Reports from General Synod

Being the Diocesan Synod in the shadow of General Synod there was a stack of stuff coming back from it. Very interesting stuff too, and a good 'ol refresher course on where the Cofe is at. For fuller reports see the Church Times

Bishop Tom reflected on the discussions on Trident, and how in the ABC's speech much was devoted to a big No; but the media reported the 'Church obsessed with sex' quote instead. But the next few days of GS seemed to go this way anyhoo. Though he did see a watershed on those debates on sexuality - apparently the debate is now frank and open. I was then mightily impressed by his analysis of the current church unity/ECUSA/Windsor thing; coming from the history of the Trident debate, he likened the church camps to the polarity of the USSR and USA. Ideology vs. pragmatism. Leading to a suggestion that the Anglican Communion is being misunderstood. It has never intended to be a 'soviet block' one size fits all (and post-Tanzania) Communion, but rather should find its expression in the autonomous localisation of churches. A little later he went on to read the ABC's letter to the primates; which seemed to me to give some hope of a way being found, though be it with a covenant and assurances. Perhaps that's simply my optimism.

There was an upbeat assessment on women in the episcopate; in my cluelessness I'd sat myself behind both the FiF members (as I'm married to my lady-vicar, this was an intriguing experience - next time I'll spot their handy little badges sooner). It seems like women in purple will happen sooner rather than later, that is if the draft legislation doesn't stall for too much time. it was gratifying to hear that a resolution from the ABY along the lines of 'Majority of Bishops see Women Bishops as being constant with faith' (or similar - my notes got a wee bitty jumbled as I was listening to the pair in front of me) was passed by a majority of Bishops. Very cool news as far as I'm concerned; though at this point one guy in front walked, ho-hum but one out of a hundred-odd ain't too bad. Anyway it seems that some work has to go to draft, and may have to be done with diligent haste; we'll have to consider things like the act of synod and whether to continue to allow ordinations of new clergy who can't do the whole obedience to the church's precepts by acepting their colleagues ministries. I'm going to need the deanery's thoughts on this one, but that's for another time.

At General Synod it was reported that there was a silent consent for common tenure and the legal protection that came with it. the real debate seemed to be over parsonage houses and some unhappiness about their transfer to diocesan ownership; though they were assured that the motion would not fall on this one hurdle.

Finally clergy pensions; the house of clergy at GS did a big brave and generous thing (particularly as so many of them are near that age) and reduced the level of benefits that they'll get, with contributions staying the same and the dire financial predictions of last year being kept at bay.

All condensed into 80 minutes; and still comprehensible to me and my 6 minute attention span - I was quite chuffed.