Simon Says ...

So that was it – the last General Synod of the Quinquennium.   Many will not stand again, having seen the advent of women bishops due to the work of this Synod.   Bits of the four days in York had an end of term feeling, things being finished off and loose ends tied off.   So we had the immense joy of considering the Synod’s own Standing Orders.   But all this has to be done, and done well. The Convocations of Canterbury and York (gatherings of the clergy only) met first to approve a new set of Guidelines for the Professional Practice of the Clergy.   Duly approved, they constitute an Act of Synod, and will be published in the autumn.   Synod was then addressed by two Archbishops – York and Uppsala – before a first outing of its standing orders so that the evening session could follow new rules. Friday evening was question time.   The rules were new, and simpler.   The atmosphere was a bit grumpy.   One Bishop st...

Below is my speech from General Synod this morning.  It relates to Clause 2 of the Draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination ofWomen) Measure (GS1925A) . At the end of my speech I withdrew my amendment , as it would have created legal problems that were probably insuperable. It is reproduced below for the record and for the sake of transparency. Thank you chair. First of all may I say that I am wholeheartedly in support of the ordination of people of all genders to the episcopate. However, I am troubled by the second clause of the draft Measure before us that offers a blanket removal of bishops from the terms of the Equalities Act 2010.  There is some irony in the fact that in order to bring greater equality to the Church of England, we need to find an exemption from the Equalities Act.  That irony should at least give us pause. However, I am troubled by clause 2.  It troubles me that this is not the best way to proceed.  It also tro...

I want you to imagine for a moment that the Dean of Derby preached this morning, a sermon of erudite and orthodox Anglican theology.  Then this evening, along comes the reforming Canon Chancellor and purports to correct, nay to refute the Dean’s teaching, accusing him of popish heresy and of ignoring the Scriptures.  And that this is a pattern that overall continues for several years.  This is, of course, not what is happening here tonight.  I do not stand here to refute the Dean’s heresies.  Rather I stand here to speak of a man for whom this experience of sermon and counter-sermon was a regular occurrence.  The man is Richard Hooker, and he has come to be seen as the greatest apologist for Anglicanism, and even by some as the inventor of Anglicanism! To understand how this came about, we must look a little at what had happened to the Church of England in his lifetime.  Richard Hooker was born in Heavitree near Exeter ...

This post is a response to the Document 'Women in the Episcopate: a new way forward' produced by a working group of the Church of England tasked with bringing legislation for the ordination of women as bishops to the General Synod.  It was produced after a larger facilitated meeting also including invited members of interest groups and individuals from the wider Church.  It has been submitted to the working group for their consideration and is posted here for wider interest. Women in the Episcopate – a response to GS MISC 1042 1.     Thanks and appreciation are due to all those involved in producing the ‘new way forward’ in this fraught debate.   As a new member of the General Synod, elected after the November vote, I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the process.   2.     The overwhelming sense of those ordained and lay, inside and outside of the Church, who have spoken with me in relation to this issue ...

This reflection is occasioned by the recent decision of the House of Bishops of the Church of England to amend the legislation regarding ordaining women as Bishops that is due to come before the General Synod in July.  The changes are here .  The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have issued an explanatory statement . The ‘ Groupof Six ’ officers of the General Synod agreed (but only by a majority) that the Bishop’s amendments were not enough to require the legislation to be returned to the Dioceses, who had passed the legislation overwhelmingly.    There are good blog posts stating that this is an amendment too far , makes no change and is hurtful .  Forward in Faith and Reform have issues press releases saying it is not enough. Women and the Church (WATCH) have issued a (helpful) discussion paper .  That WATCH have not responded with a clear position is an indication of how difficult the bishops’ intervention makes the situation. Th...