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Report of Diocesan Synod on 10 March 2007

Women & the Episcopate

Christina Rees of St Alban’s Diocese, a General Synod member and a member of Archbishops’ Council said that the controversy over women in ministry stretched back to 1919. Women had first been ordained priests in England in 1994 and there were now two deans, 12 archdeacons and 2,000 women clergy out of 9,500. Ordinations of men and women were now roughly equal.

Miss Rees said that in creation, in baptism, and in the on-going life of the spirit Christians were male and female together. Passages in Galatians, Corinthians and Ephesians that describe Christians as a new creation, were not gender passages written for men only. We were equal inheritors of Christ, all called equally, all bearing the image of God and all equally representing Christ. Did God have a special relationship with men as men? Would men and women having Episcopal oversight help or not? The debate was about the view of women generally - their nature and value - in all cultures and all religions.

Revd David Houlding of All Hallows in Hampstead said that he was not speaking as someone opposed to the ordination of women, but as a sceptic. Since he did not know, he doubted the decision in 1992. He, therefore, had doubts about any further moves. It was not yet clear how the Church had received women as ordained priests and how it would accept them as bishops. The question should be looked at against the background of the universal church. What we had experienced since 1992 was a great contribution to the Church, he said; women had the authority of the Church to minister and had added much. The question now was not about justice or equality but about authority in the universal church. If it were just about the former then he would agree. If she was not accepted, could a woman be a bishop? If not, then it threatened the unity of the Church. Currently the Church held together despite opposing views on the ordination of women, but this would add further tensions. How would we stay together and receive this innovation, he asked. We could go forward together as long as the right provision was in place for the dissenters. What impact would this have, though, on the male priest? If a woman ordained a man how did that impact his ministry and acceptance?

In debate the following points were made: Whether the Church could be broad enough to care for those unable to accept it. Jesus was counter-cultural in all sorts of ways, but chose only men; there were still people who asked for male clergy. The Church of England occupied difficult ground - universal but reforming, open to change, as in centuries past. Jesus in his day affirmed women’s ministry – the Easter story was an example. We would want to avoid further splits – a church within a church and different levels of episcopacy. The Roman Catholic Church did not accept our orders and the Methodists would not continue the covenant if Anglicans did not proceed. There should be no distinction between male and female bishops. Local arrangements, where a woman bishop brought in a male bishop for episcopal oversight, could be easily enforceable and readily changed. We should celebrate equality, but not regarding jobs and equal opportunities: we had in the Trinity the most profound demonstration of equality, and of difference.

The motion that this Synod commends parishes to reflect on the issue of women and the Episcopate and asks Deanery Synods to discuss the issue and to send feedback to the Chief Executive at the Diocesan Office was carried with two against and three abstentions.

Café church in Great Oakley & Wrabness

Revd Eric Fisher gave an overview of what is happening in his area. Rural “Fresh Expressions” were happening in the form of Table Talk, a café-church event run monthly in one of the villages, taking the service out of the church and into the community. The worship was valid itself, not a stepping-stone to “real church”. Worship included music and a presentation. The service started in 2005 and was at 4.30pm on Sundays, pitched at families when the shops were closed. It started with tea, then moved to the more formal. It was generally well received and had the support of traditional churchgoers who did not consider it a threat. Although hard work and resource-hungry, it was well worth the effort.

Church Urban Fund

Bishop John outlined a proposal in response to a decision to renew the Church Urban Fund (CUF). It was going to be refocused and used to stimulate work in all areas of social deprivation, not just urban areas. Where the CUF invested it released lots of other resources. In order to renew the Fund we had to raise new money, Bishop John said. The Diocese had been a great beneficiary of CUF with many projects only started because of the fund. It could not ask more of parishes, but needed to find other means. Bishop John had asked Canon John Spence to head up a short, sharp campaign to raise £500,000. The approach was to raise significant sums from selected people, with a regular commitment over 3-4 years. Three more people were required to liaise with deaneries for names and develop local events.  We had a responsibility: we had the most diversified area and the most millionaires!

In the discussion it was noted that the problem of deprivation persisted in the Diocese, not only in London but in areas such as Harwich, Southend and Basildon. CUF had distributed over £3m in the Diocese and levered in over £14m more. It was suggested that Anglican should also look at their own resources. Corporate donations might be possible, but the project needed a more general base.

Back to Church Sunday

Revd Barry Hobson said that some 30% of the population once had meaningful contact with church but no longer attended. It was appropriate for the church to go to them and invite them back. Often there was embarrassment about returning after a long absence. A video presentation showed the experience of a woman returning to church following her husband’s death. She said that she did not know what she had lost in church life until she went back. If church-goers experienced something valuable week by week, then why not invite someone else?

Bishop David said that the idea had been researched carefully, starting in Manchester and taken up by several dioceses. It was a simple exercise. There were so many understandable reasons why people stopped going to church and it became harder and harder for them to start again.

In the discussion one deanery reported trying the scheme last year. Some 55-60 people came back, and some were now regular attendees. There was no need to prepare a different service, but perhaps make the regular one more user-friendly, with explanations, and make sure returnees felt welcomed. It was a national initiative so had a fixed date, the last Sunday in September, which made it more newsworthy. There was a website, www.backtochurch.co.uk , which explained the background and gave ideas. The Month was suggested as a way of spreading ideas. Back to Church Sunday was aimed at those with a former connection, not those who had never been to church.

Questions

In response to a question from Dr Susan Atkin concerning a report that the Archbishop of Kenya refused to take Communion during the recent Primates meeting on the grounds that he would not share the Eucharist with Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori, Bishop John said that he had not heard any official report on this but that it would be disappointing if correctly reported. It was important for Chelmsford Diocese to use its links with Kenya to build relationships in personal conversations. We were all invited to attend the Eucharist, said Bishop John,  but when we attended we had to come to terms with the others whom the Lord invited, which was what it meant to be a member of the Body of Christ. We should never judge others. If we were not content in ourselves we should abstain, but not on account of others.

In response to a question from Simon Smallwood suggesting that the Diocese designated an Evangelism Sunday, Bishop John said that every Sunday should be about evangelism. He would be happy to hear plans for reaching out. It was a challenge to the Church to ensure the message of Christ was heard.

In response to another question from Simon Smallwood on the progress of the Deanery Vision process, Steven Webb, The Chief Executive of the Diocese,  said that a few statements had been returned but most would be back in April/May. A report would be given after the summer.

Other matters

Minutes of November 2006 Meeting

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 November were approved.

Reports

The Bishop’s Council Report and the Finance Committee Report were received with no questions or comments.

Notices

A Deanery Synod motion from Braintree Deanery concerning Resolution 1.10 of the Lambeth Conference 1998 was available for signature at the meeting and would be at a further two meetings. Members were invited to sign if they wish the motion to be debated.

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