Diocesan Synod 7th March - PtO priests on PCCs, Eco Report, Same sex preferment and candidacy for ordination,

We opened with prayer and notices.

Bishop Tom's address
He outlined day with humility honesty and humour. He responded the role of the diocesan synod and a bishops duty to consult, and the nature of doctrinal statements. So the scripture bit of the preferment of gay clergy motion will be dropped.

General Synod report by Cannon Simon Butler
He seemed encouraged to watch traditions come together on matters of faiths.
Stories of recession suffering and hardship and global trafficking of people brought a prophetic voice to the synod. The women bishops issue was outwardly civilised, but it will come down to political muscle; that is a messy process, and may end up half baked.
Thanks were given to all who have worked on the get racism out of church front.

Permission to Officiate priests on PCCs.
Current rules were outlined. There is some limited scope (1:10) for their election to Deaneries, and co-opting for PCCs. This standing doesn't give value to their community and church and as such it is a little inside. Though it does stop a grey landslide of looking to the past, like the anti- women bishop vote in some other dioceses.
Look to the Ascension - the church learning to let go... but is that the elderly priests letting go of their church, or the church letting go of a measure of control?
The motion was lost.

Environmental Policy report by Rev Barry Goodwin
3 p' s - parochial, political and personal
So far:
The book creed and creation has been army out to parishes. Responses to eco audit has occur only been 15%, but parishes are aware, and Lois want help on how to.
The eco message has been taken far and wide through initiatives professional audits, lectures sand inner faith work. Diocesan offices are now being audited too.

Same sex preferment and candidacy for ordination
Motion was changed to remove scripture bit, leaving it as an issue of preferment.
A little was said on exegesis, but it was on the 'process of thought' that I was struck. First were should look at relationship then at sex, as we do when considering marriage.
Then one speaker likened the arguments of justifying gay relationships to some that could be later used for incest! There's always one isn't there. Personal stories were shared and a call for justice.
Celibate amendment was proposed and discussed. My thought from it is that the celibate consider is probably not needed as its in context of wider discussions; this is relationships, not just sex.
The amendment was lost.
Civil Partnership amendment was debated to narrow the focus of the motion. The House of Bishops has some pastoral guidelines which are a bit of a fudge, but places it in a conversation with the candidate and their bishop. It does muddy the waters.
It too was lost.
More thoughts were shared on the motion in little 2 minute chunks; but time ran out and so we moved on without the vote. The pragmatic side of me sees why, the time is not quite right to ruffle the church up further; but where's the justice for those that have to potter in limbo in the meantime?

So we worshiped, and went home / to the pub.