CAPTION: Some of the Exeter Diocese General Synod representatives, pictured with Bishop Robert who was attending his last Synod before retirement
Reflections on July General Synod
The July General Synod in York from 7 to 11 July included a number of reports, presentations, updates, debates and votes including on: safeguarding, climate change measures, the Living in Love and Faith proposals, the role of the parish, marriage fees, governance and prisoner rehabilitation.
The Diocese of Exeter has nine General Synod representatives (five clergy and four lay people) who attended the five-day synod and took part in debates and votes.
Here are some of their reflections about the synod:
The Rev’d Prebendary Rosie Austin, Team Rector of the Shirwell Mission Community, said “In general it was a friendly place to be, with the opportunity to get into conversation with many people, holding a huge variety of views.
The General Synod sessions were all livestreamed , including a tribute to the Bishop of Exeter, given by the Archbishop of York.
“It involved many hours in the chamber on sometimes mind-numbing legislative updates, trying to keep an eye on the small details that will affect us, perhaps in surprising ways.”
Simon Friend, who attends St Michael & All Angels, Cadbury, was particularly struck by the presentations on the Church of England’s Archbishops’ Council decision to sack two members of the Independent Safeguarding Board (ISB).
He said “I felt a dissonance, hearing members of the Archbishops’ Council talking about how to move forward when clearly they are themselves so integral to the mess we currently find ourselves in which has greatly distressed survivors and victims.
Lessons for the Church
“It was uncomfortable to hear one element and not from the ISB board members. With good use of Standing Orders those important voices were heard and of course they should have been scheduled to be heard without the need for the Standing Orders.
“It is a real lesson for the church in how we can wrongly use power to silence the voice of survivors and victims. I’m not saying one side or the other is wholly right or wrong – but that we must be aware of how difficult it is sometimes to hear from those who want to hold those of us with power to account.”
The Rev’d Prebendary Karl Freeman, who has recently retired as Rector of Emmanuel Church, Plymouth, said “It is worth commending for prayer, the work currently getting underway on a new system of National Church Governance.
“A summary of work done so far was given and our prayers asked, for what will be presented to GS over the next few meetings. On the face of it, it looks like producing much simpler, more easily understood and more representative governance.
“It seemed to be received very positively by almost all Synod members.”
Prayer for Living in Love and Faith Wisdom and Discernment
Karl also commentated on the Living in Love and Faith update that was given at the synod, saying “For those awaiting progress on LLF discussions and the decisions which might flow from them, the additionally called November Synod looks as though it will be considering more thoroughly composed material from the house of bishops than was delivered in February or to this July Synod.
“It’s critical that between now and then we pray for wisdom and discernment for bishops and others involved. Pray too for a gracious, faithful and good meeting in November.”
Rev’d Professor Morwenna Ludlow, who is a professor of Christian Theology and History at Exeter University and an Honorary Canon of Exeter Cathedral, said “Emotions were running very high at the General Synod, especially around Living in Love and Faith and the Independent Safeguarding Board.
“Notably, there were precisely the two issues in which Synod had the least agency at the meeting. I cannot imagine what it must have felt like if you were someone with a direct stake in either of these two issues.
“For all the heat, I felt I was still in a room where many people were seeking to discern what was best (or least bad) in each particular case. They’d read the paperwork, they’d thought, they’d prayed. There is a tribalism on Synod, but it doesn’t always play out how you’d expect.”
Youth Synod
Luke Appleton, who is a churchwarden at Paignton Parish Church, runs a website called General Synod News, which expresses his own views on subjects discussed at General Synod. He said “The first substantial piece of business was the idea of a youth synod. The main feeling was ‘not about us without us’.
“The principle of engaging with young people was widely supported though some worried governance was the wrong focus. The item was amended to give it more of a focus to actually engage young people without the delays and expense of changing legislation.” You can read his full summary on the General Synod meeting here.
Tim Hamilton, who attends St Leonard’s Church in Exeter, said “We had a good discussion about the contribution of faith to the rehabilitation of offenders. It highlighted the good work that occurs within the probation services.
“It is something that is quite important, given that we have three prisons in our diocese.”
There will be an extra General Synod meeting in November to discuss the outcomes of the Living in Love and Faith College of Bishops’ Implementation Groups.
Luke Appleton said “At the July Synod we were given an LLF update and a frank discussion took place about the unknowns and next steps. Stay tuned for November which promises (for now) to be a big update on the topic.”
If you would like to find out how you can be elected to serve on General Synod, click here.
