tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20342009898384295902024-02-08T02:56:33.114+00:00Andrew Williams's BlogAndrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.comBlogger120125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-22154764490497820482019-02-22T20:02:00.000+00:002019-02-22T20:02:54.709+00:00General Synod, February 2019 - Day 3After the heavy legislation of yesterday a slightly different pace today.<br />
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The morning's schedule was that as outlined on <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16989" target="_blank">Order Paper IV</a><br />
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First up was a Dioscean motion, jointly from Truro and London on <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "calibri" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Diocesan Synod on Environmental Programmes </span><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16609" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(233, 160, 101); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", calibri, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">(GS 2094A) </a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "calibri" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">& </span><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16612" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(233, 160, 101); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", calibri, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">(GS 2094B)</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "calibri" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"></span><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", calibri, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">(Revised) &</em><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "calibri" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> </span><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16672" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(233, 160, 101); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", calibri, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">GS Misc 1212 (Update)</a></div>
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This was followed by a debate on <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "calibri" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Evangelism and Discipleship </span><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16627" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(233, 160, 101); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", calibri, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">(GS 2118)</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "calibri" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> & </span><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16624" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(233, 160, 101); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", calibri, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">(Annex A)</a><br />
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At lunch time I met my wife for lunch (she'd been to the Snoopy exhibition at Somerset House) followed by a romantic walk through St James's Park<br />
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In the afternoon the work of synod continued with <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16997" target="_blank">Order Paper V</a><br />
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First up was standing order business.<br />
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54th Report of the Standing Orders Committee <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16414" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(233, 160, 101); box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">(GS 2119)</a></div>
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Proposed changes to the Standing Orders relating to the Crown Nominations Commission <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16417" style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(233, 160, 101); box-sizing: inherit; text-decoration-line: none;">(GS 2120)</a></div>
There was a large debate on whether the Crown Nominations Commission (the body that chooses dioscean bishops) should continue to vote in a secret ballot.<br />
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This was voted on by house, and the laity voted against the change The results were :-<br />
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House of Bishops: For 19, Against 14, Abst. 1<br />
House of Clergy For 76, Against 66, Abst. 4<br />
House of Laity For 63, Against 99, Abst 5.<br />
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Next there was a debate on <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16630" target="_blank">Growing Faith: Ministry Amongst Children and Young People (GS 2121)</a><br />
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This was followed by farewells to the Bishops of Dover and Norwich.<br />
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Finally there was a debate on <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16633" target="_blank">Estates Evangelism (GS 2122)</a><br />
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Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-55196222270916630852019-02-21T19:53:00.001+00:002019-02-21T19:53:31.301+00:00General Synod, Westminster 2019 - Day 2Day two of general synod is a heavy day off legislative business.<br />
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After an enjoyable lie in (by my normal weekday standards) and leisurely breakfast my wife announced she would join me in the journey to Church House as she wished to visit Church House Bookshop. Anyone who knows Jane will be getting worried at this point as they know she loves to buy new theology books. Well any new books actually. Well any books at all new or not!<br />
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First problem of the day was actually getting there as the district line wasn't running for too signal failure, so had to take a round about route.<br />
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As to the business itself, it consisted of that on <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16976" target="_blank">Order Paper II</a> :-<br />
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<a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16375" target="_blank">Amending Canon No. 38 (GS 2047D</a>)<br />
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<a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16378" target="_blank">Draft Church Representation and Ministers Measure (GS 2046BB)</a> - this generated quite a lot of debate. While the document was generally welcomed (especially on electronic voting) there was large concern raised about limiting Deanry Synod to two terms. Concerns were raised about losing existing experienced members. Additionally questions were raised about why term limits were not applying to General or Dioscean Synod members.<br />
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The outcome from this was that the section on term limits will be reviewed by the business committee's election review panel.<br />
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<a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16381" target="_blank">Draft Amending Canon No. 39 (GS 2047BB)</a><br />
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In the afternoon session legislative business continued with :-<br />
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<a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16390" target="_blank">Draft Amending Canon No. 40 (GS 2103A)</a> on religious communities and <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16910" target="_blank">Report by the Revision Committee (GS 2103Y)</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16396" target="_blank">Draft Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) (No.2) Measure (GS 2104A)</a><br />
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<a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16399" target="_blank">Draft Amending Canon No. 41 (GS 2105A)</a><br />
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Draft Parochial Fees and Scheduled Matters Amending Order 2019 (<a href="http://%28gs%202116%29/" target="_blank">GS 2116</a>) & (<a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16408" target="_blank">GS 2116x</a>)<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "calibri" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Code of Practice on Co-operation by the Church of England with Other Churches </span><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16411" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(233, 160, 101); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", calibri, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">(GS 2117)</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "calibri" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> & (</span><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16474" target="_blank">GS 2117X</a>)<br />
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We then moved onto Order Paper III<br />
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There was some discussion whether the <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "calibri" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Private Member's Motion: Homeless Task Force </span><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16615" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(233, 160, 101); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", calibri, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">(GS 2110A)</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "calibri" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> & </span><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16618" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(233, 160, 101); box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "Open Sans", calibri, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px; text-decoration-line: none;">(GS 2110B)</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "calibri" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px;"> should be put off due to timed business. However the Synod moved a variation of business to allow this debate to take place. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "open sans" , "calibri" , "arial" , sans-serif; letter-spacing: 0.2px;">Finally the <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/16657" target="_blank">Living in Love and Faith and Pastoral Advisory Group (GS Misc 1200)</a> reported back on their work. </span><br />
<br />Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-49145806341439264452019-02-20T19:35:00.003+00:002019-02-20T21:02:01.247+00:00General Synod, Westminster 2019 - Day 1<span style="font-family: sans-serif;">Much enjoyed the later start to the day, heading to the train station for a lunch time train is better than my normal 07:22 to work!</span><br />
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No problem with the trains or underground - did my flat in central Coventry to Church house in about 2 hours door to door.<br />
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Always nice to meet synodical friends again - it's a bit like when you went back to university after the holidays.<br />
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After the normal opening worship and welcome the first items of business was the business committee's report. Then a motion was moved for meeting dates in the next quinquennium.<br />
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There followed a quite frankly tedious debate about whether meeting a weekends was a good idea or not <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/General%20Synod%20February%202019%20OP%20I.pdf" target="_blank">with amendments to change the dates moved</a>.<br />
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I abstained on the debates as I am fortunate in that both my current and previous employers were happy to give me unpaid leave to attend synod and I claim back loss of earnings from the synod. (So a big shout out to <a href="https://www.harleymedical.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Harley Medical Group</a> and <a href="https://fluid7.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fluid7</a> for being good employers!)<br />
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Following on from this we heard from visiting Anglican Communion guests The Rt Rev'd Paul Korir, Bishop of Kapsabet in Kenya, and The Most Rev'd Dr Prem Chand Singh,
Moderator of the Church of North India and Bishop of Jabalpur giving addresses on Evangelism and Discipleship. The contents of these addresses should be made available to read.<br />
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The Archbishop of Canterbury had the tough act of following on with his presidential address.<br />
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Then there were appointments of Clive Mather as Chair of the Church of England Pensions Board and Rev Charlotte Cook and Mr<span style="font-size: small;"> Joseph Diwakar as members of the Archbishops’ Council for a term ending on 22 February 2024 to be approved. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Finally we moved on to Questions. I had somehow managed to get a written question at number 4 on the order paper!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I was disappointed that the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich as chair of the Ministry Council felt he could not give a breakdown by diocese as it might identify people, so I asked if he could do it over a 5 year sum total.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">He said he would look in to it and indicated that it might be useful as it might show variance between diocese - this is the information I am after. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Ian Wyllie has a good analysis of question response at <a href="http://www.exior.co.uk/wp/archives/2019/78">http://www.exior.co.uk/wp/archives/2019/78</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">After staying and listening to more of question time I grabbed my bag and headed for my hotel where I am now typing this up.</span><br />
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Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-85177504286156911712018-07-08T17:52:00.000+01:002018-07-08T22:40:14.175+01:00General Synod, York 2018 - Day 3<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9itiKFPgsqmRX0WkSNJUKprsTJTMjzUqN1_EldwlTbEgUb8EA5UxHM6d_bSa0NuHvzyFkg5xzJPE-dnTqooYihMdMX5ZOi9syc48sfZThF3hUnI3DYPf52HYZkEPEDu94uyA_tvbteQ/w323-h572-no/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="SzDcob" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9itiKFPgsqmRX0WkSNJUKprsTJTMjzUqN1_EldwlTbEgUb8EA5UxHM6d_bSa0NuHvzyFkg5xzJPE-dnTqooYihMdMX5ZOi9syc48sfZThF3hUnI3DYPf52HYZkEPEDu94uyA_tvbteQ/w323-h572-no/" style="transform: translate3d(0px, 0px, 0px) rotate(0deg);" width="112" /></a>As the Sunday's of York Synod always do we started with Mass at York Minster.<br />
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Sitting behind me in the cathedral was the newly ordained the Rt Rev'd Viv Faull, Lord Bishop of Bristol. I knew Viv when she was Canon Pastor and Vice-Provost of Coventry so it was good to catch up with her. It must have been strange having just left as Dean of York to be back sitting the congregation.<br />
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After the minster in morning I had lunch (roast beef) with fellow Coventry representative <a href="https://charlotteatsynod.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Mthr Charlotte Gale </a>before heading into this afternoon's sitting.<br />
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The afternoon kicked off with a presentation then a debate on the <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/GS%202093%20-%20Climate%20change%20and%20investment%20%28A%20Report%20from%20the%20NIBs%29.pdf" target="_blank">Church's investment strategy with regard to fossil fuels</a>. The clear issue here was around whether it is better to be involved as an investor and drive the change or pull out. The <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/GS%20Misc%201196%20-%20Intensifying%20engagement%20and%20disinvestment%20in%20fossil%20fuel%20companies.pdf" target="_blank">Diocese of Oxford had moved an amendment</a> to be dis-invested by 2020. A good debate on this tension was held. I think that the Church of England does have influence on these companies boards so I agreed that it would be unwise to set a target of 2020 as this would lessen influence as we'd be out of having any say after 2020. This amendment was lost. Canon Giles Goddard (Southwark) moved a further amendment suggesting that the date should be 2023. This was felt that this would give the time to allow proper engagement. The amendment and the motion passed.<br />
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A debate was held on the <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/GS%202095%20-%20The%20Ethics%20of%20Nuclear%20Weapons.pdf" target="_blank">ethics of nuclear weapons</a>. My view on this is that nuclear weapons are clearly a bad thing and it would be brilliant to get rid of them. The question is how? Unilaterally or multilaterally? I feel unilateral would be wrong as then if rogue states like North Korea develop weapons there would be no way to stop them using them as they would have a tactical advantage.Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK53.9455334 -1.056166699999948828.423498900000002 -42.364760699999948 79.4675679 40.252427300000051tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-52158859185037439842018-07-07T22:51:00.000+01:002018-07-07T22:51:01.745+01:00General Synod, York 2018 - Day 2Today's session started off with the Archbishop of York's presidential address. The full text of this <a href="https://www.archbishopofyork.org/news/news-2018/presidential-address-general-synod" target="_blank">may be found here</a>.<br />
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Following on from this the synod moved on to the very important issue of safeguarding. <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/GS%202092%20-%20SAFEGUARDING%20%28REPORT%20FROM%20THE%20NSSG%29.pdf" target="_blank">A document (GS 2092) </a>has been produced as the basis of this discussion.<br />
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Initially synod received a presentation from some abuse survivors before moving on to a debate.<br />
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It goes without saying that there is no doubt that the church has totally failed to live up to the standards expected of it and it is vital that the synod can make the culture change required within the church to make sure that it will not happen again and to find a way to help, in a way that is right for them, those to it did happen.<br />
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There were many excellent contributions to this debate, but I will mention only two.<br />
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Fr Andrew Dotchin (<span class="st">St Edmundsbury and Ipswich</span>) <a href="https://suffolkvicar.wordpress.com/2018/07/07/safeguarding-should-not-be-a-chore-but-part-of-the-mission-of-god/" target="_blank">in his speech</a> mentioned a tweet from a friend :-<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>‘Church, we have got to stop introducing Safeguarding Training with comments like</i><br />
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</i><i>“Sorry, I’m afraid we have to go through the boring safeguarding stuff, it’s the rules”</i><br />
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</i><i>This is part of the problem.</i><br />
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</i><i>Friends for as long as we see safeguarding as a chore and some kind
of ‘necessary evil’ we will continue to allow darkness to grow in the
home of light and the hope we are called to offer to a lost world will
wither and die.</i></blockquote>
Jayne Ozanne (Oxford) asked what the church can do to victims to make reparations for what was done. An important question I think which needs to be asked more.<br />
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In the afternoon there was a <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/GS%20Misc%201188%20-%20Saturday%20Seminars%20%28revised%29.pdf" target="_blank">number of seminars</a> members could attend. Additionally the England vs Sweden football World Cup quarter final was shown on the big screen in the main synod chamber. (Clearly having synod in session helped as England cruised into the semi final - I wonder if it was down to the continuing praying presence that always happens when synod is in session)<br />
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I attended a session on Digital Evangelism. As well as covering the latest on a Church Near You and the 2018/19 Advent / Christmas / Epiphany campaign we saw a demo of the Alexa Church of England app<br />
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and heard some statistics about how it has been used.<br />
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Finally after the work of synod was over after diner I enjoyed a couple of pints with my friends and synod colleagues Ben Franks (Birmingham) and Fr Mark Bratton (Coventry)<br />
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Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-64526507929712492542018-07-06T18:46:00.000+01:002018-07-06T18:46:34.205+01:00General Synod, York 2018 - Day 1Once again the odd collection of people that make up the members of The General Synod of The Church of England gathered at the University of York for the July group of sessions.<br />
<br />
The central hall at the university where the synod meets has always been very very hot so I was not looking forward to it in this heatwave. However they seem to have improved the cooling system and it was quite pleasant in the synod chamber.<br />
<br />
As ever the synod started off with greetings from Anglican and Ecumenical guests. Synod heard from The Most Revd Humphrey Peters, Bishop of Peshawar, Moderator and Primate of the Church of Pakistan. Bishop Humphrey told us about the issues facing the church in Pakistan and particularly the issues around the persecution of the church.<br />
<br />
We then heard from The Archbishop of Central Africa and Bishop of Northern Zambia, The Most Revd Albert Chama. Archbishop Albert talked about working with the national government for peaceful, fair and free elections.<br />
<br />
Finally Ralf Meister of the Evangelical Church in Germany, on behalf of the ecumenical guests spoke about the need to work together.<br />
<br />
As usual the first substantive item of business on the agenda was the Business Committee report. This was given a bit of a hard time from floor around the decisions not to bring forward any private members motions to this group of sessions (aside from an contingency business item) and particularly around the issues of same sex relationships which the have been put on hold pending the production of the teaching document. This caused many synod members (including myself) to vote against or abstain on the business committee report. However it was still passed easily.<br />
<br />
Following on from the business committee report we moved onto legislative business.<br />
<br />
The items discussed were :-<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/GS%202046Z%20and%20GS%202047Z%20-%20Ecumencial%20Relations%20Measure%20%20%28Final%20Drafting%20report%29.pdf" target="_blank"> Draft Ecumenical Relations Measure & Amending Canon No. 38</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/GS%202064Z%20-%20MPM%20%28Final%20Drafting%20report%29.pdf" target="_blank">Draft Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-06/GS%202103%20-%20Amending%20Canon%2040%20-%20First%20Consideration.pdf" target="_blank"> Draft Amending Canon No. 40</a></li>
</ul>
Draft Amending Canon No 40 is quite interesting as it covers religious communities and how the new religious communities can have oversight from within the church.<br />
<br />
Finally the session finished of with <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2018-07/General%20Synod%20July%202018%20Questions%20Paper.pdf" target="_blank">questions</a>. <br />
<br />
Later tonight is the ACiS (Affirming Catholics in Synod) group meeting.Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-24657601841365747592017-07-10T10:43:00.001+01:002017-07-10T10:45:40.877+01:00Speech for The Cost of Citizenship motion at General SynodMr Chairman<br />
<br />
Thank you for calling me to make my maiden speech on this item.<br />
<br />
I’d like to thank Ben for bringing this motion forward today and am happy to support him.<br />
<br />
While it is right that there should be a charge to apply for Citizenship this should relate directly to the actual costs of the application rather than an arbitrary figure, so I think it is right that we should call for the government to look at the figures and make them reflect a more realistic level.<br />
<br />
We should also be clear also that this debate is not about migration, people applying for Citizenship are already here integrated in their communities speaking English (or perhaps for some Welsh or Scots Gaelic) and now want to fully become part of their adopted country.<br />
And why shouldn't they? Being British is great and we should support and welcome those people who wish to join us in being British.<br />
<br />
Please support this motion.Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK53.9455334 -1.056166699999948828.423498900000002 -42.364760699999948 79.4675679 40.252427300000051tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-87873357779274538412017-07-09T16:12:00.000+01:002017-07-09T16:12:28.558+01:00General Synod, York 2015, Day 2And so the second day of synod dawned. <br />
<br />
After a good nights sleep in Alcuin College (the rooms are all en-suite now, not like my student days) I had an enjoyable Full English breakfast (one of the treats ofbeing away at Synod) in the Vanbrugh dining hall.<br />
<br />
The mornings session consisted of a debate on presence and engagement, this was followed by dressing with various legislative matters.<br />
<br />
After lunch I attended a very interesting workshop on Digital Evangelism. It looks like the church is (finally!) going to get to grips with this, and we'll be seeing updates and better integration of the websites and social media. And the websites at last will become mobile friendly.<br />
<br />
There is also going to be training made available to the dioceses and parishes. I'll be urging my own diocese to take this up as Coventry's current digit offering is, not to put too much a point on it, distinctly sub par.<br />
<br />
After this was the big debate of the day, Jayne Ozannne's private members motion against conversion therapy. After some extremely moving testimony in speeches from people and some amendments including that rare synod beast an amendment to an anmendment and multiple recorded votes by houses I am delighted to say that not only did synod vote to condemn conversion therapy we votes to call on the government to ban it.<br />
<br />
Following the end of the days sessions and the evening meal, a very pleasant evening was spent on the terrace outside Vanbrugh College's bar drinking real ale overlooking the lake.<br />
<br />
<br />Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0Central Hall, Heslington Ln, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK53.946933974791733 -1.052954792976379453.946641974791731 -1.0535852929763794 53.947225974791735 -1.0523242929763794tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-77280354130962472372017-07-08T09:39:00.000+01:002017-07-08T09:39:37.913+01:00General Synod, York 2015, Day 1Thanks to Fr Mark Bratton the Rector of Berkswell who is one of Coventry's clergy members of synod I got a lift up to York and so was there in good time.<br />
<br />
After the normal meeting up with people I'd not seen since February.<br />
<br />
After opening worship, was a welcome to various visiting Anglican and Ecumenical guests, including the Bishop of Edinburgh how was warmly applauded by the majority of synod (although some hardline ConEvos seemed to think we should have invited a GAFCON schismatic bishop instead.) We then had a short speech of greetings from The Rt Rev'd Matti Repo, Bishop of Tampere of the Church of Finland. Reference was made to the Nordic churches' attitude on sexuality, at present they are all more inclusive than the CofE<br />
<br />
As usual the first substantive item was the business committee report.<br />
<br />
During this there was a discussion whether members should have a code conduct. As someone who was a City Councillor on a met borough for 14 years, where there is a code of conduct for elected members I'm actually surprised this is even a discussion point.<br />
<br />
The rest of the afternoon was pretty much taken up with the Archbishops' motion on "After the General Election a Still Small Voice of Calm"<br />
<br />
There was an attempt to politicise this with various amendments such as reducing the voting age to 16 and introduction of STV, although the amendment Senegal to think this on its own would bring in PR without changes to multi member cobstituencies. Fortunately all the amendments were defeated.<br />
<br />
One important issue raised in the speeches was how when parish priests become too partisan party political it can act as barrier to reaching people and hinder mission. I wholeheartedly agree with this point and would encourage certain clergy of my acquaintance to reflect on it.<br />
<br />
In the end the motion overwhelmingly passed.<br />
<br />
In my personal opinion this debate achieved nothing ave I think synod could have used it's time better, discussing much more important issues or extending the time on later debates<br />
<br />
After dinner (lamb) there was a chance to attend fringe events ( I went to the GAS Human Sexuality Group meeting and then the Affirming Catholics in Synod [ACiS] group meeting) followed by a couple of enjoyable pints in the Vanburgh bar, before heading back to my room on the outer reaches of the campus known as Alcuin College.<br />
<br />
<br />Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0Alcuin College Block Q, Heslington, York YO10 5NB, UK53.950782355739541 -1.049323081970214853.95063635573954 -1.0496380819702149 53.950928355739542 -1.0490080819702148tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-75544606582090952242017-06-11T11:43:00.000+01:002017-06-11T11:43:25.400+01:00Best Man's speech at the Wedding of Kevin Foster and Hazel Noonan<div dir="ltr" id="docs-internal-guid-5e9d86c8-96b6-1012-12bc-72286ba61df5" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Ladies and Gentlemen, and I suppose MPs as well,, we all know why we are here today. It's is a very special day. As we all know today is World Gin Appreciation day!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">No, no, I am mistaken we are here to celebrate Kevin and Hazel being joined in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">I first met Kevin when I was chairman of City of Coventry Conservative Future and he was chairman of the Warwick University branch. Despite that fact that he was attending Coventry’s second university we became firm friends and served together on Coventry City Council for a number of years including the opportunity to be the cabinet together and I served as Kevin’s Chief Whip when he was Leader and deputy leader.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Kevin was my best man when I got married and it is an honour to return the favour. Although any chance of a stag do was wrecked by a certain national event that happened a couple of days ago.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">It is lucky that the General Election was not next week otherwise Kevin would have had a leafleting and canvassing session rather than a reception!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">I’m sure we are all delighted Kevin was re-elected to parliament with a hugely increased majority, which is wholly down to the fact he is such a hard working representative.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Although I met Kevin when he was at university in Coventry he, like me, was a first generation immigrant to Coventry and originally came from Plymouth.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">As he always remained a Devonian in his heart it is no surprise that his second love, politics, brought him back here to be the MP.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">I say his second love of course, because his first love is Hazel whom he married today. Even if he didn’t realise that for a while! </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">I first met Hazel on a hit squad delivering leaflets. (it is amazing how many different people you meet over leaflets as a political activist) That year, 1999, was also the year we both first stood for the council, although we both had to wait another year to actually contest a seat successfully.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">When Hazel took the first Cheylesmore seat off the Labour party she was keen to take the other two as well so turned to Kevin to do so. It’s wonderful that years later these two former ward colleagues have decided to become life colleagues. That’s what an interest in politics does for you. Certainly we all wish them a landslide of happyness!</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">I’d like to thank Fr John and the team at St Mathias for such a good service today. St Matthias was the Apostle chosen by lot to replace Judas. We are all glad there were no lots needed last Thursday! I believe Kevin is involved with parish, so well done for managing that. When I first met Kevin he told me on a Sunday morning he religiously observed his lie in.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">If you believe what you see in Disney movies then marriage is all about bluebirds dropping showers of hearts on you. In real life marriage is not like. There will always be disagreements. Indeed in the Chronicles of Narnia, the great theologian and philosopher CS Lewis wrote “They had many quarrels, but they always made up again: so that years later, when they were grown up they were so used to quarreling and making up again that they got married so as to go on doing it more conveniently.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Marriages work when two people are so atuned to other, and their souls are so connected that the bumps in the road are just that an annoyance that is easily overcome rather than something that throws you totally off course. Anyone who looks at Kevin and Hazel can see that this is the case with them and I wish them many happy years together.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Ladies and Gentlemen: The Bride and Groom.</span>Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0Torquay, UK50.4619209 -3.525314999999977850.3810804 -3.6866764999999777 50.5427614 -3.3639534999999778tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-4987464083966940372017-04-29T12:15:00.000+01:002017-04-29T12:16:43.735+01:00We need Local Hustings not National DebatesWith a surprise General Election coming upon us there has been discussions of whether or not to have national televised debates, and concerns that Mrs May, the Prime Minister has said no.<br />
<br />
I think it is right we are not having debates these are an import from the American political system and are not needed here. We are not directly electing a Prime Minister, we are electing a local MP.<br />
<br />
I'd like to see more local hustings rather than national debates, and a chance for people to put the questions to their candidates directly. This is much more important for democracy than a sterile stage managed televised debate with a hand picked audience.Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-49467074195293503102017-03-05T21:04:00.000+00:002017-04-29T12:03:20.317+01:00The House of Lords and EU Citizens The House of Lords has recently voted to amend the Brexit bill to
guarantee the right of EU nationals to remaining the UK continued
residency.<br /><br />While some may say this is a good thing and the Lords are doing their job, let's actually stop and think about this.<br /><br />If
the House of Lords is to do their job as a revising chamber properly,
why are they passing amendments supporting the rights of the EU citizens
in Europe to remain in Britain, but saying nothing about British
Citizens in EU? <br /><br />In actual fact of course both sets of people should have their existing rights grandfathered.<br /><br />So
why has this not been done? Well the EU does not wish to discuss
anything before Article 50 is triggered. They say they can not discuss
anything until then. This is sheer hypocrisy. If Donald Tusk and the
European Council were prepared to, they could easily come to an
agreement with the UK government to allow those people who already are
living across the forthcoming EU / UK to remain with grandfathered
rights in their current country of residence.<br /><br />It is right and
proper that EU citizens in the UK should be allowed to stay post Brexit.
However this can only be guaranteed if the UK citizens elsewhere in the
EU have the same right. This could be sorted now if the EU were
prepared to discuss this now ahead of the main Brexit negotiations. They
won't do this for dogmatic reasons. It's the EU that is stopping a
clarification of expats status. This is an example of what's wrong with
the EU. They are more interested in their processes and dogma than real
people with their concerns. This just shows that we are right to leave.Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-4369190298833828192017-02-16T10:08:00.001+00:002017-02-20T19:53:47.244+00:00Disappointed the Bishop of Coventry admits voted in errorDisappointed that the Bishop of Coventry <a href="http://www.dioceseofcoventry.org/index.php?page_ref=1061&item=245" rel="nofollow">admitted his vote against was accidental</a>.<br />
<br />
I had hoped that the Spirit had moved him to listen to those who called upon Synod to vote against.<br />
<br />
The Diocese of Coventry, the Laity of which I represent on the General Synod, has always been at the forefront of reconciliation, led by Coventry Cathedral. It is a shame Bishop Christopher had missed such an opportunity for reconciliation with LGBT people within the dioocese and indeed throughout the whole church.<br />
<br />
I look forward to my home diocese through the work of cathedral, where I worship every Sunday, taking a lead in the radical inclusion the Archbishop of Canterbury spoke about yesterday.<br />
<br />
Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0Church House, Great Smith St, Westminster, London SW1P 3NZ, UK51.497882 -0.1293319999999766925.975847499999997 -41.437925999999976 77.0199165 41.179262000000023tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-75624551024383779792017-02-15T18:56:00.001+00:002017-02-16T10:17:05.764+00:00General Synod - Speech for take note debate on the shared conversations.Disappointed not to be called to speak at synod this evening.<br />
<br />
Here is what I would have said :-<br />
<br />
Mr Chairman,<br />
Thank you for inviting me to speak on this item.<br />
<br />
Last weekend when talking to my Scots Presbyterian mother and told her that I was here at Synod this week, she asked me "Are you talking about sex again?"<br />
<br />
She then proceeded to tell me that the problem was due to bishops and she didn't believe in bishops. For once I almost had sympathy with her.<br />
<br />
Seriously though her response to hearing I was going to Synod undlerlines the problem we have as a church, people think the Church of England is against the inclusion of gay people.<br />
<br />
This is a major challange to mission. Why do we allow interest in people's intimate relationships get in the way of the people about Christ's incarnation, death and resurrection?<br />
<br />
How many people have been put off from attending church because of a perceived over interest in the fact that they were built in a way that meant they came into a loving relationship with someone of their own sex.<br />
<br />
This report will do nothing to change this. People have told me it puts them off attending church again, or makes them consider why they do come. It could be the last straw for many people who were looking for a better outcome from the shared conversations.<br />
<br />
I urge Synod not to take note to send a message that they are welcome.<br />
<br />
Finally let us remember, we are warned in the scriptures that if you turn people away from Christ it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.<br />
<br />
With this report we are in danger of doing just that.<br />
<br />
Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-57885102139712817632016-10-09T18:52:00.001+01:002016-10-09T18:57:00.150+01:00Why a Nave Altar does not work at Coventry CathedralThis morning, as often happens on Sundays, I served Mass at <a href="http://ift.tt/WWeJeS" rel="nofollow">Coventry Cathedral</a>. The service went really well unlike last week.<br />
<br />
Last week we used a nave Altar.<br />
<br />
Now in some cathedrals such as <a href="http://ift.tt/1mGAj08" rel="nofollow">Peterborough Cathedral</a>, where I was a server for a year in 1997-98 during my industrial placement year at <a href="http://ift.tt/2dXIGfI" rel="nofollow">Perkins Engines (Peterborough) Ltd</a>, you need a nave Altar as due to distance and architecture since you can't actually see the High Altar.<br />
<br />
However in Coventry there are no thick pillars, there is no rood screen. The High Altar can be easily seen from anywhere in the nave.<br />
<br />
In actual fact a nave Altar is <i>harder</i> to see as it is on the same level as the nave so if you are not sitting at the front your sight line is blocked. Do people not realise that the High Altar, being raised several steps above the floor is designed to be seen from the back of nave.<br />
<br />
It is therefore clear that, in Coventry's case anyway, there is no architectural need for a nave Altar.<br />
<br />
So why use one?<br />
<br />
Clearly it can only be for theological reasons.<br />
<br />
So therefore, having established there is no architectural reasons for a nave Altar at Coventry we need to consider what theological point those clergy who support a nave Altar are trying to push.<br />
<br />
The general theory seems to be that bringing the "action" closer to the people is a good thing. However as we have established above the use of the nave Altar actually blocks sight lines and therefore moves the "action" away from the people.<br />
<br />
Therefore we must ignore the reason stated and look for the real reason.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately we must then consider the only reason is because people are wishing to downgrade what we actually do.<br />
<br />
Let's stop a moment consider what we do in Eucharist.<br />
<br />
Bread and Wine becomes the actual and real Body and Blood of Christ to us. So therefore then just standing around a nave Altar rather than kneeling at an Altar rail means we are not considering what we are doing. We should kneel. This is Christ himself we are receiving. As Cardinal Arinze said with regards to receiving the Eucharist kneeling. "If we believe, if we truly believe that it is Jesus, the Son of God, then why don't we kneel, why don't we crawl?"<br />
<br />
This is God himself we receive. Ignoring our architecture, standing around a small table that is hard to see apart from the first few rows at the front, is this really a foretaste of the heavenly banquet? Is this really the House of God? Is this really the Gate of Heaven?<br />
<br />
Now some people might say, it's only planned for a couple of times a term, why not be flexible. That is fair point. But are the cathedral being flexible or are they pushing an agenda? If they truly believe that this is about being flexible in our worship, then I would hope to match the twice a term nave Altar that twice a term we have the Eucharist celebrated at the High Altar with the celebrant facing east.<br />
<br />
Yes that's right, not a service with clergy behind the altar looking out over the congregation, making the Mass look like a coffee shop, but the Mass being celebrated by a priest facing the same way as the people. A priest leading his/her people to God not being the star of show. Or, as I fear, is all the flexibility just one way?<br />
<br />
<p>via <a href="http://ift.tt/2d4VB9n">LiveJournal</a></p>
Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0New Saint Michael's Cathedral, Priory Row, Coventry CV1 5EP, UK52.4085598 -1.507077999999978652.4073488 -1.5095994999999787 52.4097708 -1.5045564999999785tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-81844308259503092122016-08-03T21:26:00.001+01:002016-08-03T21:32:04.677+01:00General Synod, York, July 2016<p>
At the start of July I headed up to my first York General Synod group of sessions.
</p><p>
<img alt="[ York General Synod ]" src="http://ift.tt/2aSyaF3" title="The York General Synod, taken by the Dean of Southwark - anunnatsynod.wordpress.com" />
</p><p>
I was able to share a taxi from the station to the University of York (where the General Synod takes place) as I heard the person behind me in the queue saying "Convocation of the Province Canterbury" so I was sure we were there for the same reason!<br />
</p><p>
We were all staying in Halls of Residence at the university and I was really surprised with my room - it was even en-suite - much different to Coventry's Priory Hall where I spent 2 years.
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<img alt="[ York Hall of Residence Room ]" src="http://ift.tt/2aUtmvE" title="" /><br />
</p><p>
The first item on the agenda was a debate on Brexit. I was hoping to speak in this debate, as someone who voted to leave in the referendum I felt it was important to make it clear that it was OK to be Christian and believe in leaving the European Union. Unfortunately I was not called to speak <a href="http://ift.tt/1F1VXKT" rel="nofollow">Jayne Ozanne</a> (Laity, Oxford) covered most of the points I wanted to make.<br />
</p><p>
After a good debate both those for and against the EU in chamber voted for unanimously for the following motion :-
</p><p>
<i>That this Synod, recognising the result of the recent referendum on the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union, welcome the Archbishops’ call for all to unite in the common task of building a generous and forward looking country, contributing to human flourishing around the world, and encourage all members of the Church of England to play their part actively in partnership with everyone in Civil Society in pursuit of this task.</i>
</p><p>
There was a request that a recorded vote be taken, but a number of people (including me) had voting machines that were displaying the wrong name. Rather than vote the old way (by walking through doors just like parliament still do) the request for a recorded vote was withdrawn.
</p><p>
There were various other technical debates and items discussed a full set of decisions made cane be found at <a href="http://ift.tt/2aUt2wJ" rel="nofollow">http://ift.tt/2aUt2wJ</a>
</p><p>
The next day they had been fixed and were back in operation.
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<img alt="[ Synod voting device ]" src="http://ift.tt/2aSxX4M" title="" />
</p><p>
There were various other technical debates and items discussed.
</p><p>
One interesting debate was on moving legislation forward to the next stage. This covered two items a change in the (ecclesiastical) law to remove any remaining restrictions on church burials for those who commit suicide and a change regarding the rules of vesture for Divine Service. As I support the former but not the latter I and many others did not understand what these had to be taken together. After these have been through a revision committee they will of course come separately.
</p><p>
It was a curtailed synod due to the Shared Conversations on Human Sexuality which were held in private from, Sunday afternoon to Tuesday morning. (On Sunday morning there was an opportunity to attend Mass at York Minster. I enjoyed the service and was particularly pleased to see that York have a number of children servers. This is something I have been pushing for at Coventry Cathedral and we have just starting doing.)
</p><p>
I was a bit unsure about the shared conversations (or as I heard some people refer to them as “The dreaded shared conversations”) But I think they went reasonably well, probably helped by the fact I appeared to have a reasonable group. I don't know how the other groups were.
</p><p>
I can't really say anymore about the shared conversations as what was said was confidential.<br />
Following the end of the synod I travelled back to Coventry on the train Tuesday evening and then started a new job on the Wednesday!<br />
</p>Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-74549696291767624592015-12-02T21:41:00.001+00:002015-12-02T21:50:41.832+00:00General Synod November 2015Papers relating to the November Group of Sessions are available on <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/structure/general-synod/agendas-and-papers/november-2015-group-of-sessions.aspx" target="_blank">The Church of England Website</a>.
<p>
<p>
<b>Tuesday 24th November</b>
<p>
Tuesday started with the official inauguration of the General Synod with a Mass in Westminster Abbey and the official opening speech afterwards by Her Majesty the Queen in the Assembly Hall
<p>
As the Queen was going to be present the security a Church House was tighter with a bag search on entry.
<p>
As synod members we all had to gather in cloisters of Westminster Abbey to form up in our dioceses to process into the abbey.
<p>
<img alt="The Coventry Representatives on The General Synod" src="http://www.andrew-williams.com/assets/img/synod/coventry_synod_members_2015.jpg" width="550" />
<i>The Coventry Representatives on The General Synod</i>
<p>
The Eucharist was celebrated by The Archbishop of Canterbury and the <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2409301/london_general_synod_of_the_anglican_church_2015.pdf" target="_blank">sermon was preached by the Preacher to the Papal Household, Fr Raniero Cantalamessa.</a>
<p>
Following the services we all trooped back to the Assembly Hall to hear <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2015/11/the-queen's-speech-at-the-inauguration-of-the-tenth-general-synod-of-the-church-of-england.aspx" target="_blank">Her Majesty's speech officially opening the synod</a>.
<p>
After lunch in the afternoon the main work of synod began.
<p>
It kicked off with a presidential address to the synod from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
<p>
Following this there was a <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2392266/gs_2006_-_report_by_the_business_committee_november_2015.pdf" target="_blank">report of the Business Committee</a>.
<p>
This was followed by a <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2392331/gs_misc_1124_-_reform_and_renewal.pdf" target="_blank">report on the Reform and Renewal programme</a>. This is a far reaching plan to shape the Church of England for the future. It will impact on areas of the church, and will no doubt for a large amount of the business over the next few years at synod. The timescale is for scrutiny by Synod of the Resourcing the Future and Resourcing Ministerial Education changes will take place in February 2016. Also in February Synod is expected to receive the legislative proposals for Simplification. As part of the process of legislative simplification <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2392344/gs_misc_1125_-_enabling_measure.pdf" target="_blank">consultation document on a new enabling measure</a> was brought forward.
<p>
Finally supplementary questions to <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2408128/questions.pdf" target="_blank">those previously submitted</a> were asked.
<p>
<b>Wednesday 24th November</b>
<p>
After starting the day with worship the first item of the day was a <a href="http://www.archbishopofyork.org/articles.php/3363/inauguration-of-general-synod" target="_blank">motion to present a loyal address to the Queen</a>.
<p>
This was followed by presentation from the Archbishop of York and Margaret Sentamu on Global Warming.
<p>
The assembly hall then filled for a debate <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2399868/gs_2009_-_the_migrant_crisis.pdf" target="_blank">debate on the migrant crisis</a>.
<p>
What was of particular note was the Archbishop of Canterbury stating that the motion (<a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2399907/np4_-_amendments_and_motions.pdf" target="_blank">as outlined on the order paper</a>) could commit the Synod to supporting the use of force to protect migrants (and presumably potential migrants.)
<p>
The motion was passed with <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2410973/item_9_-_voting_results.pdf" target="_blank">333 in favour, none against and 3 abstentions</a>.
<p>
Next the discussion turned to legislation with <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2392279/gs_2007_-_ecclesiastical_judges_order_2015.pdf" target="_blank">Ecclesiastical Judges, Legal Officers and Others (Fees) Order 2015</a> which helpfully came with an <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2392292/gs_2007x_-_ecclesiastical_judges_order_2015_explanatory_memorandum.pdf" target="_blank">explanatory memorandum</a>. Although this sort of work is not what comes to mind when you think of General Synod (if you have only seen the big debates on the TV or read about them in press) it is important work as part of the synod's legislative role.
<p>
This was followed by two reports on Public Perceptions of Jesus <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2392357/gs_misc_1126_-_perceptions_of_jesus.pdf" target="_blank">report</a> (<a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2392609/talking-jesus_booklet.pdf" target="_blank">and booklet</a>) and secondly the <a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2392305/gs_2008_-_report_of_the_church_buildings_review_group.pdf">report of the Church Buildings review group</a>.
<p>
Finally the Archbishop of Canterbury said farewell to William Fittall, Secretary General of the Archbishops’ Council, who was attending his last meeting of the Synod and then progued the synod until the February group of sessions.
<p>
One last thing to do before heading to catch the train back to Coventry was a meeting of the House of Laity on it's own to hear from those wishing to stand as Chairman or Vice Chairman of the House and those standing for the Archbishops Council.
<p>
Such was my first group of sessions for General Synod. I very deliberately did not speak as I wanted to see how everything works first and get a feel for it. I will probably be making my maiden speech at the February sessions, but of course it depends on the debates, as there is not guarantee you will be called to speak on any debate, but on your maiden speech it is quite likely you will.Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-77740583429201835482015-11-23T18:07:00.001+00:002015-11-23T22:35:57.863+00:00General Synod InductionToday I had my induction as a new member of the General Synod.<br />
<br />
This mornings train was only five minutes late, but it reminded me of all the years I spent commuting to jobs in Northampton and Milton Keynes - so glad I don't have to do that anymore!<br />
<br />
Got to Church House no problem at all, it wasn't my first visit as I was there some 16 years ago for the Archbishop of Canterbury's Millennium Youth Event "The Time of our Lives"<br />
<br />
After getting my id badge and voting card (more on voting later) I went to the cloakroom to deposit coats and bags. Just like primary school I have my own hook in the cloakroom. Unlike primary school however it has a label with my synod number rather than a picture of a key!<br />
<br />
Church House is a bit of a rabbit warren but is pretty well sign posted and there are also loss of people around to point out the right directions (and also scrutinising your I'd badge to check that you are a synod member and are allowed through that does!)<br />
<br />
In the morning session, after starting with a short service of worship, we covered the role of General Synod, including the fact that as The Church of England is an established church we are the only body other than parliament that can make laws of the land (though I should point out that this is only in relation to the Church of England not secular matters!) We looked at the main roles of the Synod - as a legislative body, a deliberative body and holding the various church commissions and boards to account.<br />
<br />
We got to try out the voting machines, very flash have an individual smart card which goes in a handheld device that looks a bit like a BlackBerry, then hit the appropriator button 1 for yes, 2 for no or 3 for with abstain.<br />
<br />
Apparently if the electronic system ever fails we will to go back to the original system of voting by walking through doors.<br />
<br />
Finally we ended the morning's session with a briefing from the Met Police on security matters at the Synod.<br />
<br />
The afternoons session we had a dramatised example of (curtailed) debates / motions / questions / points of order with a running commentary just to give us a flavour of how it all hangs together. As sometime who was a local councillor for 14 years it all sounds straightforward.<br />
<br />
Also in the afternoon we had presentations on the shared conversations on human sexuality from Canon David Porter whom I am used to hearing back home in Coventry Cathedral!<br />
<br />
We also had a presentation on the reform and renewal programme from John Spense.<br />
<br />
And that was induction. Tomorrow we have the inauguration with a service at Westminster Abbey and a speech by HM The Queen in the Assembly Hall before starting the season properly in the afternoon.Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-89152895683679747282015-11-22T17:45:00.001+00:002015-11-22T17:49:40.915+00:00First General Synod Meeting ApproachesFollowing my election last month as one of the three lay members from the Diocese of Coventry to Church of England's General Synod (on my second attempt I stood five years ago and was not successful), I'll be heading down to London tomorrow for my first sessions.<br />
<br />
It feels a bit like a cross between my first day at university (got an induction session on Monday, where we get ID cards, told about how the synod works and no doubt get told where the Church House loos are too!) and my time on the council (all the paperwork to read!)<br />
<br />
Please remember all the General Synod members in your prayers especially us new ones!<br />
<br />
<br />
Almighty God,<br />
you have given your<br />
Holy Spirit to the Church<br />
to lead us into all truth:<br />
bless with the Spirit's grace and presence<br />
the members of the General Synod;<br />
keep them steadfast in faith and united in love,<br />
that they may manifest your glory<br />
and prepare the way of your kingdom;<br />
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,<br />
who is alive and reigns with you,<br />
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,<br />
one God, now and for ever.<br />
Amen.<br />
<br />
(<a href="https://www.churchofengland.org/media/2011223/prayer%20card%20one%20sided.pdf" target="_blank">From the General Synod prayer card</a>)<br />
<br />Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-62127962198476828432015-07-26T14:40:00.001+01:002015-07-26T15:01:47.390+01:00Petition calls for all 54 Coventry City Councillors to resignA petition has been created by a resident of Tile Hill, Robin Elms, calling on all the city's councillors to resign.<br />
<br />
Clearly this is not going to happen and Mr Elms would be better using his energies to run a campaign to get himself elected to the council.<br />
<br />
This story has been making think about whether the current council setup is the best for purpose.<br />
<br />
At the moment there is are 18 wards each with three councillors. Each ward has around 12,000 electors. This means that the electoral wards do not necessarily match local self identified communities. I represented Bablake ward from 2000 (when I was the youngest councillor) until 2014 and my former constituents didn't think of themselves as Bablake residents, but instead residents of Allesley or Keresley or Whitmore Park or Coundon. Indeed some of these areas are split between wards!<br />
<br />
Also at the moment the council is elected by thirds so rather the whole council being up, one councillor in ward ward is up for election over a three year cycle with no elections in the fourth year. This can mean that it is impossible for the political control of the council to change before a vote has been cast!<br />
<br />
I think the structure of the council needs to change to allow a greater connection between councillors and their communities and also to allow the chance of changing the council at every election (albeit at the cost of one election every four years rather than three every four)<br />
<br />
So in summary the council should change to 54 single member wards of 4,000 people each rather than the current 3 member wards of 12,000. This would allow wards to match local communities better and also allow councillors to connect with their residents better. The council should also switch to all out elections every four years rather than the current election by thirds.<br />
<br />
via <a href="http://ift.tt/1HSbz1L">LiveJournal</a>Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-51271994621981232572015-07-25T13:20:00.001+01:002015-07-25T13:56:52.799+01:00Greece, the Euro and SovereigntyIt looks like the terms required for the Greek bailout have passed in their parliament. This of course happened after the Greeks had rejected similar terms in a referendum.<br />
<br />
This has resulted in questions about where sovereignty lies and tweets with the hash tag #ThisIsACoup<br />
<br />
While it is not a coup it does show that joining a currency union does have an impact on a nations sovereignty and underlines why a country needs it's own currency. It demonstrates the wisdom of the UK in keeping the pound, and it's good to note it appears to have stopped the argument about joining.<br />
<br />
The other thing to note is the reaction that Greece might leave the euro generated. It clearly showed that there are those in EU who believe as an article of faith that there can be no moves away from European Integration. In February 2015 Jean-Claude Junker saidsaid (in French) "Il ne peut y avoir de choix démocratique contre les traités européens" or in English "There can be no democratic choice against the European treaties" By putting their articles of faith of European integration above democratic choices and economic facts they are just like flat earthers or young earth creationists who not only put their faith above recognised facts but reject generally accepted scientific fact in favour of pseudoscience. We listen to the pseudoscience of the European federalists at our peril.<br />
<br />
via <a href="http://ift.tt/1eo9CQa">LiveJournal</a>Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-49645618123921168602015-06-28T01:27:00.001+01:002015-06-28T10:55:13.294+01:00Coventry Healthy Churches and Same Sex RelationshipsI have just had an interesting twitter exchange with Fr Martin Saxby the Healthy Churches Development Mentor in the Diocese of Coventry.<br />
<br />
It started when he posted a link to an evangelical news site that appeared to compare euthanasia with homosexuality. When I called him out on this he said<br />
<br />
@a_j_williams Turning away from God in any form, particularly by institutions, is a sign of a decaying society.<br />
<br />
I asked him to clarify yes or no whether he thought homosexuality was a sign of a decaying society. His response :-<br />
<br />
@a_j_williams My last tweet to you tonight: are you usually so aggressive? Yes or No?<br />
<br />
Ignoring the fact this a standard response from somebody who does not want to justify themselves so prefers to attack their opponent (I believe the traditional version of this question is "When did you stop beating your wife") it is interesting that Fr Saxby refuses to respond to me despite the fact I am both Lay Chairman of a Deanery Synod and a member of the House of Laity of the Coventry Dioscean Synod.<br />
<br />
While we all know there are bigoted priests out there what is particularly concerning about Fr Saxby is not only did he refuse to give me, a deanery lay chair and diocesan synod rep answer, his substantive post is Healthy Churches Development Mentor. Presumably Fr Saxby does not think gay and lesbian people belong in a healthy church.<br />
<br />
I do not believe that people who are born with attraction to the same sex as themselves are sinners. I do not believe that someone who finds their life partner and enters into a life long relationship with someone who just so happens to be the same sex are sinners.<br />
<br />
I believe a healthy church includes and celebrates the relationships of everyone, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual and celibate. If Fr Martin Saxby, the Diocese of Coventry Healthy Churches Development Mentor does not support this he should resign.<br />
<br />
via <a href="http://ift.tt/1FHIGRk">LiveJournal</a>Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-39549115654627641032015-04-23T11:12:00.001+01:002015-04-23T11:54:57.261+01:00Happy St George's Day<img src="http://ift.tt/1aUiISV" style="float: left; padding: 5px;" /><br />
St George was probably a soldier living in Palestine at the beginning of the fourth century. He was martyred at Lydda in about the year 304, the beginning of the Diocletian persecution, and became known throughout the East as 'The Great Martyr'. There were churches in England dedicated to St George before the Norman conquest. The story of his slaying the dragon is probably due to his being mistaken in iconography for St Michael, himself usually depicted wearing armour; or it may again be a mistaken identity representing Perseus's slaying of the sea monster, a myth also associated with the area of Lydda. George replaced Edward the Confessor as Patron Saint of England following the Crusades, when returning soldiers brought back with them a renewed cult of St George. Edward III made St George patron of the Order of the Garter, which seems finally to have confirmed his position.<br />
<br />
Collect<br />
<br />
God of hosts,<br />
who so kindled the flame of love<br />
in the heart of your servant George<br />
that he bore witness to the risen Lord<br />
by his life and by his death:<br />
give us the same faith and power of love<br />
that we who rejoice in his triumphs<br />
may come to share with him the fullness of the resurrection;<br />
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,<br />
who is alive and reigns with you,<br />
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,<br />
one God, now and for ever.<br />
<br />
Readings for today :<br />
<br />
<a href="http://ift.tt/1OgPOig" rel="nofollow">1 Maccabees 2. 59-64</a><br />
<a href="http://ift.tt/1aUiL12" rel="nofollow">2 Timothy 2. 3-13</a><br />
<a href="http://ift.tt/1aUiISZ" rel="nofollow">John 15. 18-21</a><br />
<br />
Taken from <a href="http://ift.tt/1OgPOik" rel="nofollow">Exciting Holiness Collects & Readings for the Festivals & Lesser Festivals of the Calendar of the Church of England</a><br />
<br />
via <a href="http://ift.tt/1aUiL16">LiveJournal</a>Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-11882587007451909712011-06-04T13:40:00.000+01:002014-05-20T14:43:53.690+01:001000 Years of Annoying the FrenchI have just read an excellent book <i><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0552775746/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=awcomputech-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0552775746">1000 Years of Annoying the French</a></i>.<br/><br/>Highly recommended.<br/><br/><i>Was the Battle of Hastings a French victory? Non! William the Conqueror was Norman and hated the French. Were the Brits really responsible for the death of Joan of Arc? Non! The French sentenced her to death for wearing trousers. Was the guillotine a French invention? Non! It was invented in Yorkshire. Ten centuries’ worth of French historical ‘facts’ bite the dust as Stephen Clarke looks at what has really been going on since 1066.</i>Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2034200989838429590.post-5028461925519731082010-08-11T22:24:00.000+01:002014-05-20T14:43:53.763+01:00Council Meeting Go Hi-Tech!Last nights council meeting was the first to be streamed live to web.<br/><br/>It can be seen <a href="http://connect.coventry.public-i.tv/site/player/pl_v7.php?a=43929&t=0&m=wm&l=en_GB#spkr">here</a>.<br/><br/>My speech is at the 1 hour 10 minute mark.Andrew Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16644085866948022088noreply@blogger.com0