13 February 2009
DIOCESAN SYNOD MOTION: JUSTICE AND ASYLUM SEEKERS
Following debate, the Revd Ruth Worsley (Southwell and
Nottingham) moved the following amended motion which was carried by
the Synod by 242 votes to one against (with one abstention):
'That this Synod, continuing to affirm scriptural teaching about
care for vulnerable people, welcome for strangers and foreigners,
and the Church's calling to reach out to the marginalized and
persecuted, call upon Her Majesty's Government:
(a) to ensure that the treatment of asylum seekers is just and
compassionate, and to that end to:
- confer a right to work on all asylum seekers,
- declare an amnesty for so called 'legacy cases' that predate
the Government's New Asylum Model, and
- bring to an end the practice of detaining children and families
in Immigration Removal Centres;
(b) to find a practical and humane remedy to the intolerable
situation of destitute 'refused' asylum seekers who are unable to
return to their country of origin because of personal safety,
health or family reasons;
(c) to investigate and report publicly on the quality of the
legal services provided to asylum seekers.'
Audio of session
DIOCESAN SYNOD MOTION: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE CHURCH'S PROPERTY
TRANSACTIONS
Following debate, the Bishop of Dudley moved the following
motion, which was not carried by the Synod. 83 members voted for,
to 98 against (with 18 abstentions):
'That this Synod call on the Archbishops' Council to conduct an
urgent review of the Endowments and Glebe Measure and other
relevant Church legislation, with a view to bringing forward at the
earliest possible opportunity any amendments needed to enable
diocesan bodies and PCCs lawfullyto dispose of land on terms which
give proper weight to environmental considerations as well as
financial ones, and so enable the Church to give a stronger moral
lead in achieving Her Majesty's Government's objectives in cutting
carbon emissions.'
FAREWELLS
The Archbishop of Canterbury paid tribute to the Rt Revd Ian
Cundy, Bishop of Peterborough; and the Rt Revd Graham Dow, Bishop
of Carlisle, both of whom are retiring.
PROROGATION
Audio of sessions
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