenges that the next five years will bring and the need for reasoned argument, goodwill and prayer and communicating the gospel with joy.
- John Sentamu replies and raises a smile from the members and the Duke.
- We all rush out to relieve ourselves and have a long lunch with a least two hot drinks to warm ourselves and cure the dehydration...
- After lunch and the real work of the GS begins. Rowan Williams in his address outlines the main challenges facing the GS and the Church: taking forward growth, re-imagining ministry and focussing resources where there is the greatest need. He refers to John Wesley's example. He expresses the need for clarification of theological issues, the willingness to hear arguments and mutual loyalty.
- The Business Committee report. This outlines the agenda for the GS meeting this time. Some members complain about the move to send documents via email rather than hard copies. Our Mark Ireland makes an impassioned plea that Mission should appear on the agenda for future discussion, without much success.
- The forecast for future business is as follows:
Payments to the Churches Conservation Trust Order
Dioceses Measure on compensation rules
Additional Eucharistic prayers [for children]
Christian Initiation
Parochial fees
ARCIC on Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ [no idea what the initials mean yet]
Local unity arrangements
Relations between the Anglican and URC churches
Marriage after divorce and ordained ministry
Church Schools, 200 anniversary of National Society
Chaplaincy in C of E
Participation of minority Anglicans
Ethical investment
Forward look into New Quinquennium
Churches' task in multi faith society
Appointments to Archbishops' Council
- 2.30pm and the Big Society report. The Church's report on work the the government has begun. RW comments that the Church has always known what Big Society is and has played a full part in community life. Despite some scepticism about the government's intentions we have Christian character and example. RW spoke about the need for micro finance, global realities, the role of CUF, the opportunity to work with those of other faiths and the voluntary sector. The role of the Rural Affairs group, the 5000 community organisers that the government is looking for, the use of our church buildings as community hubs were commented on. We have a chance to help make a difference.
- The report was noted.
- A benefactor will pay for research into how we can assist- Gavin Oldham's motion to progress with a report is debated . John Sentamu says let's get on with it.
- Question time- 58 questions and this is a light load... Everything from halal meat in church schools to reducing central expenditure to appointing someone to buy things more cheaply [procurement officer] to why are things not moving more swiftly with women bishops to theological students not knowing enough about the bible [moved by a young man from the Youth Council] to how are theology students going to pay their fees to housing allowances to restorative justice to church plants to the sale of paintings form Durham Castle.
- We finished at 7pm.
- Back to the hotel and a meal and long chat with the Lay Chair of another diocese.
Wednesday 24th. Full day of business
- Taxi to Church House with luggage and heavier briefcase due to all the order papers, new envelopes, orders of service etc.
- Hang up coat and rush upstairs for coffee.
- Collect notice papers [what is happening during the day- motions etc.]
- Look for electronic voting device [looks like half a brick but will be needed today].
- Short service of Morning Prayer
- The Anglican Covenant
- Start with plea from Rowan Williams to see this through. Mexico and.South Africa all ready to sign it. There are concerns in the western world about the state of the union. This should help relationships.
- Concerns expressed about relational consequences, what happens when some body breaks the covenant. What are the punishments? Will they be appropriate? Section 4 of the agreement especially causing worry. RW looking for 'consensual wholeness', not central authority.
- Very good maiden speech from Canadian living in Salisbury, one of six children and has one hundred first cousins. Canadians want to keep relationship with Church of England.
- Encouragement from ecumenical rep to stay together.
- Family lawyer expresses concern over wording of section 4.
- Suggestions that Churches may need Relate [marriage guidance!] to stay together.
- Someone springs up to try to adjourn the debate until July. Voted down.
- Voting at last- by electronic vote. Each group [house] counted separately.
- House of Bishops 39 for/ 0 against/ 1 abstention
- House of Clergy 145 for/ 32 against/ 11 abstentions
- House of Laity 147 for/ 25 against/ 8 abstentions
- Motion carried!
- Marriage Measure changes to make it possible to marry in any church in a benefice next.
- Questions raised about banns, illegal immigrants, legalities. What happens to churches in other buildings- Fresh Expressions? Isle of Man and Tynwald laws?
- Motion passed.
- Further following motions on amending the Covenant are lost.
- Amendments to the Clergy Discipline Measure are moved through to detail procedures.
- Other measures are amended to make it possible to have Common Tenure.
- We break for division into houses [groups of Bishops, clergy and laity] to have a look at the candidates for Chair of Laity, who vary from the the shy and retiring to the bold and bragging. This will be a postal ballot next week.
- Rev Mark Ireland has only 70 signatures for private members' motion to have a mission plan for the Church generally. Need 100.
- Off by shared taxi with colleagues across London looking out for students protesting about fees.
- Onto the train with bursting brain, whirling with activity...can I hold this long enough to write a diary??
- PS Joanna Monckton won the prize for the best hat in the tenticular category [a bar of chocolate] and Lichfield diocese among group of only 6 to have all members wearing a hat- bought one on purpose!! Got the hat to keep my head warm in Feb when we start again.
- PPS Watch iplayer for BBC Parliament for action replay.........
Penny Allen
26/11/10