General Synod November 2021
Monday 15th November
Train for Wolverhampton to London on time despite previous day's derailment. Good seat spacing, two seats each, and opposite seats vacant.
Induction Day
Arrived to find Lichfield members in good spirits in tea room. Morning for all new members spent visiting stalls and workshops for main issues. After lunch explanations of legal process and mock debate. VC House of Laity Liz Paver had a fall in the Chamber and broke her leg so unable to take part {GWS Liz}. Stephen Lynas, Anne Foreman and Sue Booys debated whether 'every parish should have a dog', ably assisted from the floor by Eleanor Robertshaw and others. Everyone was tired by the end of the day with so much information.
Tuesday 16th November Inauguration ceremony in Westminster Abbey with Prince Edward,
All clergy in convocation dress, lay people in formal day wear, including Ros and Amanda in splendid hats. Security checks mean a long wait for Prince Edward to arrive. Choir were great with shafts of light illuminating the Abbey and music from Stanford. Coptic Bishop Angaelous preached on Zacchaeus, Jesus' awareness of outcasts in society, healing powers and generosity. Holy Communion and intercessions including Rev Zoe Heming. No processions this time due to security and Covid. Back to Church House to hear Prince Edward read the Queen's address, which he prefaced with a joke about being a substitute. The Queen reminded Synod that there will be disagreements but there must be goodwill, the excessive regulations that had prevented public worship, the grief and anxiety experienced by everyone, the adaptations that had been made in digital worship and the message of hope that the Gospel proclaims.
Archbishop Justin gave the Loyal Address thanking the Queen for her example of 'deep faith'.
The afternoon began with an introduction to the new First Estates Commissioner Alan Smith, not to be confused with the Bishop Alan Smith..
Presidential Address ++Justin referred to the difficult situation in Ghana where LGBTQI people are faced with imprisonment with the support of the Bishops there and the problems over his comments. He was faced with a silent standing protest from the LGBTQI members in Synod. He also apologised for his silence over Bishop Bell. ++Stephen repeated his intention that parishes should be the base for the 10000 lay led churches he foresees and that there was no intention to lose parishes. The Church needs to be Simpler, Humbler, Bolder.
Business Committee Report was relatively unchallenged, except for calls about hybrid and online Synods.
Generosity and Diocesan finance were then discussed and a table outlining the assets of each diocese had been compiled which showed Lichfield at 25th place for assets per capita, and Oxford diocese at the top {GS MIsc 1296}. Oxford had given to five other dioceses and Mutuality in Finances is to be explored further with the idea of Mutual Support. This was approved.
Questions As before there were many more questions submitted than the time allowed to answer as supplementaries are allowed. Sections were on finance and relief of debt for parishes, CDM, clergy numbers and ordinands, LLF, climate change, Holy Communion {Bishop Michael gave these answers about use of individual cups, which seemed to imply this practice is taking place although not allowed theologically, although wafers are individual}, election process, church buildings, sexuality issues, safeguarding. As the written answers are now given see Questions Notice paper November 2021, 74 pages.
Wednesday 17th November
Loyal Address was sent to the Queen.
Leeds Diocesan Motion 'The Wealth Gap Between the Rich and the Poor'. There were no dissenting voices raised on this issue. Bishop Guli raised the issue of affordable homes, other spoke about levelling up, poverty, lack of savings, Covid, the living wage really necessary. An amendment was added without any disagreement to include the disabled and their carers in the groups mentioned. Comments were made about those living comfortably, greed, healthcare, and examples were given of those affected. Voting was recorded 342 For/ 2 Against/ 3 Abstentions. This debate is to be taken into Parliament.
Archbishops' Council Budget 2022 and Apportionment 2022 Canon John Spence again outlined the budgets and invited questions, many of which were whether the profits of £54m made by the Church Commissioners last year could be given to the dioceses to ease the Covid shortfalls. The amount requested from dioceses will reduce by 3.7%; a lower number of ordinands is coming through; Church Commissioners' funding is increasing from £10.9m - £13.4m; the Council will use £2.7m of its own reserves; 6 new teams have been created to simplify the admin; all depts except housing for retired clergy have reductions in spending. I asked about Digital spending as there are now 8000 new church communities online to be told the dept has not asked for an increase. Lichfield Apportionment is £1,038,357 but we receive Lower Income Funding.
Legislative Business The Vacancy in See Act of Synod was affirmed to change the membership of CNCs to reflect partnerships with lay and clergy members for attendance.
Appointment to Archbishops' Council Mark Sheard was re-appointed.
Fringe Groups introduction took place at lunchtime for the 12 existing and new groups for GS. This was arranged and hosted by Open Synod Group and chaired by myself.
Vision and Strategy A presentation was given with an option for questions. 'Simpler, Humbler, Bolder' and 'Christ-Shaped' are the new slogans. The theology of this was questioned and members expressed concern about the lay led initiatives and the funding needed for lay training.
Governance Review A report from this group on every issue with governance contains some pithy remarks about the 192 different committees, duplication and overlap, General Synod, the need for simplification and the confusion caused by such a proliferation of governance. A new way forwards using expertise was suggested and this will come back to GS in a future session.
Farewells were given to Eve Poole, First Estates Commissioner; Caroline Boddington Advisor on Appointments; Bishop of Lincoln Chris Lowson with an apology for his long suspension and Bishop of Newcastle, Christine Hardman, called out of retirement to be a Bishop.
House of Laity meeting Canon Dr Jamie Harrison was elected unopposed to chair the House. There are 4 candidates for the Vice Chair and the election will be by postal ballot. Candidates are Alison Coulter, Rachel Jepson; Adrian Greenwood, Clive Scowen.
This was a good humoured session with 70% new members who all looked rather tired but were chatting amiably. We are all under instruction to get to know one another, not to be in 'silos' and to be open minded. We had to choose a lanyard that reflected our attitude to being approached due to Covid and could wear masks or not [I wore one most of the session] and we are all hopeful that this was not a super-spreader event. There is a new feel about cooperation and openness that I hope will last and I wish everyone well.
Penny Allen
20/11/21
Train for Wolverhampton to London on time despite previous day's derailment. Good seat spacing, two seats each, and opposite seats vacant.
Induction Day
Arrived to find Lichfield members in good spirits in tea room. Morning for all new members spent visiting stalls and workshops for main issues. After lunch explanations of legal process and mock debate. VC House of Laity Liz Paver had a fall in the Chamber and broke her leg so unable to take part {GWS Liz}. Stephen Lynas, Anne Foreman and Sue Booys debated whether 'every parish should have a dog', ably assisted from the floor by Eleanor Robertshaw and others. Everyone was tired by the end of the day with so much information.
Tuesday 16th November Inauguration ceremony in Westminster Abbey with Prince Edward,
All clergy in convocation dress, lay people in formal day wear, including Ros and Amanda in splendid hats. Security checks mean a long wait for Prince Edward to arrive. Choir were great with shafts of light illuminating the Abbey and music from Stanford. Coptic Bishop Angaelous preached on Zacchaeus, Jesus' awareness of outcasts in society, healing powers and generosity. Holy Communion and intercessions including Rev Zoe Heming. No processions this time due to security and Covid. Back to Church House to hear Prince Edward read the Queen's address, which he prefaced with a joke about being a substitute. The Queen reminded Synod that there will be disagreements but there must be goodwill, the excessive regulations that had prevented public worship, the grief and anxiety experienced by everyone, the adaptations that had been made in digital worship and the message of hope that the Gospel proclaims.
Archbishop Justin gave the Loyal Address thanking the Queen for her example of 'deep faith'.
The afternoon began with an introduction to the new First Estates Commissioner Alan Smith, not to be confused with the Bishop Alan Smith..
Presidential Address ++Justin referred to the difficult situation in Ghana where LGBTQI people are faced with imprisonment with the support of the Bishops there and the problems over his comments. He was faced with a silent standing protest from the LGBTQI members in Synod. He also apologised for his silence over Bishop Bell. ++Stephen repeated his intention that parishes should be the base for the 10000 lay led churches he foresees and that there was no intention to lose parishes. The Church needs to be Simpler, Humbler, Bolder.
Business Committee Report was relatively unchallenged, except for calls about hybrid and online Synods.
Generosity and Diocesan finance were then discussed and a table outlining the assets of each diocese had been compiled which showed Lichfield at 25th place for assets per capita, and Oxford diocese at the top {GS MIsc 1296}. Oxford had given to five other dioceses and Mutuality in Finances is to be explored further with the idea of Mutual Support. This was approved.
Questions As before there were many more questions submitted than the time allowed to answer as supplementaries are allowed. Sections were on finance and relief of debt for parishes, CDM, clergy numbers and ordinands, LLF, climate change, Holy Communion {Bishop Michael gave these answers about use of individual cups, which seemed to imply this practice is taking place although not allowed theologically, although wafers are individual}, election process, church buildings, sexuality issues, safeguarding. As the written answers are now given see Questions Notice paper November 2021, 74 pages.
Wednesday 17th November
Loyal Address was sent to the Queen.
Leeds Diocesan Motion 'The Wealth Gap Between the Rich and the Poor'. There were no dissenting voices raised on this issue. Bishop Guli raised the issue of affordable homes, other spoke about levelling up, poverty, lack of savings, Covid, the living wage really necessary. An amendment was added without any disagreement to include the disabled and their carers in the groups mentioned. Comments were made about those living comfortably, greed, healthcare, and examples were given of those affected. Voting was recorded 342 For/ 2 Against/ 3 Abstentions. This debate is to be taken into Parliament.
Archbishops' Council Budget 2022 and Apportionment 2022 Canon John Spence again outlined the budgets and invited questions, many of which were whether the profits of £54m made by the Church Commissioners last year could be given to the dioceses to ease the Covid shortfalls. The amount requested from dioceses will reduce by 3.7%; a lower number of ordinands is coming through; Church Commissioners' funding is increasing from £10.9m - £13.4m; the Council will use £2.7m of its own reserves; 6 new teams have been created to simplify the admin; all depts except housing for retired clergy have reductions in spending. I asked about Digital spending as there are now 8000 new church communities online to be told the dept has not asked for an increase. Lichfield Apportionment is £1,038,357 but we receive Lower Income Funding.
Legislative Business The Vacancy in See Act of Synod was affirmed to change the membership of CNCs to reflect partnerships with lay and clergy members for attendance.
Appointment to Archbishops' Council Mark Sheard was re-appointed.
Fringe Groups introduction took place at lunchtime for the 12 existing and new groups for GS. This was arranged and hosted by Open Synod Group and chaired by myself.
Vision and Strategy A presentation was given with an option for questions. 'Simpler, Humbler, Bolder' and 'Christ-Shaped' are the new slogans. The theology of this was questioned and members expressed concern about the lay led initiatives and the funding needed for lay training.
Governance Review A report from this group on every issue with governance contains some pithy remarks about the 192 different committees, duplication and overlap, General Synod, the need for simplification and the confusion caused by such a proliferation of governance. A new way forwards using expertise was suggested and this will come back to GS in a future session.
Farewells were given to Eve Poole, First Estates Commissioner; Caroline Boddington Advisor on Appointments; Bishop of Lincoln Chris Lowson with an apology for his long suspension and Bishop of Newcastle, Christine Hardman, called out of retirement to be a Bishop.
House of Laity meeting Canon Dr Jamie Harrison was elected unopposed to chair the House. There are 4 candidates for the Vice Chair and the election will be by postal ballot. Candidates are Alison Coulter, Rachel Jepson; Adrian Greenwood, Clive Scowen.
This was a good humoured session with 70% new members who all looked rather tired but were chatting amiably. We are all under instruction to get to know one another, not to be in 'silos' and to be open minded. We had to choose a lanyard that reflected our attitude to being approached due to Covid and could wear masks or not [I wore one most of the session] and we are all hopeful that this was not a super-spreader event. There is a new feel about cooperation and openness that I hope will last and I wish everyone well.
Penny Allen
20/11/21