The Questions (and answers) for next week’s meeting of the Church of England’s General Synod were sent to Synod members today. They are not yet online with the other Synod papers but I have put copies online. They come in four parts.
QUESTIONS Notice Paper 1 General Feb 2023
QUESTIONS Notice Paper 1 General Feb 2023 additional info
QUESTIONS Notice Paper 2 LLF February 2023
QUESTIONS Notice Paper 2 LLF Feb 2023 additional info
The first of these starts with this note.
The Business Committee has scheduled two hours for Questions at the February 2023 Group of Sessions of the General Synod. This is divided between 80 minutes on Monday 6 February and 40 minutes on Tuesday 7 February. Notice has been given of 206 questions, of which just under one third or 64 are questions of the House of Bishops relating to Living in Love and Faith and ancillary matters. The Business Committee has determined that the two questions sessions will take the following format. There are two Questions Notice Papers. This first Notice Paper contains all questions other than those relating to the Living in Love and Faith process. The second Notice Paper contains all questions to the House of Bishops on Living in Love and Faith. The first session for questions will begin at the start of the first Notice Paper and will continue until the time provided for in the agenda comes to an end. The second session will then begin at the start of the second Notice Paper and will continue until the time provided for in the agenda comes to an end.
The order in which questions are answered follows convention. The three bodies or individuals of whom questions were asked and who appeared at the bottom of the Notice Paper at the previous occasion questions were asked are taken first in this group of sessions. The remaining bodies and individuals follow in the same order as previously.
The previous occasion questions were asked was November 2022. This means questions to the Secretary General, the Clerk to the Synod and National Society Council will be taken first at this group of sessions.
So to confirm: 40 minutes is being assigned to deal with 64 LLF questions. Is that right? Given the seriousness of the topic and the questions, I hope that’s sufficient time to allow all supplementary questions to be addressed.
I imagine that this is largely because there is a considerable amount of other time on the agenda for “LLF” during which the points being addressed in the questions will undoubtedly be raised. There are many other questions addressing other aspects of church life and dealing with topics not otherwise on the agenda.
The Bishop of London is unwilling (Q146, 147, 148, 149 and 150) to define whether sex outside of Holy Matrimony is still deemed ‘unholy’ (or a sin), and delays an answer to that rather essential question for gay and lesbian people until the Pastoral Guidance is provided. How can Synod members be expected to ‘welcome’ the Bishops’ proposals (section ‘e’ of the Bishop of London’s motion) if we do not yet know what the Guidance will decide, and whether we all, or priests, will be expected to live in celibacy/chastity all our lives? That could effectively be like signing our… Read more »
Dr Felicity Cooke (Ely) to ask the Presidents of the Archbishops’ Council: Q62 When will the Ministry Statistics, compiled by the Research and Statistics Department and due in summer 2022, be published? Mr Matthew Frost to reply on behalf of the Presidents of the Archbishops’ Council: A Due to a significant restructure in the Data Services team as part of Transforming Effectiveness along with the resignation of a key member of staff and a significant focus of effort by the team on the new People System, it was not possible to produce a published report in 2022. The data in 2022 was collected and… Read more »
As a mum with 2 SEN kids I’d like to say thank you to Venessa Pedro Pinto from Leicester for asking such an important question (Q8) about SEN kids. It’s disappointing to see the poor answer. It’s also rather strange how only 40 minutes is being assigned to deal with 60+ LLF questions.
If I read this correctly 1. The Church of England now recognises a distinction between marriage (a legal state) and Holy Matrimony (a marriage solemnised in accordance with Canon B30?) 2. Sex belongs in marriage as per Canon B30, not just Holy Matrimony It would seem to me that for the bishops to legally restrict sex to Holy Matrimony would require a formal modification of Canon 30 but at least some bishops (and possibly the whole house) are likely to try to bring in that restriction without formally changing Canon 30. On another note, I am concerned that the Bishop… Read more »
That is beyond their powers. I think they are more likely to say that sex outside matrimony is sinful.
I’m not quite sure what this refers to. Various restrictions exist or are proposed already by various parties. Is it suggested that there should be no restrictions at all?
But the point stands, even if it’s being made by questions from conservatives.
In giving these new blessings, will clergy bless relationships that are (according to traditional views of marriage) in a state of sin, or people who are in a state of sin?
This is what happens when bishops try to sit on the fence–when they give same-sex couples something less than Holy Matrimony.
And no, I’m not sympathetic.
I don’t think they anticipate getting through all the LLF questions. They will do as many as they can, and they will then be timed out. About 25 or 30 perhaps? (unless a procedural motion is moved to extend the time).
But why? These are some deep and important issues, and to provide insufficient time (if that turns out to be the case) seems like bad management, doesn’t it? Or limitation of discussion, supplementary questions etc. They could have planned to finish the session an hour later if necessary. Anyway, let’s hope everything gets covered, but there is potential for all kinds of shenanigans.
Personally I think the way Synod is run is weighted towards vested interests ie the bishops. All presentations should be dropped – assume people read briefing papers so that ALL the time can be given over to questions from the clergy and laity. The scant 40 minutes given is anti-democratic. The Bishop of London should be forced to give straight answers, not say wait for the pastoral paper.
Seems that The Business Committee is where the control is seen to lie. Of course I am sure that there are ways for CofE corporate to influence the decisions of that committee. Completely legitimately of course.
They contain masses of tedious repetition. Few are answered together. If I was chairing they’d get through at high speed. Nothing edifying or material of the kind that will help the substantive debate.
And a great pity you are not still there!
Disappointing. Only a handful of questions on the £100m that’s magically appeared out of nowhere to pay for people to research how bad we should feel about ourselves for slavery, and none of them challenging either the figure, or the use of such an eye wateringly large amount of money. What is General Synod for?
This question might turn out to have been the most important of them all:
Mr Robin Hall (Europe) to ask the Chair of the House of Bishops:
Q168 Is it the case that there have been priests who have been denied a licence to minister, and therefore income and a home, due to having entered a same-sex civil marriage?
The Bishop of London to reply on behalf of the Chair of the House of Bishops:
A Yes, that is the case.