London diocesan synod voted on the Anglican Covenant motion this evening.
The motion in favour of the covenant was lost, being defeated in both the houses of laity and clergy.
Bishops: 2 for / 1 against / 0 abstentions
Clergy: 17 for / 32 against / 1 abstention
Laity: 26 for / 33 against / 2 abstentions
These are the confirmed figures taken from the diocesan website, please ignore earlier incorrect results taken from a garbled tweet.
With this result the current figures are 24 diocesan synods against and 15 in favour of the Covenant.
Synod then debated and passed a following motion: ‘This Diocesan Synod, following the reference from the General Synod of the draft Act of Synod adopting the Anglican Communion Covenant, requests the General Synod to debate the following motion: “That this Synod: a) rejoice in the fellowship of the world-wide Anglican Communion, which is rooted in our shared worship and held together by bonds of affection and our common appeal to Scripture, tradition and reason; b) thank the Archbishop of Canterbury for his tireless efforts throughout the Communion to sustain and strengthen unity in difficult times; and c) call on the… Read more »
Thank you/mil gracias from Central America to the diocese of London, Church of England.
You´ve lightened our burden, you´ve given us another measure of hope that we can grow together while understanding one another better at The Anglican Communion…you´ve revealed to us more of your ongoing willingness for Comprehensive Unity. Unity amongst equals.
This is very good news indeed. Whilst Martin Reynolds and others on Saturday cautioned against any sort of ‘triumphalism’, not least because good people have been hurt and burned by this, nevertheless I think the alternative (passing the Covenant) would have been so damaging and disastrous, that the joy and gladness of relief are entirely appropriate. The architects of the Covenant proposals have been revealed to be hugely out of touch (and do disregard Graham Kings/Fulcrum claiming that support is 50/50, because large numbers of those who voted in favour have been swayed by lily livered Bishops and will have… Read more »
It will be interesting to see whether this result is repeated in the remaining synodical voting. Perhaps, now that the Covenant cannot be passed and therefore being seen to support the Archbishop is irrelevant, synods will increasingly vote against with larger majorities.
From the Yes to the Covenant Website: ‘The Covenant is ‘the only game in town’ if the Church of England is to remain in any meaningful sense apart of the third largest world church. There is no alternative. So the Church of England’s choices are to adopt the Covenant, or to disappear from the world’s radar as a significant voice in the world.’ What has been most scandalous on the part of those behind the Covenant is to portray opponents as disinterested in the Anglican Communion. There IS an alternative to the Covenant for those who celebrate the rich diversity… Read more »
Given the relative importance of the London Diocese in the Church of England, this result must be seen as a real litmus test of the Covenant – and its unsuitability as a rallying point for Communion loyalty to Scriptural, Traditional and Reasonable Anglicanism. Now, perhaps, those Provinces in the Communion that wish to remain partners in mission – on the basis of ‘Unity in diversity – can get on with the task, without let or hindrance.
The Following Motion’ that was passed, adds a degree of willingness to stay ‘in Communion’ with all who want that to happen. Deo gratias!
‘remain in any meaningful sense apart (sic) of the third largest world church.’
The Church of England is not and never has been, ‘in any meaningful sense’ part of ‘the third largest world church’.
Nor, should it wish to be.
World domination does not sound like a radical Christian vision, or at all ‘C of E’. We should learn the lesson of the denomination with such pretensions (the RC denomination), whose sense of truth and decency has suffered so badly from its worldly pretension – let alone any mission of Christian presence.
thank goodness.
Aren’t we as a church supposed to be episcopally led and synodically governed? If so the former seems to have been ignored and the latter most definitely holds sway.
Depends if you think the Covenant is about leadership or governance I suppose. It looks like a governing document to me.
“So the Church of England’s choices are to adopt the Covenant, or to disappear from the world’s radar”
Now, who was it who said we were to be “NOT OF the World”? O_o (As far as being IN the World, we pretty obviously don’t need a covenant for that)
No, Father David sometimes there is a failure in leadership.
Martin, I cannot think that the leadership has failed in giving a firm lead with the strong support and backing given to the Covenant by many of the bishops. Surely, it is more of a case of the sheep failing to follow the lead given by the majority of the shepherds and seeing that the grass appears to be greener on the other side of the debate so vigorously endorsed by the shepherds.
Martin: Exactly. “Episcopally led” does not mean that when the bishops say jump, laity and clergy must ask “how high?”
Good. Relieved but not totally surprised by the rejection of such a concept by the London Diocese. I am sorry, though, for its support by bishops, in most cases, around the country. I suspect in earlier votes it was to show solidarity with Rowan Williams. It’s a pity that more did not support him when fellow bishops openly attacked his authority (and Richard Harries’) over the proposal for a new Bishop of Reading. Oh dear!
Only three of the four London bishops present? Out of interest ( I served all my ministry in the London diocese)who was missing, and who voted against?
Meant to say only three of the FIVE bishops present…half asleep…
As I understand it, the Bps of London and Kensington voted FOR, the Bp of Stepney against, and the Bps of Willesden and Edmonton didn’t vote. I’ve no idea if they were present.
When are we going to hear about the promised
+ Fulham’s appointment?
Bps of Willesden & Edmonton weren’t present. A really excellent speech from Stephen Coles drew sustained applause – all in all a good debate and a good day for the Diocese of London.
I keep sheep. They are nice sheep. They trust me and, like biblical sheep they will follow me. If, however, I tried to call them into a fast flowing river or over a cliff, they would stop dead, puzzled. They are sheep, each sheep with a sense of responsibility for its own well-being. Even in real sheep, failure to follow the leader does not equate to stupidity or selfishness.
The bishop of Willesden who wasn’t present to vote on Rowan’s covenant would be the same bishop of Willesden who jumped down our throats two weeks ago for ganging up on the “much loved” archbishop and told us “You’re pathetic”?
I’m quite proud to now be part of one of the Provinces of the Anglican Communion (ACANZP) that determined early on that the faithful Laity should be part of the governing process of the Province. It was not until late that the C. of E. followed suit. Bishops have their place – but so also do the Faithful among the Baptised. Being ‘led by the nose’ has always not resulted in ‘mishpat’. 3-strand synodical government is one of the most distinctive marks of modern Anglicanism – a feature which – to my mind – remains preferable to papal rule. This… Read more »
“Much loved?”
Those of you who see Dr. Williams up close may find him thoughtful, holy, even saintly.
From a distance, however, what stands out is his fecklessness, his lack of strategic sense, and his willingness to use the sexual-ethics crisis of the moment to arrogate more authority to–surprise, surprise–his own office.
Good riddance!
Quite so, Rosemary – sheep are not to be confused either with lemmings nor Gadarene swine.
Anything mentioned about the publication of the New London Plan and Area Scheme within the Synod and about the Bishop of London’s Fulham Consultation process?