11 February 2010
ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE
METHODIST CONFERENCE
The Archbishop of Canterbury invited the President of the
Methodist Conference, the Revd David Gamble, and the
Vice-President, Dr Richard Vautrey, to address the Synod. Their
address, on the Covenant between the two Churches, was followed by
questions from Members.
Summary and text of the address
Audio of session
FRESH EXPRESSIONS
The Rt Revd Graham Cray, Archbishops' Missioner and Team Leader
of Fresh Expressions, gave a presentation updating the Synod on
progress since the Mission-shaped Church report of
2004.
Audio of session
REALISING THE MISSIONARY POTENTIAL OF CHURCH
BUILDINGS: PRESENTATION BY THE CATHEDRAL AND CHURCH BUILDINGS
DIVISION ( GS
1767)
The Bishop of London and Mrs Anne Sloman, Chair of the Church
Buildings Council, gave a presentation.
Audio of session
DIOCESAN SYNOD MOTIONS: REPAIR OF CHURCH BUILDINGS ( GS 1768)
The Ven Peter Burrows moved a motion, and following debate the
motion was amended; and was carried by the Synod in the following
amended form:
'That this Synod, recognizing that:
(a) church buildings are an important part of our national
heritage and provide not only a spiritual focus for worship and
pilgrimage but in many cases also play a vital role as community
meeting places, visitor centres and spaces for the wider
celebration of the arts;
(b) many volunteers raise large sums of money to help sustain
this heritage;
(c) English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund and grant making
trusts make a valuable contribution towards the cost of repairing
church buildings; but
(d) the national backlog of church building repairs is still of
great magnitude,
welcome the contribution made to church building repairs by the
Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme, and call on HM Government
to:
(i) substantially increase the amount of money available for the
repair of listed church buildings; and
(ii) give an early commitment to continuing beyond March 2011
the Listed Places of Worship Grant Scheme.'
Audio of
session