Papers for next month’s meeting of the Church of England General Synod are now available online. There is a list (with links and a note of the day sheduled for their debate) in numerical order below the fold.
Timetable
GS 2232 Agenda November 2021
GS 2170A – Tackling Inequality Paper [Wednesday]
GS 2170B – Background Paper on the Wealth Gap – Revised Oct 21 [Wednesday]
GS 2233 – Report from the Business Committee [Tuesday]
GS 2234 – Archbishops’ Council 2022 financial update [Wednesday]
GS 2236X – Act of Synod explanatory notes [Wednesday]
GS 2237 – Reappointment of AC member [Wednesday]
GS 2238 – Vision and Strategy Update [Wednesday]
GS 2239 – Governance Review Group [Wednesday]
GS Misc papers
GS Misc 1299 – Routemap to Net Zero 2030
GS Misc 1300 – Report on AC Activities
GS Misc 1301 – Summary of House of Bishops and Delegated Committees Nov 2021
GS Misc 1302 – Setting God’s People Free update
GS Misc 1303 – Resourcing Ministerial Formation Review
GS Misc 1304 – Report from the Clergy Conduct Implementation Group
GS Misc 1305 – Note from Prolocutors and Chair and Vice Chair House of Laity
GS Misc 1306 – Living in Love and Faith Guide
Notice papers
In the Guide in GS Misc 1306, it says: “An annotated bibliography relating to gender identity and transition will gather and summarise resources to help the Church: • to be better informed about the questions relating to gender identity, fluidity and transition that are being debated in society; • to better understand the impact of these debates on trans and gender fluid people and others affected by them. It will involve gathering resources from experts in different fields, from transgender and gender fluid people as well as other people affected by these questions.” Please could somebody tell me who I… Read more »
While I am still concerned that LLF seems to be revisiting gender identity and transition – what’s the motive? – if you want to talk to the NSG there is a form on https://www.churchofengland.org/resources/living-love-and-faith/contact-living-love-and-faith-next-steps-group
Why do we need a bibliography? Wasn’t that the purpose of LLF? It sounds suspiciously to me as though people opposed to the recognition of gender reassignment want a second go at it, this time without the involvement of trans and intersex people. Very concerning.
I share those concerns myself Kate, so for the time being I have reflected and will hold my fire, as I’m not sure I want to add my name or resources to the process if disproportionate attention or equivalence is given to the gender-critical deconstruction of most trans people’s lived experiences and identity. I will review in a few weeks.
So as I read the LLF Guide for General Synod, it seems to set out: for the Bishops to finalise proposals for a way forward around December 2022, and then in February 2023 for General Synod to consider what the Bishops propose, and agree a clear direction of travel. Have I got that right? And how does Synod achieve the “agree” part? Does that require 50.1% majority or 66.7% majority? Specifically, if the Bishops proposed recognition of two ‘integrities’ which could be followed by local church communities, thereby accommodating the affirmation of gay sexuality as one option/expression within Church doctrine…… Read more »
I am about to start reflecting on some of these issues from my new role as a synod outsider. The short answer to some of this is that revisions to the Church’s liturgy need a two-thirds majority in the General Synod, as would changes to canon law as the result of Parliament removing the quadruple lock. Only ‘commended liturgy’ could be passed with a simple majority, or possibly no vote at all. Given that the composition of the Houses of Clergy and Laity in the Eleventh General Synod probably haven’t changed much (and might possibly have become slightly more conservative),… Read more »
Thank you for the clarification on the majorities needed in General Synod, and your other reflections, Anthony. Sobering. Also, just to say, I was frustrated that you narrowly missed out because Synod is poorer for your absence.
In fact there is another route to get liturgy authorised, which is that the Convocations can do it separate from the General Synod.
The Convocations (and indeed each diocesan bishop in their respective diocese) may only approve forms of service that are not alternative to services in the BCP. If there is a form of service in the BCP then full synodical approval is needed. On this topic the question would be whether a form of marriage for two people of the same sex is primarily a marriage service (and therefore any form is alternative to the BCP and therefore requires full synodical approval of 2/3 majorities in all three houses); or whether it is something entirely different from a marriage service (in… Read more »
I’ve only now read GS Misc 1306. One thing that strikes me is just how many new elements of the process have been introduced at this stage. Who has formulated this – Malcolm Brown and Eeva John? It certainly hasn’t been in any way an open or transparent process. Secondly, under Passing the Baton right at the end, the final section, 2: d) What steps can the LLF Next Steps Group and all of us in the wider church take to help make your most hopeful aspirations a reality? Use and share the LLF resources; encourage one another and move… Read more »