tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-211289142024-03-13T11:59:47.887+00:00The General Synod BlogAn eclectic and subjective blog from the General Synod of the Church of England - General Synod Lite.
Older blogs at the bottom, newer at the top.
Any member of Synod may join this blog by sending an email to
'justin.brett AT yahoo . co . uk' putting 'Add to Synod Blog' in the subject lineJustin Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13337993764081653625noreply@blogger.comBlogger165125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-54280054719145222612013-07-04T18:33:00.000+00:002013-07-04T18:33:03.459+00:00It's Back!So here we are then. Another July Synod at York - and guess what's on the Agenda...<br />
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You can get the Agenda, papers and so on <a href="http://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/structure/general-synod/agendas-and-papers/july-2013-group-of-sessions.aspx" target="_blank">here</a> and as always you can follow the excitement on the live stream (I'll post the link here when I have it). For the full muted TV and Test Match Special experience you can also follow the fun and games on Twitter. Our old account @GenSyn has now become the official Church of England feed. Our more subjective one can be found at @Synodical and don't forget to search for the #synod hashtag.<br />
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Sadly, Alastair has had to give up his Synod seat on his elevation to the Archdiaconate, so for the time being it's just me running the show. Contributions from others would be very welcome indeed - contact me via @Synodical if you are interested.<br />
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Justin<br />
(Chichester 289)Justin Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13337993764081653625noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-42108499523794844562012-11-15T10:09:00.000+00:002012-11-15T10:09:54.119+00:00November's SynodSo, the General Synod is meeting for an additional session on the 19, 20, 21 November 2012.<br />
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Papers for the session are available <a href="http://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/structure/general-synod/agendas-and-papers/november-2012-group-of-sessions.aspx" target="_blank">here</a>. - It's not all about women bishops.<br />
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Archbishop Rowan Williams has a number of contributed videos under the title <a href="http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/search.php?q=enough+waiting&action=search&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">Enough Waiting</a> on the <a href="http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/search.php?q=enough+waiting&action=search&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">Archbishop of Canterbury's site</a>. Both Archbishop Rowan, and Bishop <a href="http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/2695/video-bishop-justin-welbys-opening-statement" target="_blank">Justin Welby</a> (Archbishop designate) have spoken of strongly supporting the current measure as the best way forward to support women bishops, whilst giving the strongest level of support for those who cannot in all conscience accept women bishops.<br />
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There is a video entitled <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7783rBrEqc4" target="_blank">Not Enough Waiting</a> representing a traditionalist view featuring Bishop Lindsay Urwin, from Walsingham.<br />
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A pro-women bishops lobbying site has been set up under the banner <a href="http://yes2womenbishops.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">Yes 2 Women Bishops</a>.<br />
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The <a href="http://fairmeasure2012.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">A Fair Measure For All</a> site collects a number of traditionalist/conservative articles and links; as does <a href="http://together4ward.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Together Forward</a>.<br />
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The main debate on women bishops takes place on Tues 20 November.<br />
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Please pray for all listening and participating in Synod's debates; and for those who will be most dissapointed - whatever the result of the voting is.<br />
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<a href="http://acutting.org/" target="_blank">Alastair Cutting</a> (Chichester 96)Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com1Church House Conference Centre, Westminster, City of Westminster, London SW1P, UK51.4979368 -0.129351151.4954653 -0.1342866 51.5004083 -0.1244156tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-62149873841596656972012-07-16T22:23:00.000+00:002012-07-16T22:27:04.204+00:00Penny Allen's synod July 2012 diary<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"><a href="http://pennyatgeneralsynod.weebly.com/" style="color: #aadd99; text-decoration: underline;">Penny Allen</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;">(Litchfield 327) has been keeping her synod diary again, here:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px;"><a href="http://pennyatgeneralsynod.weebly.com/" style="color: #99aadd; text-decoration: none;">http://pennyatgeneralsynod.weebly.com/</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://acutting.org/" target="_blank">Alastair Cutting</a> (Chichester 96)Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-71683938429448931762011-09-12T12:10:00.002+00:002011-09-12T14:57:13.266+00:00On ++Rowan's retirement - or Which Jesus?So <a href="http://twitter.com/JonWynneJones/status/112627244601585664">Jonathan Wynne-Jones</a> got the <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/8754885/Archbishop-of-Canterbury-Dr-Rowan-Williams-set-to-quit-next-year.html">Sunday Telegraph</a> splash with the news that the Archbishop of Canterbury is to retire in 2012 (perhaps, maybe), 9 years before he needs to.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Photo via <a href="http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2011/09/10/vacancy-in-canterbury/">Scott Gunn</a></i></span></td></tr>
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Several have observed that:<br />
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<li>this is not quite news (as it is yet to be substantiated) </li>
<li>that it was widely talked of at the July 2011 General Synod (I heard it from a very savvy bishop, not +Londin), and </li>
<li>that it had been published before (e.g. in Stephen Bates' <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/aug/31/stephen-bates-diary-alistair-darling">Guardian diary</a>).</li>
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Even so, JW-J has quite a good record on standing up stories that initially looked a bit flimsy. Even if there are bits of this one that are entirely calculable and predictable.<br />
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The quintessential academic, Dr Williams spent his 2007 sabbatical researching and writing <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dostoevsky-Language-Fiction-Rowan-Williams/dp/1847064256">Dostoevsky: Language, Faith and Fiction</a>, and has spent much fruitful time in his career in universities. So it is not hard to surmise that is one avenue he may hope to return to, and especially at Cambridge.<br />
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He has already held the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Archbishops_of_Canterbury">post for over 8 years</a>, a bit more than Coggan, and (currently) just a bit less than Runcie and Carey. He has one '<a href="http://www.lambethconference.org/">Lambeth</a>' under his belt, and may well want to give time for the next ABC to be in post long enough to prepare for the next one. He has had to deal with <a href="http://www.davidpbrown.co.uk/nota-bene/believe-the-impossible.html">impossible things before breakfast</a>, such as Women bishops on the home front, and gay clergy & the <a href="http://www.anglicancommunion.org/commission/covenant/index.cfm">Covenant</a> on the global scale. His tenure has come under criticism from many fronts. No wonder the conjecture that he may want to go - let alone being pushed.<br />
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However, there is no leader without criticism; no simple answers to impossible questions. No set time to serve in a post; and nor one to leave it. The next Lambeth is in 2018 - plenty of time before needing to start preparations.<br />
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That hasn't prevented much virtual ink being spilt on why, or when ++Rowan might go, and even more on who might succeed him, if, let alone when, he decides is the right time to go. Amongst those who have commented, several sagely, are <a href="http://www.sevenwholedays.org/2011/09/10/vacancy-in-canterbury/">Scott Gunn</a>, <a href="http://pluralistspeaks.blogspot.com/2011/09/do-go-but-its-just-rumour.html">Adrian Worsfold</a>, <a href="http://heathen-hub.com/blog.php?b=1343">Tim Skellett</a>, <a href="http://charliepeer.blogspot.com/2011/09/williams-resignation-rumour-cause-for.html">Charlie Peer</a>, <a href="http://nickbaines.wordpress.com/2011/09/12/game-off/">Nick Baines</a>, and even <a href="http://mrcatolick.wordpress.com/2011/09/11/rowan-to-resign-what-next/">Mr Catolick</a> has a cautionary video.<br />
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Could Dr Williams have done otherwise - with his every move being scrutinised, and judged, and found wanting by parties on so many different sides? I'm reminded of the Bishop of London in 1994.<br />
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+David Hope had supported women's ordination as deacons, but not as priests, and the formulation of the <a href="http://www.forwardinfaith.com/about/uk_london-plan.html">London Plan</a> was the pragmatic response. His resistance to ordaining women as priests himself led to criticisms of traditionalism and misogyny from all the more liberal wings of the church. Then on the day that the London ordination was to take place by the then Bishop Willesden, hidden amongst the pageantry and media frenzy an un-announced - almost un-noticed - tiny procession led the diocesan bishop to his cathedra. I was there, and profoundly moved by the simple humility of the action.<br />
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Almost un-noticed - but not quite; as then all the more conservative wings of the church also turned against him 'for giving in to the liberals'. And he would have known and expected that. Yet he wanted to be there in person, to as best as he was able support those women to be ordained priest in his diocese and holding his license. For maintaining his own theological position, whilst supporting a view he could not himself hold as best he could, he left himself with few friends - but more integrity.<br />
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Rowan Williams is criticised by the conservatives for being too liberal; and by the liberals for too regularly giving in to the conservatives. Every now and then a cheer goes up from whichever lobby group feels it is currently winning - whether it is to do with women bishops, or whichever bishopric <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_John">Jeffrey John</a> should or should not be appointed to.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.stpatricksguild.com/prodimg/401530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" id=":current_picnik_image" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Odd4xUcT5Ns/Tm3u8V1YZpI/AAAAAAAAAS8/Qu3eF9YVV9I/s1600/16311140399_LHMwb.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image via <a href="http://www.stpatricksguild.com/browse.cfm/what-would-jesus-do-(wwjd)-bracelet/4,8594.html">St Patrick's Guild</a></td></tr>
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There is a beguiling and challenging simplicity to the W.W.J.D., the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_would_Jesus_do%3F">What Would Jesus Do</a> bracelets. In any daily - but particularly in any difficult - decision, it reminds the wearer to ask 'What would Jesus do' here. I am sure - in a theologically credible way - that is exactly what Rowan Williams has often done, and thereby sometimes found himself making choices other than his own first option.<br />
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Meanwhile, some of us will have to make sure that we do not fall in to the trap of making Jesus in to our own image, and expecting him to follow our own favoured choices.<br />
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What Would Jesus Do? Who's Jesus are we talking about?<br />
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<a href="http://acutting.org/">Alastair Cutting</a> (96 Chichester)Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-44595264412858216542011-07-18T21:16:00.000+00:002011-07-18T21:16:48.356+00:00Penny Allen's synod diary<a href="http://pennyatgeneralsynod.weebly.com/">Penny Allen</a> (327 Litchfield) has been keeping a synod diary here:<br />
<a href="http://pennyatgeneralsynod.weebly.com/">http://pennyatgeneralsynod.weebly.com/</a><br />
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Her <a href="http://pennyatgeneralsynod.weebly.com/general-synod-february-2011.html">February 2011</a>, and <a href="http://pennyatgeneralsynod.weebly.com/general-synod-november-2010.html">November 2010</a> diaries are also available there.<br />
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<a href="http://acutting.org/">Alastair Cutting</a> (96 Chichester)Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-19435033174416862332011-07-10T14:56:00.002+00:002011-07-10T14:58:26.967+00:00The Bishop of Copenhagen’s sermon<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The Rt Revd. Peter </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Skov-Jakobsen, the Lutheran Bishop of Copenhagen, which the Church of England is in communion with through the <a href="http://www.porvoochurches.org/">Porvoo</a> Agreement, preached at York Minster on Sunday 10 July with the General Synod present.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24px;">A Dane having worked in England for a few years, he described himself at one point as a foreigner in both places. The sermon is full of some beautiful images and quotes - please do try and read it. And in a wonderful aside from the printed text towards the end of the sermon, recognised Kingston-upon-Hull as the Venice of the North!</span></div>
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<blockquote>
Text: Matthew 13, 1-9 & 18-23</blockquote>
<blockquote>
It is odd; but as the years pass, I think that these narratives become even more strange – provocative – as if from another world – and yet they liberate a longing to become a person right here and now!</blockquote>
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Let me draw you into a story in which Jesus will make us look at the world with different eyes. We have to go back to the time before any dogmatic church teachings had been agreed on, but there were still plenty of barriers between people.</blockquote>
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I don’t know what the problem is with us human beings. Apparently we cannot stop protecting ourselves from one another, from finding security in our own thoughts, behind our own borders, behind our economy and our politics, behind our own culture!</blockquote>
<blockquote>
And here we meet him again, this man who had such a colossal ability to listen, a man who once talked to a Samaritan – the outsider, the enemy. How dare he! And worse than that, a Samaritan woman! Oh dear. This was the man who, when they dragged before him a woman caught in adultery, told those without sin to cast the first stone - and no one dared. And then he told her to sin no more! He made friends with strangers, tried to make his fellow-Jews to think again, and guided people away from sin. Truly he planted seeds – seeds of reflection, and seeds of action.</blockquote>
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The Russian writer, Dostoyevsky, was sometimes very critical of western culture, of our attempt to secure ourselves behind our knowledge, behind our technology, and we could add another word, that Dostoyevsky didn’t know: behind our ‘growth’ – are we planting seeds for growth or merely weeds? He thought that we had lost our feeling for Christ. He claimed that we no longer, as he put it, ’asked the heart for advice’.</blockquote>
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Here at the start of the 21st century we should listen to that criticism. There is no doubt that even only 30 years ago many people thought that religion would soon be a thing of the past – we would outgrow it. Like a scorched plant it would wither and die as we moved into a post-secular existence. There are many things on the move at present in the thoughts and lives of modern man. But we must also acknowledge and accept our history – as well as one another’s histories, for then the walls come tumbling down, as we learn to listen and live alongside our neighbours – including our new, strange, neighbours.</blockquote>
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Not for one second do I believe that there is any point in going back and finding cover behind the thick walls of dogmatic church teachings. Nor can we further any understanding of faith or the church by hiding behind an anxious defence of the Bible, and outdated view of gender roles or an unrealistic view of freer sexual morals. We must not make faith into a ghetto. We must not withdraw and just sit and talk among ourselves! We must be the seed that falls on fertile ground. not the seed that has no root and lasts only a short time.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Let us start our pilgrimage into the future with the words of the Welsh poet R.S. Thomas:</blockquote>
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… … Was the pilgrimage</blockquote>
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I made to come to my own</blockquote>
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Self, to learn that in times</blockquote>
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Like these and for one like me</blockquote>
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God will never be plain and</blockquote>
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Out there, but dark rather and</blockquote>
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Inexplicable, as though he were in here?</blockquote>
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It is our task to be part of the times and to draw attention to the fact that history has a heart, that there is a fundamental warmth of the heart beneath our existence.</blockquote>
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I am sure that the good and dependable Yorkshire farmers are surprised at today’s text. Who on earth would sow seed on stony ground or on land with a thin layer of soil? Surely you only sow where you can harvest! The text is a typical example of the church not always believing that Jesus meant what he said and said what he meant, so to help that later generations they quickly sent out an interpretation to a text which in reality is very clear. There is a distinction between the superficial man, the worried man and the attentive man, - this is the stony ground, the field full of weeds – and the good soil!</blockquote>
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Three types of men! Just consider that what this has brought with it is the history of the church! Just see what condemnations there have been in the air ever since! Just look at the hypocrisy has been enacted. We would hear the story much better if we dared to accept that all three types of soil are found within us ourselves: the disinterested mindset, the superficial, worried mindset, and finally the attentive and empathetic mindset.</blockquote>
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And yet something has happened in the world. The heavenly, the eternal, the omnipresent qualities are found in language, in music, in painting, in craft, in decisions. They become present, and people’s lives are first and foremost influenced by our belief that God in His generosity gives Himself to all the world. God does not have time to be concerned with the quality of the soil.</blockquote>
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There is sowing to be done.</blockquote>
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We are not dealing with a God who desperately wants to change the world before he gives all of Himself. God is not waiting for the world to be ready. He is generous. He is not waiting for the new world to come. He is not looking to see whether people have understood. And suddenly it is as if the truth is close at hand, and heaven is present. Christ has plenty of time. He sees the birds of the sky, he sees the children playing, he sees the lilies of the fields, and he even has time to wait for a lost son. He is the Son of Man who meets people where they are, and not where some would have wanted us to be!</blockquote>
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He empowers people to break the circles of anger and indignation and revenge so easily understood. The cheerfulness, happiness, and courage which is found in Christ must be found in the quiet and courageous protest. One such protest has stayed with me. The man in question was George Bell who spoke up in the House of Lords during the Second World War against the allied bombardment of the German cities, arguing that no injustice can be equalized by another. This was an important hour in the history of the church, but also of the parliament that we call ”the mother of parliaments”.</blockquote>
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And again, we can all hear the indignation of love in a cruel time when we hear the story of Erik Mørch, the Danish seaman’s pastor in Hull during the Second World War, whose church St. Nicholas, was obliterated on the night between the 8th and 9th of May 1941. The following morning he went up to the smoking ruin and put up a sign with the words of the Danish theologian, Grundtvig, saying: “We are God’s house and church now, built of living stones”. No swearwords, no curses could express such life.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
As the church we have one task: to tell the world that God loves His world magnanimously, and that we are constantly looking for this signature of Christ everywhere. Our faith has not been built for us to withdraw from the world. No, we must break into the world and explain that in the faith there is multiplicity present. The whole universe can be embraced in it – even the gracious gift of doubt is part of this universe.</blockquote>
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It is even more important now that enemies and opponents can look one another in the eye and overcome their enmity. The memory of the resurrection is more important than any human enmity.</blockquote>
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This is my hope for the world – and for myself.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
In this country you love to tell a story about a Danish king who was so unbearably arrogant and foolish that he even believed he could stop the tide by sitting at the water’s edge and commanding the waves to withdraw. We Danes had already suffered from a bad press for many years. We had frightened the life out of women and children, and it was not the act of a gentleman when Thorkild the Tall plundered the cathedral in Canterbury and took the archbishop prisoner. I’m sorry about that.</blockquote>
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Since then our empire has grown oh so much smaller, but a sense of humility has still found it difficult to enter Danish hearts. But we are looking to the future! At long last we have joined the Porvoo Communion! But you may have to accept that now and again there is a little girl sitting on the bench in Denmark saying, “But he’s got clothes on!”</blockquote>
<blockquote>
As you get to know the Danish Lutheran Church over the coming years, you will encounter a church struggling to take seriously both tradition and contemporary society. Really struggling!</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Thank you for your warm and friendly welcome and for the honour it is to preach a sermon on this happy occasion. For 9 years this part of England was my home, and that is why one of the first things I had to do after being elected by the Copenhagen congregations as their bishop was to make a pilgrimage to the place where I learnt to be a pastor: To Hull! Kingston-upon-Hull.</blockquote>
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It goes without saying that I lost my heart to this country, its people, its culture, its traditions, and now I carry the yoke of the pain it is to be a stranger in two places – in this country because I am Danish, and in Denmark because I came to know Great Britain and saw that everything can be painted with a much bigger brush.</blockquote>
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Deep down, nevertheless, I am happy with this sense of alienation. It gives me a feeling that nothing is simple.</blockquote>
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Alienation gives me courage, and I live happily with polyphony, and I love variety.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
So even though we believe that Canute was trying to demonstrate the exact opposite – that you cannot turn back the tide – please carry on laughing at us. That is better than praying the ancient prayer: “Merciful God, deliver us from the fury of the Norsemen!”</blockquote>
<blockquote>
And maybe you can learn from our humour. History may have taught a proud little people and the rest of the world a humble truth in the words of our poet Piet Hein:</blockquote>
<blockquote>
’The noble art of losing face may one day save the human race.’</blockquote>
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<a href="http://acutting.org/"><b>Alastair Cutting</b></a><br />
Chichester 96<br />
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<br />Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-23849372713358862172011-07-09T14:11:00.002+00:002011-07-09T14:15:23.927+00:00Archbishop Rowan Williams’ presidential addressThe text for Archbishop Rowan’s <a href="http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/2122/">presidential address</a> is on the Lambeth Palace website.<br />
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<a href="http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/img.php?f=/canterbury/data/images/articles/2011_July/KT3_IMG_9100.jpg&p=toWidth&o=jpg&a[width]=260" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/img.php?f=/canterbury/data/images/articles/2011_July/KT3_IMG_9100.jpg&p=toWidth&o=jpg&a[width]=260" width="213" /></a></div>
<blockquote>
Two weeks ago in Eastern Congo, listening to the experiences of young men and women who had been forced into service with the militias in the civil wars, forced therefore into atrocities done and suffered that don’t bear thinking about, I discovered all over again why the Church mattered. One after another, they kept saying, ‘The Church didn’t abandon us.’ Members of the Church went into the forests to look for them, risked their lives in making contacts, risked their reputations by bringing them back and working to reintegrate them into local communities.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Read more <a href="http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/2122/">here...</a></blockquote>
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<i>Alastair Cutting, Chichester 96</i></div>
Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-53066973297803038902011-07-08T21:28:00.001+00:002011-07-08T22:55:07.579+00:00A Boring Agenda?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>There has been some criticism so far - especially in the debate on the Agenda this afternoon - about the fact that our agenda in York this year looks rather dull. Certainly, there is a lack of big splashy topical debates, but despite the fact that it's what gets the coverage, the politics and problems of the day are not really what Synod is about. Its function is primarily a legal one, and there is plenty of that sort of stuff on the agenda. Also on the agenda - and seemingly missed by many - are two examples of another of the less glamorous jobs that Synod does, namely talking about and regulating the way in which we relate to other churches. If you look <a href="http://www.churchofengland.org/media/1281613/gs%201837.pdf">here</a> and <a href="http://www.methodistconference.org.uk/media/48508/moving%20forward%20in%20covenant%202011.pdf">here</a>, you will find documents that describe the current situation with regards to the Anglican Methodist Covenant, and which will inform a debate on Sunday afternoon. While we are still a way from unity, and while the process is moving at what seems to be a snail's pace, there is some progress happening. One piece of good news in a corner of the agenda.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/URC_Logo.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/cf/URC_Logo.gif" width="200" /></a>In a similar vein, but perhaps of more importance, are the documents <a href="http://www.churchofengland.org/media/1281626/gs%201838.pdf">here</a> and<a href="http://www.churchofengland.org/media/1283590/gs%201841.pdf"> here</a>, which will form the basis of a debate on Monday evening about relations with the <a href="http://www.urc.org.uk/">United Reformed Church</a>. The URC has its ultimate origins in the expulsion from the Church of England of Nonconformist dissenters following the Act of Uniformity in 1662, and if the recommendations in the report are passed by Synod, they will result in the request that <i>"representatives of the two churches should join together in an act of worship in 2012, that would mark both the 350th anniversary of the Great Ejection of nonconforming ministers following the Act of Uniformity 1662 and the 40th anniversary of the inauguration of the United Reformed Church. The service should contain an expression of penitence for our part in perpetuating the divisions of the past, a desire for the healing of memories and an act of commitment to work more closely together in the future."</i> That strikes me as being at least as important a thing for Synod to be doing as the various things that people this afternoon said we ought to be talking about. Apart from anything else - this thing might actually make a difference...<br />
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Justin<br />
(Chichester 289)Justin Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13337993764081653625noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-74345699547085711472011-05-28T03:36:00.000+00:002011-05-28T03:36:41.608+00:00Outline Agenda for July Synod<a href="http://www.church-of-ireland.com/2006/210706/210706_Page_01_Image_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.church-of-ireland.com/2006/210706/210706_Page_01_Image_0002.jpg" /></a>So - here we go again. The <a href="http://www.churchofengland.org/media/1275212/outline%20agenda.pdf">Outline Agenda for the July Synod</a> is now available from the Church of England website. There is some interesting stuff here, although the irredeemably cynical bit of me wonders how we will cope with yet another Synod without either sexuality or women in the episcopate...<br />
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Although there is not yet any associated paperwork, it is possible to pick out some themes in the agenda, and a few points where we could be in for some robust debate. The Methodist Covenant is back on the agenda, as is an item entitled "Conversations with the United Reformed Church". For the observer of Synodical process there is the amusing prospect of Synod being asked once again to confirm the appointment of the Chair of the Business Committee. Personally, I think that one might have been left to ride for a while, but we shall see.<br />
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There are several worthy-looking reports - the substance of which will be revealed in due course. The Church and Education features here, Presence and Engagement is back on the agenda, and there is a report from the Committee for Minority Ethnic Anglican Concerns.<br />
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At the moment, however, it is the Diocesan Synod motions that look the most interesting. Bradford have one on admission of baptised but unconfirmed adults to Communion, which will no doubt spark some lively debate. London, however, have my pick of the pops, calling for <i>"a thorough review of how the House of Laity of this Synod and the houses of laity of diocesan synods are elected, particular consideration being given to whether the electorate should be some body of persons other than the lay members of deanery synods."</i> I very much hope that they get what they want - this is one turkey who will happily vote for Christmas if it means that the Laity elected to Synod will be more representative and elected in a fashion that actually gives the people in the pews a voice.<br />
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Justin<br />
(Chichester 289)Justin Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13337993764081653625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-78173557910270650742011-02-08T19:00:00.000+00:002011-02-08T19:00:40.322+00:00Möbius Strips - Synod in One DimensionThe synchronicity of a conversation in the parish last week and an aside in the Archbishop of Canterbury's sermon at the start of Tuesday's synod business both included comments on Möbius strips.<div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/M%C3%B6bius_strip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/M%C3%B6bius_strip.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:M%C3%B6bius_strip.jpg">WikiCommons</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There is something curious about the Möbius strip is that it only has one side and one edge. Try following the side/edge with your finger...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Some might (cruelly) suggest it is quite an apt metaphor for the General Synod - one dimensional. But I think that misses a myriad of aspects hidden by such one-liners.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Today, synod had a presentation on <a href="http://www.yourchurchwedding.org/project/">The Wedding Project</a> - it just demonstrated how not only can synod do stuff well (it was superbly presented, with two presenters, photos, videos, <i>vox pop</i> clips, laughs, a few 'ouch' moments), but also covers material that is as important to people outside church doors, as inside them. "England wants more Vicars" was a notable quote.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">It may have only one edge, or side, but of course a Möbius strip is actually a very tactile and three dimensional object. Synod sometimes surprises us like that too; something of the mysterious, three-dimensional nature of God works his way into even the synodical processes. If someone tries to tell you the synod and it's work is shallow and pointless - one dimensional - then remember the Möbius strip.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://acutting.org/">Alastair Cutting</a> Chichester 96</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com0Church House, Great Smith St, Westminster, London SW1P 3NZ, UK51.4979368 -0.129351151.494597299999995 -0.1366466 51.5012763 -0.1220556tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-47166343606927317932011-02-07T16:02:00.001+00:002011-02-07T16:03:30.569+00:00What The House Of Laity Did First...Synod officially started at 3.00pm today. However, immediately before that meeting there was a meeting of the House of Laity by itself. These don't happen at every session - most business is conducted by Synod as a whole. (The House of Bishops is different - they do meet regularly outside Synod - but that's for expansion elsewhere, perhaps.) This afternoon the House of Laity was invited to co-opt Dr Priscilla Chadwick as a member of the House so that she could be re-appointed as Chair of the Dioceses Commission. The short version of what happened is that we declined to make such a co-option.<br />
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The longer version is a bit more nuanced. The powers that be have managed to get themselves in a muddle. As the Dioceses Commission is set up, a certain number of its members have also to be members of General Synod, and its Chair has to be selected from among those members. Furthermore the Chair of the Commission is not allowed also to be a member of various other Synod-related bodies. The idea seems to be that the Chair should be someone who has been in some way elected by the wider Church, and also that they should not be someone who is already obviously part of the establishment. So far so good, you might think. Unfortunately, it turned out that none of those from Synod who ended up on the Commission were deemed by the powers that be to be suitable for the post of Chair, and instead Dr Chadwick was suggested for the job. Consequently, in 2008, the House of Laity was asked to co-opt Dr Chadwick so that she could chair what was then the new Commission. Reluctantly, we agreed.<br />
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Given that we were told that the first co-option was quite essential because Dr. Chadwick was the only person for the job, it came as something of a surprise that we were now asked to make exactly the same co-option. After all, this time Dr. Chadwick could have stood for Synod. She didn't. The point was made in the debate that actually there was a good argument for the Chair of the Commission not to be an elected member from a particular diocese on grounds of impartiality. While this was a sound point, it doesn't alter the fact that a set of procedures exist for the appointment of the members and Chair of the Dioceses Commission, and that the central bureaucracy has attempted to circumvent them because they were not delivering the result that the bureaucracy required. This isn't the right way of doing things, and this time we were not sufficiently convinced by the arguments from expediency to put aside what little democratic legitimacy we possess and roll over when required by the secretariat.<br />
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In all of this, the person I feel sorry for is Dr. Chadwick. For what it's worth, I think she has done a good job, and I have been very impressed with what the Commission has so far achieved. As I understand it she was asked to continue in her post, she didn't put herself forward. Perhaps those who did the asking might reflect whether they have really done her or the Church any sort of service in making that request in the way in which they made it. Perhaps they might further reflect on the suggestion that if your procedures are not delivering the results you desire, then the procedures themselves need to be changed. If you attempt simply to circumvent the rules you currently have then the only conclusion to which onlookers might come is that those rules didn't really count for anything in the first place. And surely that can't be true...<br />
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Justin<br />
(Chichester 289)Justin Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13337993764081653625noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-35802546140056936532011-02-07T15:42:00.000+00:002011-02-07T15:42:41.877+00:00Synod Papers & Live audio feed<a href="http://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/structure/general-synod/agendas-and-papers.aspx">General Synod agendas and papers are here</a>;<br />
and there is also a <a href="http://www.premier.org.uk/streaming/synod.asx">live audio feed via Premier accessible here</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://acutting.org/">Alastair Cutting</a> Chichester 96Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com0Church House, Great Smith St, Westminster, London SW1P 3NZ, UK51.4979368 -0.129351151.494597299999995 -0.1366466 51.5012763 -0.1220556tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-63370220852449134192011-02-07T15:27:00.000+00:002011-02-07T15:27:41.856+00:00So, what IS on Synod's agenda?Here is synod meeting again in London. The November 2010 session was the usual, brief, inauguration session at the start of a new synod. Once we get to the February session, that's when the real work gets going.<br />
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<b>Or does it? </b>People have been commenting already that the agenda for this session seems thin. Although the whole week was set aside initially, the synod is actually only meeting from Monday until Wednesday evening. This is a quick glance as to why it might appear reduced; and what some of the more significant items are actually still are. Papers, as usual are available on the <a href="http://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/structure/general-synod.aspx">General Synod pages</a> of the all new <a href="http://www.churchofengland.org/">Church of England</a> website (which is apparently no longer a sub-domain of the anglican.org - probably worth a blog post in it's own right at some point...).<br />
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<b>Firstly</b>, as it is a new synod, not all new posts have been fixed. Synod business is organised by the Business Committee - but that is only just in the process of being elected for the quinquennium. Many other important boards and councils have changed membership too, and this has affected pulling together some of the preparations for this synod.<br />
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<b>Secondly</b>, synod has sent out to the dioceses for debate 2 major pieces of work - Women Bishops, and the Anglican Communion Covenant. As we await these items to come back to synod for the final stages of the legislation, synod gets a chance to catch it's breath.<br />
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Monday's business starts with a presentation by The Right Honourable <a href="http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Our-organisation1/Ministers/">Andrew Mitchell</a> MP, <b>Secretary of State for International Development</b>. It is a number of years since synod was addressed by a member of the government - and a great department for us to be hearing from. The press were asking before Andrew Mitchell's speech for a copy of what he was going to say. They couldn't have one, as he stood to speak passionately, with only the sparsest of notes, of recent visits to East Africa, and seeing the vital work being done by faith communities and others on the ground.<br />
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Other key items coming up include the the debate on the way ahead for the next quinquennium; as well as the motion asking for initiation - baptism etc - liturgies that are more in language that those unfamiliar with church jargon can better grasp. Not to dumb down our theology, but to make it more accessible. More later...<br />
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<a href="http://acutting.org/">Alastair Cutting</a> Chichester 96Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com0Church House, Great Smith St, Westminster, London SW1P 3NZ, UK51.4979368 -0.129351151.494597299999995 -0.1366466 51.5012763 -0.1220556tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-34861200835292884552010-11-30T07:29:00.028+00:002010-11-30T09:23:27.842+00:00Reformation of Synod?<a href="http://twitter.com/thechurchmouse">@TheChurchMouse</a> asked me to do a <a href="http://churchmousepublishing.blogspot.com/2010/11/synod-reform-guest-post-from-synod.html">guest post</a> for the inauguration of the new General Synod, and it was published a couple of hours before the inauguration service in <a href="http://www.westminster-abbey.org/press/news/news/2010/november/hm-the-queen-attends-service-of-holy-communion-at-the-inauguration-of-the-9th-general-synod">Westminster Abbey</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2748/4322269298_8049fb04c8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2748/4322269298_8049fb04c8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dame Mary Tanner: photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46124960@N00/4322269298/">David Michael Morris</a></div><br />
However, as <a href="http://www.oikoumene.org/en/who-are-we/organization-structure/governing-bodies/biographies-of-wcc-officers-and-presidents/mary-tanner.html">Dame Mary Tanner</a> started preaching, I started to wonder if she had been looking over my shoulder (and - should she have even noticed my post - she may have wondered if I had got hold of an illicit copy of her sermon script in advance - full copy legitimately <a href="http://acutting.co.uk/files/docs/Inauguration%20of%20General%20Synod%20Final%2018%2011%2010.doc">available here</a> now). Have a look...<br />
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She started by highlighting what an inspired solution Synodical government has been: <br />
<blockquote><i>Synodical government was a visionary initiative. It established definitively the voice of the laity in the governance of our Church, providing a place where laity and clergy, together with the bishops, meet to discern, to express consensus and to legislate.</i></blockquote><br />
She then went on to recognise that synod itself is now in need of reformation:<br />
<blockquote><i>we know that our synodical system is – and probably always will be, like the institution of the Church itself – in need of reform and renewal. English parliamentary processes can have a negative effect, tending to polarisation, parties divided against one another, a culture of winners and losers. Thank goodness the call to the Synod – ‘decide’ – now replaces the former absurd practice of a bewigged lawyer crying ‘divide’ – just when the Synod was testing for consensus, testing for the mind of Christ.</i></blockquote><br />
- It was almost word-for-word what I had also written. I was encouraged to think that she, and others, share some of the thoughts I have been thinking too. And you cannot get more up-front than the sermon at the inauguration of Synod.<br />
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Mary Tanner starts by looking at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Jerusalem">Jerusalem Council</a> as her prime Biblical model for inspiration. It led her on - amongst many other things, to suggest:<br />
<blockquote><i>Synod structures and procedures may need reforming. </i><i>But perhaps what is most needed is for each of us to look at ourselves. We need to get hold at a deeper level of how costly listening can be. It is by listening with creative imaginations, not afraid of silence, that we form a space in which the Holy Spirit can lead us beyond polarisation to the place where we know that we need one another...</i></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><br />
Towards the end of her sermon, Dame Mary said:<br />
<blockquote><i>The most important thing you do is not the production of Measures, Acts of Synod, or Codes of Practice, important as these are, but the gathering together around the Lord’s Table to receive food for the synodical journeying.</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>Strive always to listen to one another with charity and generosity, and listen deep in the silence to the one who walks with you on the way, so that you too may say, like those at the Council of Jerusalem, ‘It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us’.</i></blockquote><br />
So, there is Mary Tanner’s challenge to this 9th General Synod. In his introductory welcome to the Queen, and just before she also spoke to Synod, ++Rowan Williams observed that this was the first Synod that there were no longer any remaining members of the earlier Church Assembly present. Except for her majesty, that is - who has seen Synods, and Archbishops of Canterbury come, and go. <a href="http://www.cofe.anglican.org/news/gsnov231110pm1.html">The Queen’s speech</a> also included words helping Synod look forward:<br />
<blockquote><i>The opening of a new Synod is a moment when we can all give thanks for the witness of those who have gone before, and pray for wisdom as you seek to balance change and continuity in the decisions that lie ahead of you. ...</i></blockquote><blockquote><i>The new Synod will have many issues to resolve to ensure that the Church of England remains equipped for the effective pursuit of its mission and ministry. Some will, no doubt, involve difficult, even painful, choices. But Christian history suggests that times of growth and spiritual vigour have often coincided with periods of challenge and testing. What matters is holding firmly to the need to communicate the gospel with joy and conviction in our society.</i></blockquote><br />
I have <a href="http://churchmousepublishing.blogspot.com/2010/11/synod-reform-guest-post-from-synod.html">already outlined</a> some of the areas and ways I think we could see Synod start to move - I am hoping to see some of these begin to take shape, so that we may all the better fulfil the role that the Queen has reminded us is the calling of Synod.<br />
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<a href="http://acutting.co.uk/">Alastair Cutting</a> 96 ChichesterAlastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com0Church House, Great Smith St, Westminster, London SW1P 3NZ, UK51.4979368 -0.129351151.494597299999995 -0.1366466 51.5012763 -0.1220556tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-71084207064259711422010-11-24T10:46:00.001+00:002010-11-24T11:54:45.556+00:00To Covenant, or not to Covenant?Wednesday morning’s headlining agenda item is on whether the Church of England should join in with the Anglican Communion Covenant.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://thejosevilson.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/holding-hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://thejosevilson.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/holding-hands.jpg" /></a></div><br />Well, who wouldn’t want to be a part of the Anglican Communion? (Only Anglicans of course need bother to answer that question...). Yet, there are some who clearly think the Covenant is not a good thing. Why, and how to vote at this stage?<br /><br />As the Anglican church spread across the globe, different provinces of the communion started to develop, to make better sense of governing the church more locally (did you know that New Zealand and Australia were both originally included in the diocese of Calcutta, in India!)<br /><br />So there are many different Anglican provinces, all gathered under the banner of the Anglican Communion. However, what happens when one province does something that other provinces find is un-Anglican, is an innovation that it impairs communion? Like, perhaps, ordaining a bishop in an active gay relationship? Other brands/examples are also available...<br /><br />Some provinces then asked that there be some mechanism whereby different provinces can: sign up to be a something to be a part of the Anglican Communion. That something to sign up to, is the proposed Anglican Communion Covenant.<br /><br />However, within the covenant, there are some ‘if this; then there may be a consequence that...’ situations. It is this part of the covenant that some are objecting to, as they feel the Covenant is perhaps being formed in to a stick to beat naughty provinces with. That, some consider is also un-Anglican.<br /><br />Just as there is a <a href="http://noanglicancovenant.org/">Say No to the Covenant</a> lobby, who feel it is restrictive and inhibiting; there are also <a href="http://www.gafcon.org/news/oxford_statement_from_the_gafcon_fca_primates_council">other provinces</a> who I understand feel that the lines drawn and sanctions outlined are not strong enough. Some want it less restrictive - some want it more so. That in itself implies the Covenant may have something of the ‘middle way’ about it.<br /><br />So how to vote on it? Well, it is clear a number of other provinces are watching what the Church of England does about the Covenant before showing their own hand. We should not consider that the CofE is ‘equal, but more equal’ than others. It seems clear though, that without the CofE signing up to the Covenant, it is difficult to see what its purpose might be.<br /><br />This particular debate is not the General Synod’s final say on the Covenant. Rather, what is proposed today is that the Covenant is then be passed to the dioceses for debate, before coming back to the General Synod for final agreement after that. I have some questions and misgivings about the text; but I certainly want to include the dioceses within the debate. So I will certainly be voting for the motion at this stage.<br /><br /><a href="http://acutting.co.uk/">Alastair Cutting</a> 96 ChichesterAlastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com0Church House, Great Smith St, Westminster, London SW1P 3NZ, UK51.4979368 -0.129351151.494597299999995 -0.1366466 51.5012763 -0.1220556tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-22018135016262410592010-11-23T22:25:00.003+00:002010-11-24T15:21:16.247+00:00Dramas at SynodArriving as a newbie at Synod can be quite frightening. So many people, procedures; standing orders, and members standing to contend with.<br />
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As part of the induction for new members, a dramatised and light-hearted example of a synod debate, with full commentary, helped members to understand synodical processes. When I first joined synod 5 years ago, I found a similar presentation very helpful, and many new members I have spoken to found this one similarly so.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pantherarts.org/Drama/images/frontpic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://www.pantherarts.org/Drama/images/frontpic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Actually, it was such a useful case-study in debating procedure, that I managed to procure a copy of the script, and the permission to publish it. It may well be an aid to Diocesan Synod members too, especially the Chairs of House of Laity and Clergy.<br />
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Here are a couple of snippets:<br />
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<b>Margery Kempe:</b> Margery Kempe, Norwich, 1438. Mr. Chair, I am delighted to move this motion in my name. The Joint Ecumenical commission for motherhood and apple pie has spent the last two years considering both motherhood and apple pie from a variety of angles, as detailed in GS 1592…<br />
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<b>Narrator: </b>You will have noticed that she correctly started her speech by addressing the Chair. All speeches should be addressed to the Chair: only the person in the Chair addresses the Synod directly. After the opening speech the debate will be opened up to members... [etc.]<br />
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<b>Narrator: </b>Let’s hear how the first speaker gets on.<br />
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<b>Hilda of Whitby: </b>Hilda of Whitby, Religious Communities, 680. There are two points I want to make. First, in GS 1592 paragraph 23…<br />
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<b>Narrator:</b> Now this is good start – short, sharp, focused and directly to the point.<br />
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<b>HW:</b> … I could say more, but as the amber light has come on, I would say in conclusion that my main points are these … [etc.]<br />
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Other participants include (!):<br />
Thomas Aquinas, Julian of Norwich, Catherine Parr, Hieronymous Bosch & Richard Hooker<br />
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Download the full sketch <a href="http://acutting.co.uk/files/docs/SYNOD%20INDUCTION%20SKETCH.doc">here</a>, or continue reading it <a href="http://gensyn.blogspot.com/2010/11/dramas-at-synod.html">below the fold</a>:<br />
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<a href="http://acutting.co.uk/">Alastair Cutting</a> 96 Chichester<br />
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<div class="MsoTitle">SYNOD INDUCTION SKETCH</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cast in order of appearance<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Registrar 1 </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Staff member </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 1 </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Margery Kempe MK </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;">Hilda of Whitby HW</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Thomas Aquinas TA </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;">Chair 2 </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;">Julian of Norwich JN </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;">Catherine Parr CP </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;">Hieronymous Bosch HB </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;">Richard Hooker RH </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Member 1 (p.3) </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;">Member 2 (pp.11-12) </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;">Archbishop of Canterbury ABC</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Set in the Synod chamber. </i></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; mso-list-ins: Godfather 20101111T1217; mso-list: none; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: I will be your guide through the wonderful world of Synod. So come with me as we examine the dos and don’ts and unravel the sacred mystery that is General Synod. The alert amongst you, sorry, a silly thing to say immediately after lunch, will have noticed how I started speaking. The first rule for the Synod orator; start with your name, diocese and Synod number. Your number will then be up, …on the electronic display so everyone can identify who is speaking<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-11T12:17"></ins></span><br />
<span class="msoIns">.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"> Let’s first get our bearings. Above us <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(pointing) </i>is the Public Gallery, except for the rows of desks in the gallery to my left which is the Press Gallery, remember to smile to the camera! You may sit in the Public Gallery if you want, but this is not to be encouraged, and you certainly cannot speak or vote in a show of hands from there, for that you must be on the floor of Synod, that is the massed ranks of seats in front of me. The Archbishops, if not in the Chair, will sit here and the other Officers of the Synod, (the Prolocutors, the Chair and Vice Chair of the House of Laity and the Secretary General and Clerk to the Synod) will sit in the seats similarly placed on the opposite side of the platform. The House of Bishops usually occupies the first two circles of seats in the centre of the chamber, yes, just w<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-11T12:18"></ins></span><br />
<span class="msoIns">h</span>ere you are sitting madam!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Staff member comes on and rings the five minute bell</span></span></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: Now that bell is to get us under starter’s orders. It’s rung with gusto five minutes before every sitting starts. So we have a few more minutes yet, so as I was saying, the seats behind the platform are reserved for staff or in the case of the tables immediately behind me, for the members and staff responsible for the business under consideration.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"> Now, papers! You should bring with you the relevant papers for the day’s debates. As you come into the chamber, you will find more to add to your collection. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Holding up each)</i> Of most immediate use will be the dark yellow Order Paper for the sitting that is about to start. This brings together in one document all the motions and amendments that are to be debated at that sitting, very useful. There may also be pale yellow Notice Papers giving you information of various kinds, most importantly notice of amendments received relating to forthcoming debates. You may also pick up a green Financial Statement from time to time, which, if required, will give you an estimate of the likely cost of implementing something that you are about to debate.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"> I hope that sets the scene, more later, but I’d better stop now, as we are about to get underway. In a moment the platform party will come on and the sitting will start with standing, if you see what I mean. Always stand when the platform party come on, it shows them you’re awake. Jump up, here they come.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText">The gavel is hit on the wall. The platform party enter and sit down. ‘Marjorie Kempe’ sits in members in charge place.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Chair 1 Good afternoon Synod, I hope you had a good lunch …</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: The person speaking is in the Chair for this particular item of business. He or she will be a member of the Panel of Chairs appointed jointly by The Archbishops of Canterbury and York to take the Chair when either of them is not doing so. All Chairs are members of Synod and they oversee the conduct of the debate and call speakers from those who are standing to indicate their wish to contribute. They have a very difficult and important job to do. Let’s hear what she has to say …</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Chair 1 Our first item of business is the Report of the Joint Ecumenical Commission on Motherhood and Apple Pie. This is a ‘take note’ debate and for it you will need GS<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:17"></ins></span>1592. In a moment, I will be calling on a representative of the Commission to speak for up to ten minutes and to move the motion standing in her name, after which there will be a general debate for which the speech limit will be five minutes from the outset…</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: Let’s just break in here. What she has just said illustrates an important point: always listen to what the Chair has to say at the start of a debate, as he or she will then explain how the debate is to be structured, something that will be of great value to you in following the debate. This is a relatively straightforward debate, but as we may see later, in a potentially more complicated debate with many amendments to a main motion, it is especially important to grasp the Chair’s plan of campaign early on. What the Chair has just said also contains two other valuable general points: first, the Chair will highlight the relevant papers you will need and, secondly, will often give you advanced notice of any speech limits that he or she intends to impose. The default speech limits are ten minutes for the opening speech by the mover of a motion and five minutes for all other speeches. However, the Chair has a discretion to vary the speech limit and may choose, for instance, to reduce it during a popular debate to allow as many members as possible to contribute. The Chair has also explained what kind of debate it is – in this case a ‘take note’ which translates into “the Synod has looked at this report but has not been asked to take a decision on it, either for or against”. But back live with the Chair…</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Chair 1 I call on Marjorie Kempe to move the motion on behalf of the Commission, she has up to ten minutes.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Member 1: Point of Order…</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Chair consults with administrator and registrar</span></span></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: Now, a member has raised a point of order,: he is questioning whether something is within the Standing Orders, the rules that govern how the Synod operates. While they are sorting that out, it gives me the chance to introduce to you the other two members of the platform party. The person sitting to your right of the Chair in the wig and gown is the Registrar of the Synod or as is the case for this debate, one of his equally glamorous assistants. As lawyers, they will advise the Chair on procedural questions, as at the moment, and also they will give you instructions when a division is called. The registrar will also monitor the progress of your speech against any speech limit that has been imposed. The lights that you see at the front of the platform and those at each microphone are green for go until they are turned to orange when you have one minute left and red when time is up. The handsome beast sitting to your left of the Chair will be the Secretary General or another equally radiant member of staff. They will be whispering sweet nothings into the ear of the Chair to assist him or her in a number of practical ways and specifically by identifying members who may have indicated they wish to speak. Ah, I think the great minds have reached a conclusion …</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Chair 1 Thank you, I’m advised that what you<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:nicholas.hills" datetime="2010-11-05T15:36"></ins></span><br />
<span class="msoIns">r</span> request is not a valid point of order, so we continue; Margery Kempe.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">MK Margery Kempe, Norwich, 1438. Mr. Chair, I am delighted to move this motion in my name. The Joint Ecumenical commission for motherhood and apple pie has spent the last two years considering both motherhood and apple pie from a variety of angles, as detailed in GS<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:20"></ins></span>1592…</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: You will have noticed that she correctly started her speech by addressing the Chair. All speeches should be addressed to the Chair<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:21"></ins></span><br />
<span class="msoIns">: </span> only the person in the Chair addresses the Synod directly. After the opening speech the debate will be opened up to members, so I should say something now about what to do if you want to speak. First of all, you should complete a “Request to Speak” form as far in advance as possible before the debate. These are available at the Information Desk, where they should also be handed in when completed. As far as is possible, the Chair of a debate will seek to have a balanced debate, that is to say he or she will attempt to call an equal number of speakers for and against, and (subject to that) to ensure that there is a broad balance of speakers who are male and female, from each of the Houses etc. It’s obviously not an exact science but in order to do this as effectively as possible it is helpful for the Chair to know who wants to speak beforehand and to have an idea of what they want to say. Ah, it looks like she is just about to finish, so we’ll soon see what to do next.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">MK ...and I look forward to the debate.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Chair 1 Thank you very much. The motion is now before Synod, do I see anyone standing?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(Members jump up and stand, wishing to speak)<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: What a sight! But, they are acting correctly. You cannot speak unless called upon to do so by the Chair and for this to happen you <u>must</u>, I repeat must, stand to be called. If you have submitted a Request to Speak this does not guarantee that you will be called, but it will increase your chances. And even when you have submitted a request slip you must still stand. The Chair will not be impressed or swayed by gestures, smiles or winks. Just stand and wait for the call! If one of the Presidents stands, he will be called to speak, and <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-11T12:22"></ins></span><br />
<span class="msoIns">i</span>f one of the other Officer<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-11T12:23"></ins></span><br />
<span class="msoIns">s</span> stands, he or she will be called to speak unless that is impossible in the time available. But the normal form is for the Chair, when faced with all those faces to say …</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Chair 1 I call<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>Hilda of Whitby. Please remember that a five minutes speech limit is in force.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: Let’s hear how the first speaker gets on.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">HW: Hilda of Whitby, Religious Communities, 680. There are two points I want to make. First, in GS<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:23"></ins></span>1592 paragraph 23…</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: Now this is good start – short, sharp, focused and directly to the point.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">HW: … I could say more, but as the amber light has come on, I would say in conclusion that my main points are these …</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: This again is good, the end of the speech is timed, measured, unrushed and effectively delivered. The amber light tells you that you have a minute to wind up. When the red light comes on , the time for concluding is past. You must stop speaking and resume your seat straightaway.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Chair 1 Is Thomas Cranmer standing?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: That’s interesting! Remember that the Chair will not be able to identify all the members that he or she wants to call, so don’t take offence if the Chair doesn’t know what you look like! </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Chair 1 I can’t see him, in that case I call Thomas Aquinas.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">TA: Mr Chairman, I would like to be able to say ….</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">All Name?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: Now that is not a good start, he has wasted time and lost momentum by simply not giving his name, let’s see if it gets better …</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">TA: … oh… Thomas Aquinas…Diocese of Europe<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:25"></ins></span>…… what is it now (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">finally gets number from pass 1274</i>)…; Mr Chairman, what I wanted to say has been said by the previous speaker but I am very grateful to you Mr Chairman for the opportunity to speak on this matter which I have wanted to speak about in several debates but have not been called, although I am no expert by any means (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">microphone obscured – crackles)<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: Sorry to say this, but this is developing into an example of what not to do: don’t waste your valuable time in a long preamble, get to the point quickly and if a previous speaker has raised a point that you wanted to make, try to use your time productively by saying something new. If you haven’t got anything to say that hasn’t been said before, don’t stand! What’s worse, don’t obscure the microphone as this will reduce your oratory to a blast of crackles!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Chair 1 I see no one else standing, so I will ask a representative of the Commission to respond to the debate. She has up to five minutes.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: This is what happens at the end of a debate on the motion<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:27"></ins></span><br />
<span class="msoIns">: </span><span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:28"></ins></span>the mover will be asked to respond to the debate before a vote is taken. While she is doing that, I should mention what to do if you are not speaking. First of all, don’t feel that you have somehow wasted your time if you have not spoken. It’s just as important to listen carefully to the debate so that you can make an informed decision at the end and also, not to be overlooked, so that you are in a position to make a full and accurate report once you return to the diocese. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">MK: … this has been an interesting debate and I would urge Synod to support the motion that this Synod do take note of this report.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Chair 1 The motion is now before Synod, those in favour please show.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Members hands go up</span></span></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Narrator: This is a vote by a show of hands, the commonest way for the Synod to decide on any issue. If a show of hands is too close to decide or the Chair decides that the numbers voting by a show of hands should be recorded, then he or she can order a division. When this happens, you will need to get out your voting card, slot it into your voting handset and follow the instructions the Registrar gives you. But in this case …</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;">Chair 1 … and those against, that is clearly carried, and that concludes this item of business.</div><div class="MsoBodyText"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText">a new platform party come on (with a new Chair).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 72.0pt; text-indent: -72.0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: There will now be a platform alteration, as they say at Clapham Junction, before the next item. This is the normal practice. It gives me some time to mention a few more items of good manners and etiquette: if you leave the chamber during a sitting to spend a penny or get a coffee, please do not leave or come back to your seat whilst someone is speaking, rather wait for the interval between speakers. Also please do not speak to your next door neighbour in a loud voice whilst someone else is addressing the Synod and remember that the use of mobile phones or any form of camera while the Synod is in session is a strict no no! Ah, they are now sitting comfortably and are ready to resume business. </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2: Good afternoon Synod. We now come to item [3] - a Private members motion from Julian of Norwich. For this you’ll need the background paper GS<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:29"></ins></span>1773A, the background note from the Secretary General, GS 1773B, and this afternoon’s order paper. </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: We now have an example of a debate where there are a large number of members who wish to speak and where there are a number of amendments to the main motion to be taken. The Order Paper is essential reading in these cases as it lists amendments in the order they will be taken and explains how each will impact on the main motion (for example, an amendment might say “After paragraph (b) insert something” or “in paragraph (d) after the word “it” insert the words didum, didum”). The Order Paper will also explain in what circumstances each amendment will be taken (for example, two amendments could be alternatives, one to be taken “if item 18 is carried” and another be taken “if item 18 is not carried”) and so on. Each amendment is given a separate number on the order paper, so you can tell by looking at the electronic display which exact item of business is currently being considered.<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:nicholas.hills" datetime="2010-11-05T15:43"></ins></span>Oh, now, we mustn’t miss this bit, let’s hear how this Chair is planning to handle this debate …</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2 I propose that we first have a general debate on the main motion<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:56"></ins></span><br />
<span class="msoIns">,</span> after which I shall call the movers of all the amendments to speak to<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:56"></ins></span><br />
<span class="msoIns">,</span> and move<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:56">,</ins></span> their amendments in turn. As I have a large number of Requests to Speak for this debate, after the mover of the motion has spoken for ten minutes I shall be imposing a three minute speech limit from the outset. About half way through our allotted time, I shall ask for each of the amendments to be moved and for each to be voted on; we shall then resume the debate on the substantive motion as amended or not as the case may be. I hope that is clear …</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator …so now we know the master plan. I suspect that the Chair will be relying on the use of the motion for the closure (or just ‘the closure’, as we usually shorthand it) at various stages during the afternoon to bring the debate safely home in time. The closure requires the permission of the Chair and the ‘general consent’ of the Synod and is used sensitively to achieve a managed debate. The effect of the closure is to remove the right of those members who have not spoken on the motion or amendment to do so. Where it is carried on a debate - whether on the main motion or on an amendment <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:32"></ins></span><br />
<span class="msoIns">- </span>it therefore brings the debate on that item effectively to an end. </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2: So without more ado I call on Julian of Norwich to move the motion standing in her name, ‘That this Synod call on all parishes to ensure that only the best quality filter coffee is served after church services<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:33"></ins></span><br />
<span class="msoIns">’</span>.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">JN: Julian, Norwich, 450. Mr Chairman, I bring this motion before Synod this morning on behalf of all the fine burghers of Norwich, who are infuriated by being served inferior coffee after church. I am delighted that well over 100 people in this Synod felt similarly strongly that this is a crucial issue facing today’s church…</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: Hmm! Yes, well. Any member of Synod can propose a Private Member’s Motion, and they are available in the Hoare Memorial Hall for you to read. You sign on the sheet if you’d like to support one or more of them being debated, and they are only put on the agenda, at a subsequent group of sessions, if they attract 100 or more signatures. If more than one gets past the 100 signature threshold, they are debated in order of popularity. Goodness knows why so many of you signed this one. My church has super coffee already.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"> JN … I’m sure you, like me, feel very strongly indeed that only the best is good enough for God, and that therefore only the best coffee is good enough for God’s people. Ladies and gentlemen, this is a mission imperative. We all know people who’ve gone to church once, only to come back and say the coffee was instant, the biscuits were non-existent, and the squash so watered down as to be homeopathic. There are many more arguments that I could make, and I’m sure we will have an excellent debate this afternoon. I beg to move the motion standing in my name.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2: Thank you. This matter is now open for debate. </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">people stand to speak)….</i> Catherine Parr, followed by Hieronymous Bosch.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: The chair will often call two people at a time like this. The first named speaks first, while the second takes the time to get to the microphone and then awaits their turn.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">CP: Catherine Parr, London, 1548. Mr<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:nicholas.hills" datetime="2010-11-05T15:45"></ins></span>Chair, I am sure that most people here will agree with the spirit of this motion, but I feel that I must stand to make the point that the coffee should certainly be fair trade. I’m surprised and a little disappointed that Julian didn’t address this point herself. Having been involved with fair trade for many years now, I am aware of the huge difference it can make to people’s lives, and of course the coffee is always good quality. </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(she sits and people clap and stand)<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: Two things there that are worth drawing your attention to. First, speak from your own experience. Synod always appreciates hearing from people with experience of the subject under consideration. Secondly, don’t just read out a prepared speech, but try if you can to respond to what the speakers immediately before you have just said. This makes a debate much more interesting to listen to, and works much better in getting your point across.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2: Thank you. Hieronymous Bosch, after which I shall call on Richard Hooker to speak to and move his amendment.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">HB Hieronymous Bosch, Oxford, 666. Mr Chair, I am appalled by this motion and by what it says about this synod that we are even bothering to debate such trivialities when people are dying all over the world. This is the sort of thing that brings the Church of England into disrepute! The bible doesn’t even mention coffee! And another thing, what if I prefer tea! I don’t know, this is a silly piece of snobbery. I can’t even remember what I was going to say I’m so cross! I don’t know. Next Julian will be suggesting we open Starbucks franchises in our historic churches. Which is ridiculous when we have such a wonderful stock of medieval churches, some of the finest architecture in the world. Where was I? (shuffles notes)</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: (coughs) Ahem. Another example of what not to do, I’m afraid. Speak from your own experience, and make sure you know what you want to say. Don’t get cross! And keep your speech on the matter in hand, don’t use the fact that you are on your feet to have another go at your particular hobby horse.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2: I’m going to have to stop you there Mr. Bosch, you are out of time.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">HB: Pah! Ridiculous! (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sits down)<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: And don’t ignore the traffic light system! The amber light is on for a minute before the red light shows so he should have known he was coming to the end of his time.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2: Richard Hooker, to speak to and move his amendment.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">RH: Hooker, London, 1600. My amendment is very simple. Whilst I support most of what Julian said, I think her analysis is a little too black and white, if you’ll pardon the pun! Ahem. As the last speaker pointed out, many people prefer tea to coffee. There are also those churches where there are significant numbers of children to think about, where the provision of squash and biscuits is of equal importance. So my amendment seeks to build on the motion before us, simply adding the words ‘recognising that the provision of tea, squash and/or biscuits is a matter for local variation and custom’. I trust this will be seen in the friendly spirit in which it is intended.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: We are now debating the amendment, not the main motion, and you’ll see that the number on the electronic display has changed from 210, the main motion, to 211, the number on the order paper for this first amendment.<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:nicholas.hills" datetime="2010-11-05T15:48"></ins></span>Any debate now should be on this particular amendment, not the main motion, until a vote has been taken and we're back to the debate on the main motion.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2: I call on Julian of Norwich to respond.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">JN: I am grateful to Mr. Hooker for this amendment, and I am happy to accept it.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Member 1: Point of order Mr Chairman. Would you accept a motion for closure on item 211?</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: Ah, I told you we’d be seeing some of these! You will soon start to spot the members who assist the Chair by moving motions for closure and how the Chair’s mind might be working when he or she drops subtle hints like …</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2 Thank you, I would like to hear just one more speaker, after which I would be grateful for a motion for closure</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: So after that speech is finished, the closure is likely to be put again and with the consent of the Chair and the Synod, it will bring to an end the debate on that particular amendment. The Synod will then move on to the next amendment and so on. See how it works? A few more amendments have to be taken but that’s probably as exciting as this debate is going to get and we are coming up shortly to some timed business, that is what we call items on the Agenda that are preceded by words like “not later than 3.15 p.m.”. This guarantees a minimum period of time for a debate. Well, I have been going on for so long without a closure that the Synod has reached the end of the debate …</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2 We now come to vote on the main motion as amended …</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: The main, or substantive motion, was “That this Synod urges all parishes to serve only the best quality filter coffee after church” and only one amendment was carried to insert the words “‘recognising that the provision of tea, squash and/or biscuits is a matter for local variation and custom’” at the end of the motion. So having voted separately on all the amendments, the Synod is now voting on the final motion as amended…</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2 …which reads “That this Synod urges all parishes to serve only the best quality filter coffee after church, recognising that the provision of tea, squash and/or biscuits is a matter for local variation and custom’ But what’s this…</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">HB: Point of Order. Bosch, Oxford, 666. Please could we have a division by Houses.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(The platform party consult)<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: This is a method of voting that we have not encountered as yet. A division is when you, the members, vote using the electronic voting system rather than by a show of hands. A division of the whole synod is one in which the votes are formally counted across the Synod as a whole, and the motion is carried if more than one half of the votes overall are cast in favour, whereas in a division by houses they are counted separately in the three houses (bishops, clergy and laity) and the motion is only carried if more than half of the votes <u>in each of the three houses</u> are cast in favour. Sometimes a division will be announced by the Chair without a prior request from a member and at other times it may come as a result of such a request, as we seem to have here, and in such cases as the Chair is about to say …</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2 … Under Standing Orders I have to order a division by Houses if 25 members stand to request one, so are there 25 members standing?</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">(25 members stand up)<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2 There are twenty five members standing, so we will have a division by Houses, I will ask the registrar to give us our instructions.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Registrar I am now about to ring the division bell to warn members that a division is to take place. Two minutes after it ceases the division will begin.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Division bell rings<o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: If you hear this noise, wherever you are, what ever you are doing, drop it and go immediately to the chamber. It’s like running for the Tube. </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: Remember that to be able to vote in an electronic division you will need an electronic voting handset and your voting card. The Chair is now reading out the words of the motion after which he then says…</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2: This is a division by houses. “This is a division by Houses. Those in favour should press ‘1’; those against should press ‘2’; those who wish to record an abstention should press ‘3’.”</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent" style="text-indent: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Registrar: The voting period is now open and will end in one minute.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: Before I vote, I can tell you that once the registrar has received the votes, the Chair will announce the voting figures. In a division by Houses a motion is only carried if carried in all three Houses. If the electronic voting system were ever to break down for some reason- it happened last February- we’d go back to the old fashioned way of doing things, and vote by going through the various doors you see around the Chamber, with bodies going through being counted at each door. So let’s assume that the voting has taken place and the result has been announced.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2 That concludes this item of business, thank you Synod. </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: When one thing finishes we don’t always have a complete change of platform party, sometimes we just move straight on to the next item. Remember the number in the agenda for each item of business will be displayed, so you can easily check what we’re doing at any particular time by looking at the electronic display.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2: We now come to the last item of business for today, Questions. For this you will need the Questions Notice Paper. Questions one to twenty are to the Chairman of the House of Bishops, question one from []…</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: There’s always a Question time period at each session, normally on the first day. The Agenda<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:william.fittall" datetime="2010-11-05T16:53"></ins></span>will<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:william.fittall" datetime="2010-11-05T16:53"></ins></span>give you a deadline for the submission of questions before the group of sessions begins and each member can ask up to two questions. These will be printed in the Questions Notice Paper and answered at Question Time. The purpose of Question Time is to obtain information and to monitor progress. An original question and any supplementary must not contain any argument or <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:Godfather" datetime="2010-11-07T17:51"></ins></span><br />
<span class="msoIns">‘</span>imputation’ (that is, any criticism of anyone) or ask for any expression of opinion or for the solution of any hypothetical problem. Fair enough! The other important point to remember is that your question must be directed at the work of a Synodical body. For example you cannot ask the Archbishop of Canterbury what is his favourite colour, but you can ask him as Chairman of the House of Bishops, “Has the House considered issuing guidelines to bishops on how to choose their favourite colour?” </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair Questions one to twenty are to the Chairman of the House of Bishops, question one from []…</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">ABC : The House has considered this report on numerous occasions.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: The questions aren’t read out, so we only get to hear the answer and you’ll need to be following the questions printed on the order paper to work out what is being referred to. Some questions will be skipped altogether in the session, because they have asked for a written answer. A written answer is much more helpful when information such as statistics are being asked for, and the written answers are displayed in the Hoare Memorial Hall after Question Time has finished, for you to peruse at your leisure.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Member 2 Supplementary.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair Supplementary.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: Any member can ask a supplementary question, but priority is given to the original questioner, and no more than two supplementaries to any question will be taken unless the Chair decides otherwise.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Member 2 Anne Boleyn, London, 27: Has the House considered the related report that has just been published?</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">ABC: It has not.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: Well, they are moving towards the end of question time, so back to the Chair, wait a minute, what’s this, I suspect that the Chair may, yes, I thought so, … </div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2 … we are making good progress but I would like to suggest an extension of the sitting so we can take the remaining questions on the Notice Paper. Under Standing Order 14(e) I may, with the general consent of the Synod, extend this sitting by not more than fifteen minutes …</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: We have another procedural device here, which can be used at the end of a sitting to ensure that business is given enough time to be properly completed.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2 … I proposed an extension of the sitting of ten minutes. Does that have the consent of Synod?</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Members Aye.</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: A few more answers given and we are now moving towards the end of the sitting and, right on cue, here it comes…</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Chair 2 That concludes today’s business and I call upon the Archbishop to dismiss us… .</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent">Narrator: So that’s it! Fun isn’t it? You may find the workings of the General Synod rather formal at first, but don’t be put off by the formalities, they are only there to enable thorough and ordered debate. I would urge you <span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:nicholas.hills" datetime="2010-11-05T15:56"></ins></span><br />
<span class="msoIns">to </span>attend as many of the debates as you can, get to know as many of your fellow members as you can and read, listen, speak and vote carefully and prayerfully. And remember the mentors at this group of sessions who are here to help you<span class="msoIns"><ins cite="mailto:nicholas.hills" datetime="2010-11-05T15:56"></ins></span>. I’m sure that you will all play your part, now I’m off to the tearoom!</div><div class="MsoBodyTextIndent"><br />
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</div>Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-828058312907038862010-11-23T19:10:00.001+00:002010-11-24T15:16:27.951+00:00Is Synod Fit For Purpose?The <a href="http://churchmousepublishing.blogspot.com/">Church Mouse</a> invited me to write a guest post on his famous blog, and you can find it here: <a href="http://j.mp/ChMouse">http://j.mp/ChMouse</a>.<br />
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Mouse starts:<br />
<b>Synod reform: Guest Post from Synod Member Alastair Cutting</b><br />
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<i>There are some who feel, and I am amongst them, that doing church business in this way may not be the best. The General Synod has served well since its introduction in the 1970s, but is it fit for purpose now?</i><br />
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On the inauguration of the new Synod, Mouse is delighted to kick off a conversation about how General Synod could be reformed with a guest post from General Synod number 96, <a href="http://acutting.co.uk/">Alastair Cutting</a>.<br />
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Read more <a href="http://j.mp/ChMouse">here</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://acutting.co.uk/">Alastair Cutting</a> 96 ChichesterAlastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-47910402385415722852010-11-23T13:21:00.001+00:002010-11-23T13:23:01.905+00:00All Aboard For The New Quinquennium!So - here we are again. I'm writing this in my room at the monastery where I have stayed for London Synods for the last 5 years. It's 8.00am, and shortly I will head off to join the security queues to get into Westminster Abbey for the inaugural service of the 8th General Synod of the Church of England. Five years ago I was nervous and excited, and a bit daunted at the prospect of what I had found myself part of. Five years on, it's the same feelings all over again - but not entirely for the same reasons. The nerves are still there, but no longer because I don't know what to expect - instead it's because now I do know what might well be round the corner, and some of the choices that we are going to have to make are nerve-racking indeed. I'm excited, too - but again not so much because I don't know what's coming. Instead it's because I know that I will be meeting old friends once again and making new ones - and also, of course, because I find the process and business of the way organisations like Synod work endlessly fascinating.<br />
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But I'm also still daunted. Despite the fact that Synod seems (and, lets face it, often is) not particularly relevant to everyday life in the C. of E., there are times when what is said and done here can have far-reaching effects. There have been times over the last five years when I have been acutely aware that particular debates and decisions had the potential to do an enormous amount of damage to the way we relate to each other - both on a personal and an institutional level. It's the same again this time round. No doubt I will end up having more to say about Wednesday's big matter (the Covenant, that is) in places where I can be a little less objective than I feel I ought to be here - but it's enough to say for now that despite the lack of wider focus on it, Wednesday's debate is a very big deal.<br />
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So. The ship is about to sail. We are being launched in a couple of hours time by our Supreme Governor on another five year mission. I wonder where we will get to this time around...<br />
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Justin<br />
Chichester 289Justin Bretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13337993764081653625noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-13597906810520934072010-11-22T16:10:00.000+00:002010-11-22T16:10:11.218+00:00New QuinquenniumMembers old and new of General Synod have been gathering for the start of this new session. Monday has mainly included background and preliminary work for new members, including a light-hearted practise debate and voting procedures. I have asked about the possibility of sharing the 'script', as it helps people understand the debating processes, and may be of use members of diocesan synods also.<br />
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Tomorrow starts with the Inauguration Service in Westminster Abbey at 10:40am, followed by the Queen's speech (and briefly one each by the two Archbishops) before lunch. The afternoon kicks of with the Presidential Address from Archbishop Rowan, and then a debate on the Big Society. Outline agenda is available <a href="http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/outlineagenda.pdf">here</a>; and all other papers and agenda <a href="http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/">here</a>.<br />
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New members of General Synod are reminded they may join and contribute to this blog by emailing synod @ mac.com with a request to do so.<br />
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<a href="http://acutting.co.uk/">Alastair Cutting</a> 96 ChichesterAlastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com1Westminster, London SW1P 3AZ, UK51.4979368 -0.129351151.494597299999995 -0.1366466 51.5012763 -0.1220556tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-71281662776027308812010-10-18T14:01:00.000+00:002010-10-18T14:01:15.839+00:00Coping with (electoral) rejectionSo, that's great for all those who were elected - what about those who weren't?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thesunblog.com/sports/archives/simon_cowell_idol-v_226727m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://www.thesunblog.com/sports/archives/simon_cowell_idol-v_226727m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
There were hundreds of candidates across the country who stood in the General Synod elections who were not elected. In some places - notably London, there were up to 5 people standing for each place. That's a large attrition rate, often with painful personal implications.<br />
<br />
So, if you stood, but did not get in, I just wanted to say thank you.<br />
<br />
For what it's worth, I have been there before (I stood in 2000 and wasn't elected), and so I know something of what it feels like to make yourself vulnerable by offering to stand, creating the election address, and then awaiting the results of the electorate...<br />
<br />
Do not be too downhearted! Don't start thinking that is the only indication of people's confidence in you. It is difficult to see (even from the detailed results) the full extent of people's support for you - only three of those I voted for in my top 6 candidates were elected in our clergy election: so be assured that others have faith even in candidates who do not get elected.<br />
<br />
I encourage you to think about continuing to support the church, and perhaps standing again in future. See what you can learn from those who did get elected this time; from their election addresses, and how they have become known across the diocese.<br />
<br />
And if there are things that you think could be done a little differently next time elections are held in your diocese, please do suggest them - for example some dioceses had candidates election addresses, and even sometimes <a href="http://www.bristol.anglican.org/churches/gensynelections2010/laity.html">video of candidates online</a>; or held real or <a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/">'virtual' hustings</a>. (Bishop Alan in particular was asking for a <a href="http://bishopalan.blogspot.com/search/label/General%20Synod%20Election">more enlightened way of trying to do our elections</a>. And that was before the results came out. Including his not getting elected this time either.)<br />
<br />
So thanks again for your support by standing; please continue your interest and involvement in your parish, deanery and diocese. And please support those who <b>were</b> elected. Come and sit in on some of the General Synod's coming sessions: in London in Nov & February, and in York in July. All sessions are always open to non-synod members too.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.acutting.org/">Alastair Cutting</a> (Chichester Diocese)Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-25605046602797952012010-10-15T09:45:00.004+00:002010-10-15T10:08:24.703+00:00The New General SynodSo, all across the country, excited new members of General Synod have been elected all this week! (Well, I guess the fact that you are reading this blog makes you & me the sort of people that probably consider synod elections exciting...) The <a href="http://www.generalsynodelections2010.org/results.pdf">official list is here</a>; Peter Owen's helpful <a href="http://peterowen.org.uk/articles/gsmembers.html">unofficial one is here</a>.<br />
<br />
So what happens next? Well, each diocese will be returning to Church House Westminster the official results from the elections.<br />
<br />
New members will need the <a href="http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/forthcomingdates/">dates of General Synod meetings</a> - but just so you have the immediate ones: <br />
<br />
22 - 24 November for the Inauguration of new Synod in London, starting with a service in Westminster Abbey in the presence of the Supreme Governor, the Queen, who will then address the new synod back in the chamber at Church House immediately afterwards.<br />
<br />
<br />
Synod then also meets in London again from the 7-11 of February; and in York 8-12 July, based in the university in York.<br />
<br />
One of the other things new blog-savvy members of synod will <i>of course</i> want to do is to have the facility to <b>contribute to this Synod Blog</b>. Any member sending an email to <a href="mailto:synod@mac.com">synod@mac.com</a> with 'Add to Synod blog' in the subject line will be included as a blog author.<br />
<br />
And if you didn't get elected to synod, sorry - but at least you can celebrate with all the time you have saved. <a href="http://www.cartoonchurch.com/blog/2010/10/15/general-synod-announcement/#comments">Dave Walker has a Press Release</a> that you may also be able to use:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.weblogcartoons.com/cb/press-release-synod.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.weblogcartoons.com/cb/press-release-synod.gif" width="253" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.acutting.co.uk/">Alastair Cutting</a> (Chichester Diocese)Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-30445530564879948142010-10-10T20:14:00.001+00:002010-10-10T21:48:59.078+00:00General Synod results are (coming) inSo, the polling stations for General Synod are closed (actually, it was a postal vote, but Friday 8 October was the last day for votes to arrive).<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://uk.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100506&t=2&i=103196625&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-05-06T235839Z_01_BTRE6451QC700_RTROPTP_0_BRITAIN-ELECTION" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="198" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_DaeX4ywPFpc/TLISVk8beKI/AAAAAAAAARc/epM6GUkGUZI/s320/ReutersVoteCount.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Election counting - <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/resources/r/?m=02&d=20100506&t=2&i=103196625&w=460&fh=&fw=&ll=&pl=&r=2010-05-06T235839Z_01_BTRE6451QC700_RTROPTP_0_BRITAIN-ELECTION">credit link Reuters</a></td></tr></tbody></table>Counting takes place this week; different diocese are holding counts on different days - Liverpool on Monday 11 October I gather, Chichester on Thursday 14.<br /><br />In fact, some results are in already, the Channel Islands for example, and some in Chester. The definitive independent resource for membership lists etc comes from <a href="http://peterowen.org.uk/">Peter Owen</a>'s page of <a href="http://peterowen.org.uk/articles/gsmembers.html">Synod members</a>. Expect to see the empty boxes on his grid populated with new members over coming days. (To help Peter keep his list up-to-date, please <a href="mailto:gs2010@peterowen.org.uk">email him results here</a>.) Peter also feeds a lot of synod data into the <a href="http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/">Thinking Anglican's</a> <a href="http://www.thinkinganglicans.org.uk/archives/cat_general_synod.html">posts related to General Synod</a>.<br /><br />What will be hard to discern at this stage, I suspect, is how the new synod will be likely to vote on key upcoming votes - like the annual parochial fees?? Only kidding...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.acutting.co.uk/">Alastair Cutting</a>Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-87511246103159504322010-09-13T11:33:00.030+00:002010-09-26T11:34:26.402+00:00Online Election General Synod Addresses/Statements<u><b>UPDATED WITH LINKS:</b></u><br />
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A number of folks have put their Election Addresses/Statements/Manifestos online. This page lists those that we have been informed of.<br />
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** If you are voting, please also see our <a href="http://gensyn.blogspot.com/2010/09/voting-for-general-synod-or-general.html">post about voting</a> too: <a href="http://gensyn.blogspot.com/2010/09/voting-for-general-synod-or-general.html">Voting for General Synod, or General Custard</a>.**<br />
<br />
We will add any links to addresses online mailed to synod @ mac.com, or added in the comments below, for others to be able to access them quickly.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div>The prize for online- efficiency goes to the Diocese of Bath & Wells and Gloucester though, for not only having all their <a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=506">B&W Candidates papers</a> and <a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/">Gloucester papers</a> on the diocesan website, but B&W are also holding an Online Hustings, up until 6 October.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
<br />
Names are in alphabetical order of surname, within each house & diocese (where known):<br />
Non-Diocesan candidates, including Suffragan Bishops, towards the bottom:<br />
<a href="http://gensyn.blogspot.com/2010/09/online-election-general-synod.html">More...</a><br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://rugbyrector.blogspot.com/2010/09/general-synod-election-address.html"></a></div><div><a href="http://chelliahlaity.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-election-address.html"></a>B&W Diocese Clergy</div><div><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=515">James Dudley-Smith</a></div><div><div><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=514">Ian Lewis</a></div><div><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=511">Stephen Lynas</a></div><div><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=509">Edward Mason</a></div><div><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=513">Andy Piggott</a></div><div><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=510">Colin Randall</a></div><div><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=512">Sue Rose</a></div><div>B&W Diocese Laity</div><div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=521">Edward Armitstead</a></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=521"></a><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=525">Christina Baron</a></div></div></div><div><div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=517">Tim Hind</a></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=520">Jenny Humphreys</a></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=523">Chris Jenkins</a></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=518">Jane Laurence</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=519">Iain Maitland</a></div></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=516">Ken Pearson</a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=522">Cherida Stobart</a></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=524">Jane Tibbs</a></div></div></div><div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=527">Fay Wilson-Rudd</a></div></div><div></div><br />
Bradford Diocese<br />
<a href="http://www.bradford.anglican.org/news/story.php?PageID=100916591cb">Election addresses</a><br />
<br />
Bristol Diocese<br />
has <a href="http://www.bristol.anglican.org/churches/gensynelections2010/index.html">extensive coverage including videos</a><br />
<br />
Chelmsford Diocese Clergy<br />
<a href="http://peterowen.org.uk/phyllis/address2010.html">Phyllis Owen</a><br />
<br />
Chichester Diocese Clergy<br />
<a href="http://www.acutting.co.uk/">Alastair Cutting</a><br />
Chichester Diocese Laity<br />
<a href="http://dodgyliberal.blogspot.com/2010/09/general-synod-election-address.html">Justin Brett</a><br />
<br />
Coventry Diocese Clergy<br />
<a href="http://rugbyrector.blogspot.com/2010/09/general-synod-election-address.html">Mark Beach</a></div><div><br />
Gloucester Diocese Clergy<br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Geoffrey-Burn.pdf">Geoffrey Burn</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Sandra-Millar.pdf">Sandra Millar</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Richard-Mitchell.pdf">Richard Mitchell</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Mike-Parsons.pdf">Mike Parsons</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Rachel-Rosborough.pdf">Rachel Rosborough</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Celia-Thomson.pdf">Celia Thomson</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/John-Witcombe.pdf">John Witcombe</a><br />
<div>Gloucester Diocese Laity<br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/William-Belcher.pdf">William Belcher</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Arthur-Burgess.pdf">Arthur Burgess</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Steve_Grindrod.pdf">Steve_Grindrod</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Lynda-Hodges.pdf">Lynda Hodges</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Ruth-Holman.pdf">Ruth Holman</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Serena-Lancaster-Gen-Synod-Manifesto-2010.pdf">Serena Lancaster</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Carol-Lee.pdf">Carol Lee</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Peter-Liver.pdf">Peter Liver</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Margaret-Sheather.pdf">Margaret Sheather</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Graham-Smith.pdf">Graham Smith</a><br />
<a href="http://gloucester.anglican.org/electionblog/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/Jenny-Tann.pdf" sty="">Jenny Tann</a></div></div></div><br />
</div><div>Leicester Diocese Clergy</div><div><div><a href="https://files.me.com/petehobson/y6v4re">Pete Hobson</a></div></div><div><br />
<br />
<a href="http://lincoln.anglican.org/page.php?i_@BH_298">Lincoln Diocese links</a><br />
Address links<br />
<br />
</div><div>Liverpool Diocese Laity</div><div><a href="http://peterowen.org.uk/election2010/address2010.html">Peter Owen</a></div><div><br />
London Diocese Clergy<br />
<a href="http://jane-morris-candidate-for-gs.weebly.com/">Jane Morris</a><br />
London Diocese Laity<br />
<a href="http://rosalind-odowd.wikidot.com/general-synod-2010-election-address">Rosalind O'Dowd</a><br />
<br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.bathandwells.org.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=about.content&cmid=512"></a>Manchester Diocese Clergy<br />
<a href="http://manchestercleric.blogspot.com/2010/09/im-standing-for-general-synod.html">Andy Salmon</a><br />
Manchester Diocese Laity<br />
<a href="http://jetownsend.wordpress.com/2010/09/13/synod-elections-2010/">James Townsend</a><br />
<br />
Oxford Diocese Clergy<br />
<a href="http://bishopalan.blogspot.com/2010/09/general-synod-karma-chameleons.html">Rosie Harper</a> (scroll down in post)<br />
<br />
Ripon & Leeds Clergy<br />
<a href="http://canonianblack.blogspot.com/2010/09/general-synod-election-address.html">Ian Black</a><br />
<br />
</div><div><div>Southwark Diocese Clergy<br />
<a href="http://dkajumba.web.officelive.com/default.aspx">Danny Kajumba</a><br />
<br />
Southwark Diocese Laity<br />
<a href="http://chelliahlaity.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-election-address.html">Jane Chelliah-Manning</a><br />
<a href="http://db.tt/IKekcsi">Thomas McLean</a><br />
<br />
Winchester Diocese Laity<br />
<a href="http://danbarnesdavies.blogspot.com/2010/09/general-synod-election-address.html">Dan Barnes-Davies</a><br />
<br />
York Diocese Clergy<br />
<a href="http://jeremyfletcher.wordpress.com/2010/09/19/standing-for-general-synod/">Jeremy Fletcher</a><br />
<br />
</div>Southern Suffragan Bishops<br />
<a href="http://bishopofwillesden.blogspot.com/">+Pete Broadbent</a><br />
<a href="http://bishopalan.blogspot.com/2010/09/general-synod-election-address.html">+Alan Wilson</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://acutting.co.uk/">Alastair</a></div>Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-63593307200834575312010-09-10T14:06:00.000+00:002010-09-10T14:06:32.102+00:00Voting for General Synod, or General Custard<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">So, the date for confirmation of <a href="http://www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/">General Synod</a> candidates is now passed, and all over England you can hear the clicking of computer keyboards and the scratching of quill-pens as candidates fine-tune their election addresses, or statements. These go to all members of Deanery Synods, the electorate for most constituencies.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">Voting is by the <b><a href="http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/article.php?id=48">Single Transferable Voting</a></b> system; General Synod being one of the few national organisations using it for their elections. So what is <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_transferable_vote">STV</a></b>, and how does it work? - Well the subtleties of it are way beyond my explanations; but in short, it's not just a 'put a cross in a box'. The principle is that it preserves the voters' wishes for subsequent candidates, if your first choice candidate is not elected at the first count. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/45/147972607_ab1fc610cd_d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/45/147972607_ab1fc610cd_d.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">So if you have a list of 15 candidates on the ballot voting form, you don't just vote for your favourite 1. For a start, there may be 6 places to be filled (<a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/your_mileage_may_vary#Phrase">your milage may vary</a>). </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b>So, Yellow Custard, or Chocolate Custard? </b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">If there are several Chocolate Custard fans standing for Synod, and you wish to support them, rather than the Yellow Custard fans, then for a start you must vote for them - all of them. But if there are only 5 ChocCustards, and 6 places available, then what? Well, YellowCustards may not be your favourites - but they may, in your opinion be better on Synod than the Marmite fans. So there could be advantages in making sure in general that all custard fans are ranked higher on your voting slip than the Marmiters.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">Someone else has tried to summarise the principles as set out below. Me? I'm voting for the Marmiters.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"></div><ul><li><b>If you have a vote</b>, we would encourage you to use your vote fully for these candidates if you feel you can. </li>
<li>Numbering the candidates consecutively in your order of preference is the best way of ensuring that those you want to get elected do get elected. </li>
<li><b>It makes a big difference to go on voting down the preferences with a second and third and fourth choice and so on.</b> </li>
<li>In the past some candidates from (<i>insert 'party' of your choice...</i>) have failed to get elected because voters only gave a first vote, whereas some subsequent votes (second and third choices etc) would have helped some candidates get over the finishing line. </li>
<li>The single transferable vote system which is used works in such a way that the later preferences you give in no way detract from those candidates to whom you have given earlier preferences.</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;"><o:p></o:p></div><div>Ballot papers for voting will be coming out in a week or so. Happy voting, voters!</div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://acutting.co.uk/">Alastair Cutting</a></div>Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21128914.post-45117470967956096202010-08-23T20:56:00.001+00:002010-08-23T20:58:55.042+00:00Nothing New...... under the sun. (Eccles 1:9)<br />
<br />
Whilst hunting around for synod-relayed material, I came across a link to the site : newsynod.org.uk.<br />
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It appeared to have been set up in preparation for the 2000-2005 synod elections (hence nothing new under the sun, here).<br />
<br />
Sadly, the site is no longer active - or at least I didn't think so. It now appears to link to a fancy dress outfitters. Wondering what that is trying to say...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://acutting.co.uk/files/imgs/Fancy-20100823-215221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://acutting.co.uk/files/imgs/Fancy-20100823-215221.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="http://acutting.co.uk/">Alastair Cutting</a>Alastair Cuttinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02821085687291995685noreply@blogger.com0