Summary of General Synod, February 2008

A large programme of legislative business accompanied a wide range of social issues on the agenda of the General Synod of the Church of England, which met at Church House, Westminster.

Presidential Address

The Archbishop of Canterbury gave the Presidential Address, clarifying his recent remarks on the issues surrounding the place of Islamic law within the English legal system, looking ahead to the Lambeth Conference, and reflecting on the situation in Zimbabwe.

Text of address: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/1583
Audio of address: http://audio.cofemedia.org.uk/synod/feb0802.wax

Detention without Charge

Synod discussed the need to balance the demands for security from terrorist attack with the protection of civil rights and liberties, and carried a motion expressing “grave concern” that an extension to the current 28-day maximum period for detention without charge would disturb that balance unacceptably. Synod also called on the Government “to continue to use all available means to press the United States administration to close the Guantanamo Bay facility”.

Background report from the Mission and Public Affairs Council: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/gs1681.rtf

Text of motion carried: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gsfeb080214pm.html
Audio of debate: http://audio.cofemedia.org.uk/synod/feb0818.wax

Mental Health

Following a debate framed within the context of the 2007 Mental Health Act, Synod affirmed the importance of improving services, in hospitals and in the community, for the care and treatment of people with mental health problems. It noted, in particular, the rising incidence of mental distress among young people. Synod welcomed the recognition within mental health services of the significance of spirituality for assessment and treatment, and encouraged parishes to ensure that care for people with mental health problems, their carers and NHS staff is a key priority for the Church's ministry.

Background report from the Mission and Public Affairs Council: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/gs1678.rtf

Text of motion carried: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gsfeb080213pm.html
Audio of debate: http://audio.cofemedia.org.uk/synod/feb0813.wax

Casinos

A Private Member’s Motion from Tom Benyon (Oxford) enabled Synod to endorse the public opposition expressed by church leaders to the introduction of regional and large casinos. Synod requested that the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport introduce a statutory levy on the gambling industry to fund programmes of education, research and treatment with the aim of checking the growth in problem gaming. Synod also asked the Mission and Public Affairs Council to report back on measures being taken by churches to combat the detrimental effects of gambling.

Background paper from Mr Benyon: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/gsmisc875a.rtf
Text of motion carried: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gsfeb080212pm.html
Audio of debate: http://audio.cofemedia.org.uk/synod/feb0810.wax

Clergy Terms of Service

The draft Ecclesiastical Offices (Terms of Service) Measure and associated draft legislation was considered in detail by the Synod at Revision Stage. Proposals to change the traditional clergy freehold to enable parsonages to be vested in diocesan parsonages boards had been the subject of a number of representations by Synod members and others to the Revision Committee. Following debate, during which members made clear their opposition to such plans, an amendment overturning these proposals was carried, but other aspects of the legislation were approved. The draft Measure as amended was committed by the Synod for final drafting.

Audio of first part of debate: http://audio.cofemedia.org.uk/synod/feb0808.wax
Audio of second part of debate: http://audio.cofemedia.org.uk/synod/feb0808a.wax

In other legislative debates, Synod passed a new code of practice aiming to address the need for the oversight of new forms of Church developing alongside traditional ones. Synod also adjourned a debate on Ecclesiastical fees, for future consideration.

Anglican Communion Covenant

In July 2007, the Synod agreed a process for producing a response to the proposal for a Draft Covenant for the Anglican Communion. The House of Bishops and the Archbishops’ Council subsequently considered a Church of England response, putting forward proposed revisions to the Draft Covenant. This response was agreed by the Archbishops, submitted to the Covenant Design Group at the end of last year, and was formally noted by the Synod following a debate.

Background note from the House of Bishops: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/gs1679.rtf
The Church of England response to the draft Covenant is available here: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/gs1679anx2.rtf

Audio of debate: http://audio.cofemedia.org.uk/synod/feb0814.wax

Crown Appointments

Following July’s debate about senior appointments in the light of Talent and Calling and the Government’s Green Paper The Governance of Britain (which indicated that the Prime Minister no longer wished to exercise choice in senior church appointments), the Archbishops issued a consultation document that invited views on a number of key points. In the light of those responses, their discussions with the Government and consultation with the House of Bishops and the Archbishops’ Council, the Archbishops presented a number of proposals on how these Crown appointments should now be made. The Synod endorsed these proposals.

Report by the Archbishops: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/gs1680.rtf
Audio of debate: http://audio.cofemedia.org.uk/synod/feb0815.wax

Anglican-Roman Catholic dialogue

Synod discussed a major contribution to Anglican - Roman Catholic theological dialogue: the International Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission for Unity and Mission report, Growing Together in Unity and Mission. The report, presented as an Agreed Statement on doctrinal accord and areas where further work towards convergence was required, also set out a range of recommendations for practical collaboration between Anglican and Roman Catholic bishops and lay people, which the Synod encouraged the two Churches to take forward.

Briefing paper from the Faith and Order Advisory Group on the IARCCUM Report: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/gs1673.rtf

Text of motion carried: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gsfeb080214am.html
Audio of debate: http://audio.cofemedia.org.uk/synod/feb0816.wax

Other business

The Synod carried a motion from the Diocese of Durham requesting the House of Bishops to prepare Eucharistic prayers suitable for occasions when a significant number of children are present.

Text of motion carried: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gsfeb080213pm.html
Audio of debate: http://audio.cofemedia.org.uk/synod/feb0812.wax

Synod also carried a Private Member’s Motion from Tim Cox (Blackburn) encouraging dioceses to help ensure that anyone entering a church should have ready access to one of the various ‘recommended’ versions of the Bible.

Text of motion carried: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gsfeb080212pm.html
Audio of debate: http://audio.cofemedia.org.uk/synod/feb0809.wax

Background papers for each debate, alongside links to an audio archive of each session, are available at: http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/feb2008.html

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