GENERAL SYNOD
The ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY opened the Synod with prayers.
1 The following were welcomed to the Synod:
New members
Six lay members elected from the diocese of Bath and Wells (following the decision by the Presiding Officer for the diocese to re-run the 2005 lay general election in that diocese as a result of an irregularity in the original election):
Mr Edward Armitstead
Mr Timothy Hind
Mr Peter LeRoy
Mr Richard Moon
Mrs Diana Taylor
Miss Fay Wilson-Rudd
In addition the Reverend James Houghton (Chichester) was welcomed.
Ecumenical Representative
The Reverend Nigel Robb, representing the Church of Scotland at this group of sessions, in the absence of the Reverend Dr John McPake.
Representative of the Church of England Youth Council
Mr Thomas (Tom) Pugh, from the diocese of Gloucester, who had been elected to fill the place vacated by Mr Simon Butterworth (who had been elected to the General Synod last year).
2 The Venerable Norman Russell (the Prolocutor of the Lower House of the Convocation of Canterbury), the Reverend Canon Glyn Webster (the Prolocutor of the Lower House of the Convocation of York), Canon Dr Christina Baxter (the Chair of the House of Laity) and Dr Philip Giddings (the Vice-Chair of the House of Laity) were presented to the Archbishops (as Joint Presidents).
3 The ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY reported that:
the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 was now fully in force, as all the provisions of the Measure not previously brought into force had been brought into force on 1st January 2006;
the Pastoral (Amendment) Measure and the Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure had both been declared expedient by the Ecclesiastical Committee of Parliament; and
the Clergy Discipline Rules 2005 had come into force on 1st January 2006, the Clergy Discipline Appeal Rules 2005 had been laid before Parliament and had come into force on 1st January 2006 and the Payments to the Churches Conservation Trust Order 2005 had been laid before Parliament and would come into force on 1st April 2006.
19 The motion
‘That the Reverend Prebendary David Houlding (London) be appointed as chair of the Appointments Committee for a period ending on 28 February 2009.’
was carried.
20 The motion
‘That the Reverend Prebendary Kay Garlick (Hereford) be appointed as chair of the Business Committee for a period ending on 31 December 2010.’
was carried.
4 The motion
‘That the Synod do take note of this Report.’
was carried.
5 The motion
‘That this Synod meet on the following dates in 2008:
4-8 July
17-19 November (if required).’
was carried.
6 Under Standing Order 97 a presentation was given on ecumenical responses to this Report. The Reverend Prebendary Dr Paul Avis (General Secretary of the Council for Christian Unity) opened the presentation by summarising the responses received. The following representatives then spoke to the responses of their respective Churches: the Reverend Professor Frances Young (the Methodist Church), the Reverend Anthony Milner (the Roman Catholic Church) and the Reverend Dr David Thompson (the United Reformed Church). The Right Reverend Michael Nazir-Ali (the Bishop of Rochester) commented on the responses. The participants then replied to questions and comments by members of Synod.
7 Under Standing Order 97 a presentation was given by Mr Shaun Farrell (Secretary of the Church of England Pensions Board) on recent developments in the pensions sphere and what they might mean for the Church. Mr Farrell then answered questions from Synod members.
8 At the invitation of the Presidents under Standing Order 112, Mr John Reynolds (Chair of the EIAG), addressed the Synod.
9 The motion
‘That the Synod do take note of this Report.’
was carried.
21 The motion
That this Synod:
(a) heed the call from our sister church, the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem
and the Middle East, for morally responsible investment in the Palestinian occupied territories and, in particular, to disinvest from companies profiting from the illegal occupation, such as Caterpillar Inc, until they change their policies;
(b) encourage the Ethical Investment Advisory Group to follow up the consultation referred to in its Report (GS 1604) with intensive discussions with Caterpillar Inc, with a view to its withdrawing from supplying or maintaining either equipment or parts for use by the state of Israel in demolishing Palestinian homes etc;
(c) in the light of the urgency of the situation, and the increased support needed by Palestinian Christians, urge members of the EIAG to actively engage with monitoring the effects of Caterpillar Inc’s machinery in the Palestinian occupied territories through visiting the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East to learn of their concerns first hand, and to see recent house demolitions;
(d) urge the EIAG to give weight to the illegality under international law of the activities in which Caterpillar Inc’s equipment is involved; and
(e) urge the EIAG to respond to the monitoring visit and the further discussions with Caterpillar Inc by updating its recommendations in the light of these.’
was carried.
22 The motion (Item 22 Order Paper I) was not moved.
23 The amendment (Item 23 Order Paper I) was not moved.
The ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY dismissed the Synod with the blessing at 6.56 p.m.
The ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY presided at a celebration of Holy Communion.
10 The motion
‘That the Synod do take note of this Report.’
was carried.
The Chair adjourned the sitting at 1.00 p.m.
11 The motion
‘That this Synod, being aware of the importance of strong rural communities to the life of the nation -
(a) affirm the Church of England's commitment to work with ecumenical partners to sustain and support an effective Christian presence in each rural community;
(b) urge Government nationally, regionally and locally to -
(i) acknowledge the vital contribution that rural churches as key stakeholders make to rural community development and community cohesion;
(ii) proactively involve rural churches and other faith groups in the decision-making processes that affect rural communities;
(iii) recognise that excluding churches and other faith groups from equitable funding is detrimental to rural community development;
(c) commend Seeds in Holy Ground to rural churches to assist mission in each locality, call on dioceses to ensure adequate resourcing for their rural strategies and ask the MPA Council to report to Synod on the progress of these strategies within the present quinquennium; and
(d) request the Archbishops’ Council to review the adequacy of its national support of the presence and witness of the rural church.’
was carried after a count of the whole Synod. The voting was as follows:
AYES |
235 |
NOES |
0 |
Under Standing Order 9(a)(i) the order of business for the Wednesday morning sitting was varied by the Chair with the general consent of the Synod so that Questions 17 to 25 would be taken immediately after Legislative Business.
The Synod welcomed the Reverend Graham Sparkes (Head of Faith and Unity at the Baptist Union), Mrs Hilary Treavis (Faith and Unity Co-ordinator for the Baptist Union), the Reverend Myra Blyth (Tutor in Liturgy and Ecumenics, Regent’s Park College, Oxford), Amanda Allchorn (Head of the Communications for the Baptist Union) and the Reverend Dr Anthony Clarke (the Baptist Union representative on the Council for Christian Unity and Tutor in Community Learning at Regent’s Park College, Oxford), who were sitting in the public gallery.
12 The motion
‘That this Synod commend the report for study throughout the Church of England and for local discussion with Baptists; and request that comments be sent to the Council for Christian Unity by 30 November 2007.’
was carried.
13 The motion
‘That this Synod
(a) welcome the report;
(b) endorse the report’s statement of mutual expectations between the Church and church Higher Education Institutions; and
(c) call for further development in the partnership between the dioceses and church Higher Education Institutions.’
was carried.
The BISHOP OF WINCHESTER dismissed the Synod with the blessing at 6.58 p.m.
The Venerable Trevor Jones (the Archdeacon of Hertford) led the Synod in prayers.
Regulations for final approval
(Article 7 business)
(Preliminary Consideration at the November 2005 Group of Sessions)
Report by the House of Bishops (GS 1596Y)
The Chair reported, on behalf of the Presidents, Prolocutors and Chair and Vice-Chair of the House of Laity that the requirements of Article 7 in relation to this item of business had been complied with.
500 The motion
‘That the Admission of Baptised Children to Holy Communion Regulations be finally approved’.
was carried.
The Chair reported that the Admission of Baptised Children to Holy Communion Regulations would be brought into force on a date to be appointed.
501 The motion
‘That this Synod request the House of Bishops to consider bringing forward amending regulations (a) introducing into regulation 8 a requirement that the incumbent should be satisfied before a child is first admitted to Holy Communion that the child has a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; and (b) introducing into regulation 5 a requirement that the bishop should be satisfied before granting permission under regulation 4 that adequate provision had been made in the parish for training and equipping parents in the spiritual nurture of their children.’
was moved.
The motion ‘That the Synod do pass to the Next Business’ was carried after a count of the whole Synod. The voting was as follows:
AYES |
143 |
NOES |
96 |
As a result Item 501 lapsed, and cannot be reconsidered in the lifetime of the current Synod, except with the permission of the Business Committee and the general consent of the Synod.
18 Questions 17 to 25, as set out in the Questions Notice Paper, were answered.
701 The motion
‘That this Synod, aware that the work of the ten thousand Readers is crucial to the mission of the Church, requests the Archbishops’ Council to assess the implications for this nationally-accredited office of the recent introduction of a great variety of patterns of voluntary local ministry, both lay and ordained.’
was moved.
707 The amendment (Item 707 Order Paper IV) was carried.
701 The motion (as amended by Item 707)
‘That this Synod, aware that the work of the ten thousand Readers is crucial to the mission of the Church, requests the Archbishops’ Council to consider how this nationally-accredited office should be developed, and Readers more fully and effectively deployed, in the light of the welcome recent introduction of a great variety of patterns of voluntary local ministry, both lay and ordained.’
was carried.
14 The motion
‘That the Synod do take note of this Report.’
was not moved.
The Chair adjourned the sitting at 12.53 p.m.
Under Standing Order 9(a)(i) the order of business for the current sitting was varied by the Chair with the general consent of the Synod to insert the rubric “not later than 3.30 p.m.” immediately before Item 801, to insert the rubric “not later than 5 p.m. - item 14 will be taken” immediately after Item 801 and to insert the rubric “not later than 5.45 p.m.” immediately before Item 15.
804 The motion
‘That this Synod
(a) believe that the human genome is gifted by God to each individual and, as such, should not be patentable;
(b) call for strict control on the availability of human genetic data; and
(c) whilst recognising the need for appropriate intellectual property protection regret that EU Directive 1998/44 makes legal provision for the patenting of genetic material of human origin.’
was moved.
805 The amendment (Item 805 Order Paper V) was carried.
806 The amendment (Item 806 Order Paper V) fell.
807 The amendment (Item 807 Order Paper V) fell.
804 The motion (as amended by Item 805)
‘That this Synod in the light of the deep concerns expressed in this debate ask the Mission and Public Affairs Council to explore the theological, ethical and legal implications of patenting of the human genome and bring a report to this Synod by February 2007.’
was carried.
801 The motion
‘That this Synod
(a) recognizing that the commemoration of the Bicentenary of the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 1807, celebrated in 2007, will provide unprecedented opportunities to acknowledge our history and tell anew the Christian story of creation and redemption:
(b) acknowledging (i) the progress made to release men, women and children from the dehumanizing and shameful consequences of slavery (ii) that the process of emancipation of all people from all expressions of enslavement is scandalously unfinished work; and (iii) the substantial work currently being undertaken in this campaign by the Church and other agencies;
(c) resolve to
(i) support vigorously every effort by the Church and other agencies to protest against human trafficking and all other manifestations of slavery across the world;
(ii) call on Her Majesty’s Government and the European Institutions to give the highest priority to enabling legislation to bring to an end the causes and outcomes of slavery; and
(iii) request the Archbishops' Council to encourage and resource the Church to tell the story of release and redemption to our own and successive generations by prayer, study, reflection and action.’
was moved.
808 The amendment (Item 808 Order Paper V) was carried.
809 The amendment (Item 809 Order Paper V) was carried.
810 The amendment (Item 810 Order Paper V) was lost.
801 The motion (as amended by Items 808 and 809)
‘That this Synod
(a) recognizing that the commemoration of the Bicentenary of the Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade in 1807, to be celebrated in 2007, will provide unprecedented opportunities to acknowledge the Church’s complicity in the Slave Trade and tell anew the Christian story of creation and redemption:
(b) acknowledging (i) the progress made to release men, women and children from the dehumanizing and shameful consequences of slavery (ii) that the process of emancipation of all people from all expressions of enslavement is scandalously unfinished work; and (iii) the substantial work currently being undertaken in this campaign by the Church and other agencies;
(c) in the light of our involvement in the Slave Trade and of the Christian demands of repentance and sorrow resolve to
(i) support vigorously every effort by the Church and other agencies to protest against human trafficking and all other manifestations of slavery across the world;
(ii) affiliate to the Stop the Traffik Coalition;
(iii) call on Her Majesty’s Government and the European Institutions to give the highest priority to enabling legislation to bring to an end the causes and outcomes of slavery;
(iv) urge the Archbishops' Council to encourage and resource the Church to address with greater seriousness the legacy of the Slave Trade and to tell the story of release and redemption to our own and successive generations by prayer, study, reflection and action; and
(v) recognising the damage done to those who are the heirs of those who were enslaved, offer an apology to them.’
was carried after a count of the whole Synod. The voting was as follows:
AYES |
238 |
NOES |
0 |
14 The motion
‘That the Synod do take note of this Report.’
was carried.
The Synod welcomed Father Peter Scott (the Catholic Bishops’ Conference), the Reverend Mark Fisher (Executive Secretary of the Free Churches Group), Rabbi Martin van den Bergh (Chairman of the Multi-Faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy), Dr David Jones (St Mary’s University College, Strawberry Hill) and the Reverend George Cobb (Chairman of the Association of Hospice Chaplains) who were sitting in the public gallery.
15 The motion
‘That this Synod
(a) affirm and support chaplaincy and spiritual healthcare as a necessary part of wholeness and healing;
(b) support and encourage healthcare chaplains and volunteers in their work and presence in the National Health Service and in all places of healing care; and
(c) request HM Government, NHS Trusts and other healthcare bodies, to ensure the continuing as well as adequate provision of chaplaincy/ spiritual care.’
was carried after a count of the whole Synod. The voting was as follows:
AYES |
156 |
NOES |
0 |
The ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY dismissed the Synod with the blessing at 7.02 p.m.
The Archdeacon of Lewisham (the Venerable Christine Hardman) led the Synod in prayers.
The CLERK TO THE SYNOD led the Synod in paying tribute to the Reverend Canon Michael Hodge on his retirement as the Election Scrutineer appointed by the Business Committee after eleven years in this post.
16 The motion
‘That this Synod
(a) welcome the assessment made in GS 1605 of the options for removing the legal obstacles to the ordination of women to the episcopate;
(b) consider that an approach along the lines of “Transferred Episcopal Arrangements”, expressed in a Measure with an associated code of practice, merits further exploration as a basis for proceeding in a way that will maintain the highest possible degree of communion in the Church of England;
(c) invite the House of Bishops, as part of its ongoing work on the underlying issues raised by the “Rochester report”, to produce for the July group of sessions a statement of the theological, ecumenical and canonical implications of such an approach;
(d) instruct the Business Committee to make sufficient time available at the July group of sessions for Synod to determine, in the light of advice from the House of Bishops, the next steps, including a possible timetable for legislation; and
(e) invite all members of Synod to reflect prayerfully and consult widely on the serious decisions now facing the Church.’
was moved.
24 The amendment (Item 24 Order Paper VI) was lost.
25 The amendment (Item 25 Order Paper VI) was lost.
26 The amendment (Item 26 Order Paper VI) was lost.
27 The amendment (Item 27 Order Paper VI) was lost after a division by Houses. The voting was as follows:
AYES |
NOES |
|
Bishops |
9 |
33 |
Clergy |
102 |
79 |
Laity |
73 |
113 |
28 The amendment (Item 28 Order Paper VI) was lost.
29 The amendment (Item 29 Order Paper VI) was lost.
16 The motion
‘That this Synod
(a) welcome the assessment made in GS 1605 of the options for removing the legal obstacles to the ordination of women to the episcopate;
(b) consider that an approach along the lines of “Transferred Episcopal Arrangements”, expressed in a Measure with an associated code of practice, merits further exploration as a basis for proceeding in a way that will maintain the highest possible degree of communion in the Church of England;
(c) invite the House of Bishops, as part of its ongoing work on the underlying issues raised by the “Rochester report”, to produce for the July group of sessions a statement of the theological, ecumenical and canonical implications of such an approach;
(d) instruct the Business Committee to make sufficient time available at the July group of sessions for Synod to determine, in the light of advice from the House of Bishops, the next steps, including a possible timetable for legislation; and
(e) invite all members of Synod to reflect prayerfully and consult widely on the serious decisions now facing the Church.’
was carried after a count of the whole Synod. The voting was as follows:
AYES |
348 |
NOES |
1 |
The Chair adjourned the sitting at 1.03 p.m.
17 The motion
‘That this Synod
(a) recognise the work and achievements of tens of thousands of volunteers in caring for the churches of England;
(b) support the recommendations of the Church Heritage Forum report Building Faith in our Future and encourage its widespread dissemination;
(c) invite the Forum to take forward discussion of the recommendations with public bodies and agencies at every level, from the local to the European, and invite dioceses to do the same with public bodies and agencies in their own areas;
(d) call upon Her Majesty’s Government to increase the financial support available for the care, maintenance and repair of Church Buildings, and to continue the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme for the reimbursement of VAT beyond the end of March 2008 if the issue of VAT on such repairs has not by then been permanently resolved in the context of European Community discussions; and
(e) urge parishes to make full use of the Scheme and any other financial support available from Government sources for the upkeep of church buildings.’
was carried after a count of the whole Synod. The voting was as follows:
AYES |
220 |
NOES |
0 |
18 Questions 1 to 16 and 26 to 60, as set out in the Questions Notice Paper, were answered.
The Right Reverend John Gladwin (the Bishop of Chelmsford and Chair of the Ministry Division) paid tribute to the Venerable Dr Gordon Kuhrt, Director of Ministry since 1998, on his forthcoming retirement.
The ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY prorogued the Synod and dismissed it with the blessing at 5.35 p.m.