We have previously reported on the proposals of the Dioceses Commission on the four Yorkshire dioceses of Bradford, Ripon & Leeds, Sheffield and Wakefield, and their boundaries with the Diocese of York in July and last December.
The Dioceses Commission has now begun the formal consultation phase of its proposals for the Yorkshire dioceses with the publication of a Draft Dioceses of Bradford, Ripon and Leeds and Wakefield Reorganisation Scheme. The Commission’s report, draft scheme and associated documents can be read at www.diocom.org/yorkshire.
There is also this press release, Formal consultation begins on reorganisation of West Yorkshire dioceses, which is copied below the fold.
5 CommentsUpdated to correct number of abstentions in house of laity
Updated to add texts of the following motions
Bath and Wells diocesan synod debated the women bishops legislation today.
The main motion, in favour of the legislation, was passed in all three houses. Here are the voting figures.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 2 0 0 Clergy 52 9 0 Laity 55 10 3
Twitter reports “Following [motion] on Archbishops’ amendment failed Following [motion] encouraging early Code passed”.
Here are the texts of the two following motions.
3 CommentsThat this synod [ie the diocesan synod] request the General Synod to debate a motion in the following form:
That this synod [ie the General Synod] call upon the House of Bishops, in exercise of its powers under standing order 60(b), to amend the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure in the manner proposed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York at the Revision Stage for the draft Measure.
[defeated 21 votes to 100]This Synod, supportive of women in the episcopate, urges General Synod to expedite the production of the Code of Practice by the House of Bishops and to take seriously its role in debating and approving the contents with due regard to those who find the consecration of women to the episcopate unacceptable.
[passed]
Tim Stevens, the Bishop of Leicester, writes for the Church Times about bishops in the House of Lords: Bishops are lining up to keep Coalition in check.
Sayeeda Warsi writes for The Telegraph that Britain must be a country where people can be proud of their religion.
Danielle Elizabeth Tumminio asks in The Guardian Would you accept a robot as your priest or vicar?
Also in The Guardian Steven Hepburn asks Why pray for the souls in purgatory?
Christopher Howse writes in The Telegraph about The reason why Leo was Great.
1 CommentAlthough Europe’s diocesan synod voted on the legislation to allow women to become bishops in June, it is the Bishop’s Council which makes the official decision for the diocese.
The Bishop’s Council has now held its debate, and here are the votes on the main motion in favour of the legislation.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 0 2 0 Clergy 10 4 0 Laity 6 3 1
As in all these debates it is the votes in the houses of clergy and laity that count, so Europe has voted in favour of the legislation.
There is a report of the debate on the diocesan website: Diocese in Europe agrees Women Bishops legislation.
This also gives details of a following motion asking for more provision for opponents; voting was 13 in favour, 10 against with 3 abstentions.
1 CommentThe 2010 office and working costs of bishops in the Church of England were published today (27 October).
Bishops’ Office and Working Costs for the year ended 31 December 2010
Reports for previous years (back to 2005) are available here.
1 CommentUpdated to include following motion
Updated 1 November to correct voting figures for the following motion
Ely diocesan synod debated the women bishops legislation today.
The main motion, in favour of the legislation, was passed in all three houses. Here are the voting figures.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 2 0 0 Clergy 39 6 1 Laity 30 10 2
A following motion, seeking more provision for opponents was defeated with 12 votes in favour, 74 72 against and 6 abstentions. The abstentions included both bishops.
In an article for the Church Times, now available to non-subscribers, George Pitcher offers Ten media tips for the Church.
Derek Olsen writes for the Episcopal Café about Communicating your parish ethos.
Christian Piatt asks in The Huffington Post Did Jesus Really Die for Our Sins?
1 CommentUpdate 16 November
Truro diocesan synod debated the women bishops legislation today.
The main motion, in favour of the legislation, was passed in all three houses. Here are the voting figures.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 1 0 0 Clergy 27 3 1 Laity 33 6 1
The following motion asking for more provision for those opposed was “decisively defeated”.
Update The following motion was the standard CEEC motion.
6 CommentsThat this Synod
“Desires that all faithful Anglicans remain and thrive together in the Church of England; and therefore
Calls upon the House of Bishops to bring forward amendments to the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure to ensure that those unable on theological grounds to accept the ministry of women bishops are able to receive episcopal oversight from a bishop with authority (i.e. ordinary jurisdiction) conferred by the Measure rather than by delegation from a Diocesan Bishop.”
Updated Saturday afternoon and evening
Updated Saturday night (including corrections to Blackburn and Norwich figures)
Updated Monday night to add Wakefield following motion
Updated Tuesday to add links to reports on Blackburn and Rochester diocesan websites. In addition the voting figures for clergy and laity in the first following motion at Rochester have been corrected to match the diocesan report.
Seven diocesan synods debated the women bishops legislation today. We will update this article as results become available.
A majority of diocesan synods have now voted in favour of the main motion, and the draft legislation can now return to General Synod.
The main motion, which all synods have to vote on by houses and without amendment, is:
That this Synod approves the proposals embodied in the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and ordination of women) Measure and in draft Amending Canon Number 30.
The usual following motion (the “CEEC motion”) seeks further provision for opponents.
That this Synod
1. Desires that all faithful Anglicans remain and thrive together in the Church of England; and therefore
2. Calls upon the House of Bishops to bring forward amendments to the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure to ensure that those unable, on theological grounds, to accept the ministry of Women Bishops are able to receive episcopal oversight from a Bishop with authority (i.e. ordinary jurisdiction) conferred by the Measure rather than by delegation from a Diocesan Bishop.
1) Blackburn passed the main motion in the houses of clergy and laity (which is what matters)..
For Against Abstentions Bishops 1 3 0 Clergy 36 34 0 Laity 33 30 4
The CEEC following motion was carried: 79 votes for and 55 against.
The diocese has published this report: Diocese Backs Women Bishops Proposals.
2) Carlisle passed the main motion in all three houses.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 1 0 0 Clergy 30 8 0 Laity 45 10 0
The CEEC following motion was defeated.
3) Norwich passed the main motion in all three houses.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 3 0 0 Clergy 33 12 2 Laity 31 11 0
The CEEC following motion was defeated.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 0 1 2 Clergy 21 22 3 Laity 17 24 1
These figures are now correct; the diocesan website originally had an error which has now been corrected.
4) Rochester passed the main motion in all three houses.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 2 0 0 Clergy 36 12 0 Laity 34 11 2
The CEEC following motion was defeated.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 0 0 2 Clergy 10 31 8 Laity 13 32 3
There was a second following motion
This Synod expresses the hope that the House of Bishops will bring forward proposals which will meet the legitimate needs of those opposed in conscience to the ordination of women to the episcopate, so that they may remain fully part of the Church of England
which was defeated.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 1 0 1 Clergy 18 26 5 Laity 20 17 10
The diocese has published a pdf file giving the voting figures both at the diocesan synod (as above) and at deanery synods.
5) St Albans passed the main motion in all three houses.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 3 0 0 Clergy 43 10 0 Laity 52 7 1
The CEEC following motion was defeated.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 0 3 0 Clergy 6 39 3 Laity 5 52 4
6) Wakefield passed the main motion in the houses of clergy and laity (which is what matters).
For Against Abstentions Bishops 1 1 0 Clergy 24 14 0 Laity 23 10 2
The synod debated this following motion:
That this synod requests the general synod to debate a motion in the following form:
That this synod [i.e. the general synod] calls upon the House of Bishops, in exercise of its powers under standing order 60(b), to amend the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and ordination of women) measure in the manner proposed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York at the revision stage for the draft measure.
This was carried in all three houses. These are the voting figures for that motion.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 2 0 0 Clergy 20 19 0 Laity 20 12 1
The diocese has published this report: Wakefield debates women Bishops.
7) Winchester passed the main motion in all three houses.
For Against Abstentions Bishops 2 0 0 Clergy 23 21 2 Laity 37 23 2
The CEEC following motion also passed with 61 votes for, 36 against and 6 abstentions.
A second following motion
The Synod requests the General Synod to amend the draft legislation to provide for the review on a periodic basis, by or on behalf of the General Synod, of its operation having specific regard to its efficacy in removing, as far as possible , within the context of the existing safeguards, the legal distinctions between the Episcopal ministry of women and the Episcopal ministry of men, as soon as possible and for a mechanism to be established for the implementation of the recommendations of each and any such review.
was defeated: 29 votes for, 51 against, and 13 abstentions.
From the diocesan website: Winchester Diocese says ‘yes’ …just!
70 CommentsJonathan Jones writes in The Guardian that Our churches are filled with hidden beauty.
“Despite the ravages of the Reformation, Britain’s churches are still full of glorious medieval art. What are the best examples in your area?”
David Lose asks in The Huffington Post What Does the Bible Really Say About Homosexuality?
Giles Fraser writes in the Church Times that, Unlike iPads, we are not disposable.
4 CommentsUpdated to include partial information on the following motions
The London diocesan synod held its debate on the women bishops legislation this evening, and voted against the legislation.
The motion, which all synods have to vote on by houses and without amendment was:
That this Synod approves the proposals embodied in the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and ordination of women) Measure and in draft Amending Canon Number 30.
The voting figures were:
| For | Against | Abstentions | |
| Bishops | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Clergy | 39 | 41 | 0 |
| Laity | 45 | 37 | 0 |
For this purpose the motion is only carried if both the houses of clergy and laity vote in favour.
The diocese has published this Report from Diocesan Synod.
Two following motions were also considered, and both were rejected. When we receive the exact wording of them we will add that information.
1. Understood to be the CEEC motion voted on in other dioceses
| For | Against | Abstentions | |
| Bishops | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Clergy | 37 | 38 | 0 |
| Laity | 36 | 39 | 2 |
2. Understood to be a request to reconsider the “Archbishops’ amendment”
| For | Against | Abstentions | |
| Bishops | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Clergy | 34 | 38 | 1 |
| Laity | 33 | 41 | 2 |
Updated Saturday afternoon to add the Chichester results.
Updated Saturday evening to add the Exeter results.
Updated Sunday to add more details of the Chichester debates (below the fold).
Three more diocesan synods held their debates on the women bishops legislation today.
1) At Lichfield the main motion
That this Synod approves the proposals embodied in the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and ordination of women) Measure and in draft Amending Canon Number 30.
was carried in all three houses. Here are the detailed voting figures.
| For | Against | Abstentions | |
| Bishops | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Clergy | 45 | 13 | 0 |
| Laity | 46 | 18 | 2 |
The usual following motion (text below) was defeated.
That this Synod
1. Desires that all faithful Anglicans remain and thrive together in the Church of England; and therefore
2. Calls upon the House of Bishops to bring forward amendments to the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure to ensure that those unable, on theological grounds, to accept the ministry of Women Bishops are able to receive episcopal oversight from a Bishop with authority (i.e. ordinary jurisdiction) conferred by the Measure rather than by delegation from a Diocesan Bishop.
The diocese has published this: Lichfield Diocese approves draft women bishops’ legislation.
2) At Chichester the main motion (as above) was defeated.
| For | Against | Abstentions | |
| Bishops | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Clergy | 30 | 35 | 0 |
| Laity | 37 | 41 | 0 |
There were two following motions seeking greater provision for opponents. The first (as above) was carried by 80 votes to 52. There was also a motion as at Manchester which was carried by 87 votes to 50.
The diocese has published this: Chichester votes NO.
Alastair Cutting has sent us more details of the Chichester debates as published on the Chalice wesbite; these are copied below the fold.
3) At Exeter the main motion was carried in the houses of clergy and laity (which is what matters for this purpose), although it was defeated in the house of bishops.
| For | Against | Abstentions | |
| Bishops | 1 | 2 | |
| Clergy | 30 | 18 | |
| Laity | 45 | 16 |
The synod also passed the following motion:
That this synod request the General Synod to debate a motion in the following form:
That this synod:
1. Desires that all faithful Anglicans remain and thrive together in the Church of England and therefore
2. Requests the House of Bishops, in exercise of its powers under Standing Order 60 (b) to amend the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure so as to incorporate the amendments proposed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York at the General Synod group of sessions in July 2010 as follows:
In clause 2 (1) leave out the words ‘way of delegation to’ and after clause 2(1) insert –
(2) The episcopal ministry referred to in subsections (1), (3) and (5) shall be exercisable by virtue of this section and shall not divest the bishop of the diocese of any of his or her functions.
Here are the voting figures.
| For | Against | Abstentions | |
| Bishops | 3 | 0 | |
| Clergy | 33 | 13 | |
| Laity | 26 | 23 |
The diocese has published this: Women in the Episcopate legislation.
23 CommentsLaura Brosnan asks in The Guardian How can it be fair to say I can’t be saved by God if I’m gay?
“Christian friends rejected me when I came out to them, citing Leviticus. But my faith comes from the love of God, not the Bible.”
Riazat Butt writes in The Guardian about UK chaplains in Afghanistan: ordinary priests with an extraordinary flock.
“With their camouflage Bibles and combat crosses, the forces’ 278 chaplains are outsiders in the church and the military.”
Martin L Smith writes for the Daily Episcopalian about Money, might and the name of God.
23 CommentsThe Venerable Peter Burrows, Archdeacon of Leeds, is to be the next Suffragan Bishop of Doncaster in the Diocese of Sheffield.
He will be consecrated as a Bishop in York Minster on 2 February, and take up his post shortly afterwards.
0 CommentsUpdated Saturday night to add the Peterborough results.
Two more diocesan synods held their debates on the women bishops legislation today.
1) At Ripon and Leeds the motion
That this Synod approve the proposal embodied in the draft Bishops and Prietsts (Consecreation and Ordination of Women) Measure and in draft Amending Canon No 30.
was carried overwhelmingly in all three houses. Here are the detailed voting figures.
| For | Against | Abstentions | |
| Bishops | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Clergy | 42 | 3 | 0 |
| Laity | 30 | 4 | 2 |
A ‘following’ motion calling for stronger legal provision for alternative male bishops to be set up by statute rather than a code of practice was debated but was defeated by 70 votes to 12.
The diocese has issued this press release: Overwhelming vote for women bishops.
2) At Peterborough the main motion (in favour of the legislation) was carried in all three houses with these voting figures.
| For | Against | Abstentions | |
| Bishops | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Clergy | 37 | 10 | 2 |
| Laity | 30 | 14 | 5 |
The following motion, seeking more provision for opponents, was defeated in all three houses:
| For | Against | Abstentions | |
| Bishops | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Clergy | 9 | 35 | 3 |
| Laity | 20 | 27 | 2 |
At Michaelmas Scott Gunn writes about Angels: setting the record straight.
Andrew Brown writes for The Guardian: Creationism explained.
“You can believe in a Creator without being a ‘scientific creationist’. The distinction is important and needs preserving.”
Alom Shaha writes for The Guardian that Faster than light story highlights the difference between science and religion.
“‘Belief’ means something different to scientists and the faithful … we’re open to the idea Einstein may have been wrong.”
Giles Fraser writes in The Church Times that we should Examine the inequalities of a feral society.
Jaweed Kaleem reports in The Huffington Post on a survey: [American] Readers Prefer Literal Bible Translations Over Common English, New Survey Shows.
9 CommentsThe Church of England has announced the publication of its latest finance and ministry statistics with the following press release.
Church of England publishes latest statistics on web
29 September 2011– parish giving holds up; younger vocations increase
The Church of England has today published its latest information about parish income and expenditure and trends in ministry numbers in Church Statistics 2009/10. The attendance statistics included were published in February 2011.
This year’s financial statistics show that the 2008 credit crunch began to affect church income in 2009, though not in terms of parish giving nor as hard as many charities.
Parish income
Despite the difficult economic times, parishioners’ tax-efficient planned giving continued to increase in 2009, topping an average of £10 a week (£10.06p) for the first time. The total income of parishes dropped to £889 million, mainly due to a fall in restricted income from £204 million to £176 million and a fall in one-off donations. Restricted income is monies given for specific purposes designated by the donor. Unrestricted voluntary income, mainly the regular and plate giving in churches plus the tax recovered through Gift Aid, rose from almost £505 million to more than £511 million. At the same time, total parish expenditure rose to £886 million, with nearly £49 million of this being donations made by parishes to external charities.
Dr John Preston, the Church’s National Stewardship and Resources Officer, said:
“Whilst figures for giving to the wider charity section showed a dip following the credit crunch, giving to parishes in 2009 saw a further increase, albeit a small one; a sign of the high level of commitment that so many have to supporting the mission and ministry of their local parish church. Gift Aid reclaimed on donations also reached a new high.”
Ordination candidates
Another 515 candidates were accepted to train as future clergy in 2010, with those aged 20-29 showing a 45 per cent increase from 74 to 108. In total, 563 new clergy were ordained in 2010. Of those, 284 were entering full-time paid ministry.
Revd Preb Lynda Barley, Head of Research & Statistics for the Archbishops’ Council, comments: “It is encouraging that the Church is responding confidently to the challenge that the changing age profile of our nation brings, with one in five future clergy entering training being under 30 years of age.”
While the numbers of people being training for ordination remained buoyant across 2009, the number of retirements also remained high. Taking retirements and other losses into account, there was a net loss of 129 full-time paid clergy. The total number of licensed clergy (including part-time and self supporting ministers whose numbers increased) was down by 72.
At the end of 2010, there were some 29,000 licensed and authorised ministers, ordained and lay, active across the 13,000 parishes and a growing variety of chaplaincies (in local communities, hospitals, education, prisons and the armed forces) in the Church of England.
The latest statistics have been added to the Church of England website, alongside attendance statistics published in February, at http://www.churchofengland.org/media/1333106/2009churchstatistics.pdf .
It should be noted that many of the statistics are for 2009. These seem to be the ones that require data from parishes.
5 CommentsUpdated late Saturday [see note at the end]
Updated Monday morning to insert Durham abstentions
Two English diocesan synods held their debates on the women bishops legislation today.
1) At Manchester the main motion
That this Synod approve the proposals embodied in the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and ordination of women) measure and in the draft Amending Canon No30.
was carried in all three houses with these voting figures:
| For | Against | Abstentions | |
| Bishops | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Clergy | 41 | 13 | 2 |
| Laity | 38 | 26 | 4 |
But this following motion was also carried in all three houses.
That this synod [ie the diocesan synod] request the general synod to debate a motion in the following form:
That this synod [ie the general synod] call upon the House of Bishops, in exercise of its powers under standing order 60(b), to amend the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and ordination of women) measure in the manner proposed by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York at the revision stage for the draft measure.
These are the voting figures:
| For | Against | Abstentions | |
| Bishops | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Clergy | 31 | 21 | 3 |
| Laity | 47 | 20 | 1 |
2) At Durham the main motion was passed in all three houses.
| For | Against | Abstentions | |
| Bishops | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Clergy | 34 | 5 | 1 |
| Laity | 55 | 6 | 0 |
I don’t have any figures for abstentions.
A following motion, seeking greater provision for opponents, was defeated with 16 votes for, 77 against, and 7 abstentions.
3) Note
The procedure for these diocesan synod debates is given in GS Misc 964. In particular I draw attention to this extract from paragraph 6.
48 CommentsAttention is drawn to Rule 34(1)(h) of the Church Representation Rules which provides that if the votes of the houses of clergy and laity are in favour of a matter referred under Article 8, then that matter shall be deemed to have been approved for the purposes of that Article.
Jonathan Jones writes for The Guardian No faith in flesh: art exposes Christianity’s original sin.
“For centuries, defenders of the nude in art have faced a battle against Christian fear of the naked human form.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury and the comedian, writer and broadcaster Frank Skinner recently “sat down for an in-depth exchange of views on the state of Christianity today”.
Archbishop Rowan and Frank Skinner in conversation
Sarah Ditum argues in The Guardian that it is Time for burial to die a death.
“We should stop treating cemeteries like a cupboard under the stairs and embrace new ways of disposing of the dead.”
John Dominic Crossan writes for The Huffington Post about The Search for the Historical Paul: How to Read The Letters of Paul [with particular reference to Philemon].
Savitri Hensman writes for The Guardian that Direct, compassionate intervention on earth is not God’s remit but ours.
“God offers no instant fix in adversity. He respects our free will and asks us to use it well.”
Earlier this year YouGov@Cambridge did a census of British life and attitudes, using a representative sample of adult Britons. Some of the questions were on religion, and British Religion in Numbers (BRIN) has published this summary of the results: YouGov@Cambridge on Religion. It starts:
40% of adults professed no religion, 55% were Christian and 5% of other faiths – age made a major difference, with only 38% of the 18-34s being Christian and 53% having no religion, whereas for the over-55s the figures were 70% and 26% respectively.
BRIN’s conclusion is:
All in all, these data point to a society in which religion is increasingly in retreat and nominal. With the principal exception of the older age groups, many of those who claim some religious allegiance fail to underpin it by a belief in God or to translate it into regular prayer or attendance at a place of worship. People in general are more inclined to see the negative than the positive aspects of religion, and they certainly want to keep it well out of the political arena.
The full data set is available here.
24 Comments