The Church of England’s General Synod will meet in London from 13 to 15 November 2023. The Outline of Business has been published and is copied below the fold.
GENERAL SYNOD: NOVEMBER 2023
OUTLINE OF BUSINESS
Full details of each item will be on the agenda
Monday 13 November
1.45 pm – 4.30 pm
Opening worship
Introductions
Joint Presidential Address
Business Committee Report
Reappointment of the Chair of the Pensions Board
*3.10pm Questions
Between 4.30pm and 7pm there will be an informal session on Living in Love and Faith
Tuesday 14 November
10.15 am – 12.45 pm
Between 9am and 10.15am Eucharist will be held in the Assembly Hall
Special Agenda I: Legislative Business
Safeguarding Redress Measure – first consideration
*11.45 am Questions
2.00 pm – 7.00 pm
Special Agenda I: Legislative Business
Churches Conservation Trust Order 2023 – for approval
Standing Orders Committee Report
*3.30pm Living in Love and Faith
Wednesday 15 November
9.00 am – 12.45 pm
Opening Worship
Living in Love and Faith
2.00 pm – 4.45 pm
Living in Love and Faith
Special Agenda I: Legislative Business
Vacancy in See Committees (Amendment) Regulation – for approval
*4.45pm Prorogation
* not later than
Deadline for receipt of questions: 1200 hrs Thursday 26 October
Contingency business
Future of Work: DSM from Oxford
Clergy Pensions: PMM from Revd Dr Ian Paul
Parochial Fees: DSM from London
Can someone please slip in a question on how the Church Commissioners could use the £2billion of investment gains made in the last 10 years to support parishes? Here at the coalface we’re scrabbling around for pennies whilst the national CofE sits on a massive pile of cash. When will resourcing frontline parish ministry get the same kind of favour as researching links to slavery (£100m) or net zero (£190m)? All the money given out from the centre comes with strings attached – I get the need to focus on growth and young people, but many Dioceses are in a… Read more »
It is crucial that the next Archbishop of Canterbury leads the way on releasing Church Commissioners money in this way. It will be argued by some that the CC do financially support regular parish ministry already. But not sufficiently to change the depressing nature of the parish share system. Having less money for national and diocesan initiatives will change the nature of senior leadership.
Very true. Too many barriers to getting money to the front line and too much focus on supporting projects over continuing and strengthening existing ministry. Hopefully then we can avoid messes like “Transforming Wigan” throwing the baby out with the bath water.
I wholly get the sentiment of this: the relative effectiveness of funding existing church well v funding new projects well has not been properly tested. The report on Wigan suggests to me that “traditional church” may provide a more significant necessary core for innovation than has previously been appreciated The trajectory set by the Governance review is that allocation decisions will eventually be made by the replacement for the current Archbishops’ Council, with the hope that these will then be more effectively accountable – with decisions being made one step closer to the front line. That actually depends on the… Read more »
I hope this can be pursued. Adding to the monies spent so far, add the cost of LLF and all its attachments; Now the vote of last Synod is to be overturned and more money will be spent. Those who took part are now dishonoured.
“Mere” ordained parish priests, as opposed to “heads” of large urban centres are not truly honoured , respected. The balance in training needs adjusting.
Couldn’t agree more!
I say ‘Amen!’ to the first two comments. Millions being spent on projects and different kinds of ministry, but it seems there is a complete lack of research into their effectiveness. Meanwhile poor parishes like mine are struggling to do things like replacing lightbulbs or pay the heating bills.
LLF every day then, allowing for the fact that LLF will feature in many Questions. Expect the House of Bishops to drive through with new commended liturgy without the need for legislation. Then expect the usual suspects to instruct their lawyers. I doubt the courts will wish to intervene but whether or not they do Parliament will at this point position its tanks on the lawn at Lambeth. It looks like that might have started. The relationship between the Government and the Church of England is described as ‘really toxic’ in an online piece today in the Daily Telegraph. The… Read more »