As I reported earlier this month the July meeting of General Synod has been cancelled. In addition the Archbishops said they would ask the Privy Council to postpose the election of a new Synod, due this summer, by twelve months. The Council met yesterday, and accepted the Archbishops’ request. The current Synod will now be dissolved on 31 July 2021.
The details are in Statutory Instrument 2020 No 526: The General Synod of the Church of England (Postponement of Elections) Order 2020.
So, there will be no critical accountability, no robust questioning, no informed debate – via the General Synod – of any injustice, incompetence and/or mismanagement at the very highest levels within the Church of England hierarchy [eg Archbishops’ Council] until 31 July 2021 ?
Richard, all this means is that Synod will be dissolved a year later than it would have been. Synod will not physically meet in July, but it certainly will meet before July 2021.
Graeme Buttery
Richard: that doesn’t follow. The effect of the Order is that the current quinquennium is extended by a year to be a six-years term, with current members continuing as synod members until 31 July 2021. Synod will be meeting as scheduled in November 2020 (possibly remotely, if Parliament passes the necessary primary legislation – something currently being considered) and again in February 2021 and July 2021. Elections for a new Synod will now take place in autumn 2021.
Clearly you’ve not been to a General Synod meeting!