ANGLICAN/METHODIST COVENANT (GS 1691)

See the report Embracing the Covenant (Methodist Publishing House)

The Bishop of Peterborough moved: 

'That this Synod:

(a) thank the members of the Joint Implementation Commission for their report Embracing the Covenant and for their work during the past five years;
(b) commend the report, with its recommendations, for study, action and response in the Church of England, and for discussion with members of the Methodist Church;
(c) endorse the Commission's recommendations regarding the shape of its work in the next phase; and
(d) request that Bishop's Councils consider the report and refer it for study by other appropriate bodies in the dioceses and that responses be sent to the Council for Christian Unity by 31 December 2009.'

The motion was overwhelmingly carried.

Audio of session

LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS

SPECIAL AGENDA I

PAROCHIAL FEES ORDER 2008 (GS 1698)

Bishop of Ripon and Leeds moved: 'That the Parochial Fees Order 2008 be approved.'

The motion was carried.

Audio of session

SPECIAL AGENDA IV

DIOCESAN SYNOD MOTION: 

FAITH, WORK AND ECONOMIC LIFE ( GS Misc 890 A and GS Misc 890B)

Mr Simon Baynes (St Albans) moved on behalf of the St Albans Diocesan Synod:

'That this Synod:

(a) affirm daily work be it paid or unpaid as essentially a spiritual activity;
(b) recognise the importance of Christian values within economic life;
(c) encourage bishops and clergy to give greater priority to equipping and resourcing church members through teaching, prayer, affirmation and celebration, to fulfil their vocations, ministries and mission in their places of work; and
(d) request the Mission and Public Affairs Council to:
(i) convene a symposium on a theological understanding of work for today as outlined in sections 5.3-5.4 of GS Misc 890B;
(ii) compile a collection of supportive resource materials for church members as outlined in section 5.5 of GS Misc 890B.

The motion was clearly carried.

Audio of session

WOMEN BISHOPS:  

REPORT OF THE WOMEN BISHOPS LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING GROUP (GS 1685)

REPORT FROM THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS  (GS 1685A)

Bishop of Gloucester moved:

'That this Synod:

(a) affirm that the wish of its majority is for women to be admitted to the episcopate;

(b) affirm its view that special arrangements be available, within the existing structures of the Church of England, for those who as a matter of theological conviction will not be able to receive the ministry of women as bishops or priests;

(c) affirm that these should be contained in a statutory national code of practice to which all concerned would be required to have regard; and

(d) instruct the legislative drafting group, in consultation with the House of Bishops, to complete its work accordingly, including preparing the first draft of a code of practice, so that the Business Committee can include first consideration of the draft legislation in the agenda for the February 2009 group of sessions.'

The motion was carried by a division of the three houses of Synod.

House of Bishops - For 28, Against 12, Abstentions 1

House of Clergy - For 124, Against 44, Abstentions 4

House of Laity - For 111, Against 68, Abstentions 2

Audio of afternoon session (part 1 of 2)

Audio of afternoon session (part 2 of 2)

Audio of evening session