Debates
at General Synod can be triggered in a variety of ways. One of
these is for a member of the Synod to table a 'Private Member's
Motion' (PMM). In order to ascertain the degree of interest in each
motion, the Synod's Business Committee arranges for the text of a
motion to be available, during each group of sessions, together
with a list that is open for 'signature' by other members of the
Synod. By putting their name to particular motions, members are
signalling that they think it should be debated.
The list closes at the end of each group of sessions. When
putting together the agenda for the next meeting of Synod, the
Business Committee has regard to the number of signatures each
motion has received in deciding which should be debated (generally
there is only space for one or two PMMs to be debated in each group
of sessions). While the motion with the most signatures is often
the one selected there can be reasons for selecting another that
has also attracted considerable support (it might, for example, be
more time critical).
Once a motion has been open for signature for three groups of
session, it ceases to be eligible for debate if it has not
attracted 100 signatures.
Private Members' Motions
(List correct as of 1 March
2012)
MANIFESTATION OF
FAITH IN PUBLIC LIFE
PALESTINE AND
ISRAEL
COMMITTEE FOR MINISTRY
AMONGST THE DEAF AND DISABLED PEOPLE
PAROCHIAL
CHURCH COUNCILS (POWERS) MEASURE 1956
LIVING WAGE
PUBLIC DOCTRINE OF
CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE
REGISTRATION OF CIVIL
PARTNERSHIPS
FORMATION FOR
MINISTRY AND HIGHER EDUCATION VALIDATION
REVIEW OF SO
115
MANIFESTATION OF
FAITH IN PUBLIC LIFE
The Revd Stephen Trott (Peterborough) to
move:
'That this Synod express its conviction that it is the
calling of Christians to order and govern our lives in accordance
with the teaching of Holy Scripture, and to manifest our faith in
public life as well as in private, giving expression to our beliefs
in the written and spoken word, and in practical acts of service to
the local community and to the nation.'
117 signatures as at July
2011
February 2011
Note: Fr Trott's motion was scheduled as
contingency business for the February 2012 group of sessions and
therefore not made available for signature at that group of
sessions. Under SO 5(d), in considering the order of business for a
group of sessions the Business Committee must give special
consideration to items of business (including contingency business)
not considered at the last preceding group of sessions.
PALESTINE AND
ISRAEL
Dr John Dinnen (Hereford) to move:
'That this Synod affirm its support for:
(a) The vital work of the World Council of Churches Ecumenical
Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI),
encouraging parishioners to volunteer for the programme and asking
churches and synods to make use of the experience of returning
participants;
(b) Mission and other aid agencies working amongst
Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank and elsewhere in the
region;
(c) Israelis and Palestinians in all organisations working for
justice and peace in the area, such as the Parents Circle-Family
Forum; and
(d) Palestinian Christians and organisations that work to ensure
their continuing presence in the Holy Land.
155
signatures July
2011
COMMITTEE FOR MINISTRY
OF AND AMONG DEAF AND DISABLED PEOPLE
The Ven. Cherry Vann, Archdeacon of
Rochdale (Manchester) to move:
'That this Synod, mindful of the Gospel imperative to include
all people in the one Body of Christ, and particularly those who
are marginalised,
(a) affirm the valued place of deaf and disabled Christians,
(b) welcome the unique gifts, insights and contributions that
deaf and disabled people bring to the Church, and
(c) in the light of the budget cut for CMDDP (the Archbishops'
Council's Committee for Ministry Amongst Deaf and Disabled People)
from £90K to £10K, call on the Archbishops' Council, in preparing
its next budget, to increase that provision to £40K, so that the
work to encourage and strengthen the participation of Deaf people
and people with disabilities in the life and witness of the Church
may continue and develop in new and creative ways.'
153
signatures February
2012
PAROCHIAL
CHURCH COUNCILS (POWERS) MEASURE 1956
The Revd Christopher Hobbs (London) to move:
'That this Synod call on the Archbishops' Council to
bring forward legislation to amend the Parochial Church Councils
(Powers) Measure 1956 so as to permit a PCC
which is a registered charity to acquire and
hold any interest in land and any interest in personal property to
be held on permanent trusts, without any requirement
for the interest to be vested in the diocesan authority.'
136
signatures February
2011
LIVING
WAGE
Mr John Freeman (Chester) to move:
'That this Synod, recognising that the widening gap between rich
and poor harms all of society and that paying a "Living Wage" lifts
people out of poverty:
(a) affirm the Christian values inherent in the concept of the
"Living Wage"; and
(b) strongly encourage all Church of England institutions to pay
at least the "Living Wage".'
129
signatures
July 2011
PUBLIC DOCTRINE OF
CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE
Mrs Andrea Minichiello Williams (Chichester) to
move:
'That this Synod affirm the public doctrine of Christian
marriage, between a man and a woman, as set out in the Book of
Common Prayer as the only basis for engagement with public policy
on marriage and family life.'
100
signatures February
2012
REGISTRATION OF CIVIL
PARTNERSHIPS
Mr John Ward (London) to move:
That this Synod: (a) give its general consent, pursuant to
regulation 2D of the Marriages and Civil Partnerships (Approved
Premises) Regulations 2005, to any application made in respect of a
church or chapel of the Church of England for approval as a place
at which two people may register as civil partners of each other;
and (b) require the Clerk to the Synod forthwith to publish
evidence of this consent in writing.
74
signatures February
2012
FORMATION FOR
MINISTRY AND HIGHER EDUCATION VALIDATION
Mr Keith Malcouronne (Guildford) to move:
'That this Synod, whilst welcoming the objective of a system of
training for ministry which is more effective in terms of both
costs and outcomes, request the House of Bishops and the Ministry
Council to:
(a) ensure the continuance of a mixed ecology of training for
ministry and that any proposals for a new curriculum are drawn up
to embrace a wide variety of approaches to theological education,
ways of teaching and flexibility concerning content;
(b) avoid the vulnerability which would flow from having a
single provider by making future arrangements with more than one
provider of Higher Education validation; and
(c) bring forward a further report, for debate by this Synod,
before the proposals set out in GS Misc 1008 are implemented.'
74
signatures February
2012
REVIEW OF SO 115
The Revd Prebendary Stephen Lynas (Bath and
Wells) to move:
'That this Synod, noting the Archbishops' Council's intention to
review the provisions of SO 115 governing the appointment of the
Chair of the Business Committee, request the Council to complete
that review in time for the Standing Orders Committee to bring
forward proposals for amendment by July 2012.'
4
signatures
July 2011