16/02/2016
REPORT FROM THE EVANGELISM TASK GROUP (GS 2015)
Presentations were made by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Revd Elizabeth Adekunle, the Bishop of Burnley, Beth Keith, and Canon Mark Russell.
The Bishop of Liverpool then moved:
That the Synod do take note of this Report.
The motion was carried.
REPORT OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND-CHURCH OF SCOTLAND JOINT STUDY GROUP (GS 2016)
Presentation was made by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Revd Dr Angus Morrison.
The Bishop of Chester (Co-Chair of the Joint Study Group) moved:
That this Synod,
(a) welcome the report of the Joint Study Group of the Church of England and the Church of Scotland (annexed to GS 2016) as a significant development in the relationship between the two churches;
(b) approve the Columba Declaration, consisting of mutual Acknowledgements and Commitments, as set out in paragraph 39 of the report;
(c) request the Council for Christian Unity to oversee the implementation of the Commitments contained in the Columba Declaration and set up the Contact Group proposed by it; and
(d) grateful for the Church of England's valued relationship with the Scottish Episcopal Church within the Anglican Communion, request the Council for Christian Unity to ensure that the Scottish Episcopal Church is invited to appoint a representative to attend meetings of the Contact Group.
An amendment moved by Canon Mark Russell was lost.
The Bishop of Truro moved an amendment (marked in italics above) which was supported by Synod.
Synod then voted in favour of the amended motion on a counted vote ofthe whole Synod. The voting was as follows:
For: 243; Against: 50. 49 abstentions were recorded.
DIOCESAN SYNOD MOTIONS
PAROCHIAL FEES (GS 2017A AND GS 2017B)
The Venerable Nikki Groarke, Archdeacon of Dudley (Worcester) moved on behalf of the Worcester Diocesan Synod:
That this Synod call on the Archbishops' Council to exercise its powers under s.1 of the Ecclesiastical Fees Measure 1986 so that fees prescribed as payable to parochial church councils in respect of funerals and weddings should include any costs and expenses of providing a verger.
The motion was lost.
A second motion at item 13 on the agenda was not debated, the Synod agreeing to move to Next Business.
PROPOSED ENABLING MEASURE (GS 2018)
The Bishop of Willesden (Southern Suffragans) (Chair of the Simplification Task Group) moved:
That this Synod:
(a) endorse the view of the Archbishops' Council that there needs to be a means of amending or repealing some primary legislation concerning the Church of England by a more rapid and less complex process than is currently possible;
(b) welcome the proposals set out in GS 2018; and
(c) invite the Council to introduce draft legislation at the July group of sessions to give effect to them.
An amendment moved by Mr Clive Scowen was lost.
The motion was carried.
CONTINGENCY BUSINESS
DIOCESAN SYNOD MOTION
BLOOD AND ORGAN DONATION (GS 2022A and GS 2022B)
The Revd Paul Cartwright (Leeds) moved on behalf of the Leeds Diocesan Synod:
That this Synod call on all Church of England parishes to encourage their members to consider, as part of their Christian giving:
(a) becoming blood donors; and
(b) registering as organ donors and making their wishes known to their families.
The motion was carried.
These brief summaries are offered primarily for reference while the General Synod is in session. The formal record of the Synod's business at each sitting during the November 2015 group of sessions can be found in the 'Business Done' (available online once published after the Synod concludes its business), which includes details of unsuccessful amendments to motions and other significant information offering a fuller picture of the Synod's business.