The Church of England logoFaithWorshipLife eventsAbout the Church
Information Contact us
Media Centre Home
Media

General Synod - Summary of business conducted on Sunday 12th July 2009

12 July 2009

 

OPENING THE DOORS: MINISTRY WITH PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES AND PEOPLE ON THE AUTISTIC SPECTRUM: REPORT FROM THE COMMITTEE FOR MINISTRY OF AND AMONG DEAF AND DISABLED PEOPLE AND THE MISSION AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION (GS 1725)

The Synod having viewed a video presentation, the Rt Revd Nicholas Reade, Bishop of Blackburn moved: ‘That this Synod in the light of renewed interest in the challenges facing people with learning disabilities in society, commend to dioceses and parishes the guidelines contained in Opening the Doors (GS 1725) on best practice for the inclusion of people with learning disabilities in the life and work of the Church.’

The motion was carried after debate.

Audio of session

 

REVIEW OF CONSTITUTIONS (GS1737)

Following debate, Canon Dr Christina Baxter (Southwell & Nottingham) moved the following amended motion:

'That this Synod:

(a) decline to endorse the proposals set out in GS1737; and

(b) request the Archbishops' Council, after consultation with the boards and councils concerned, to produce revised proposals which:

(i) provide for the participation of elected Synod members in deliberation and policy-formation as well as in scrutiny and accountability; and

(ii) reflect the individual remits and sets of stake-holders of each area of activity.'

The motion was carried.

Audio of session

 

EPISCOPAL AND SENIOR CHURCH APPOINTMENTS (GS 1733A and 1733B)

Following debate, the Revd Dr John Hartley (Bradford) moved the following amended motion:

'That this Synod, welcoming

(a) the recent establishment of the new Dioceses Commission;

(b) the decision of the House of Bishops to decouple, from January 2011, national support for episcopal ministry from actual episcopal numbers; and

(c) the intention of the Archbishops' Council later this year to begin consideration of future policy on the number of bishops and dioceses,

invite the Archbishops' Council to prepare for the new Synod in November 2010 a progress report on the delivery of changes to the present pattern of dioceses and of episcopal deployment and request the Faith and Order Advisory Group (or its successor body) to present to this Synod early in the new quinquennium a report:

(i) bringing together existing material in the Church of England and the Anglican Communion relating to the exercise of senior leadership in the Church; and

(ii) setting out biblical and theological perspectives to inform the Church's developing patterns of senior leadership.'

The motion was carried.

Audio of session

 

BEING ADULT ABOUT CHILDHOOD: A CONSIDERATION OF THE GOOD CHILDHOOD INQUIRY: REPORT FROM THE CHILDREN'S SOCIETY AND THE MISSION AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION (GS 1744)

The Rt Revd Tim Stevens, Bishop of Leicester, introduced the report. Following debate, Synod voted to take note of the report.

Mrs Alison Ruoff (London) moved the following motion after a brief further debate:

'That this Synod renew its commitment to enrich the childhood of all the children of England by helping them to discover that God loves them, is for them, and offers them friendship, purpose and fulfilment through the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.'

The motion was carried.

Audio of session