Legislation and Liturgy papers now online
Papers for Legislative Business
GS 1484B (36 kB)
GS 1485B (56 kB)
GS 1486B (31 kB)
GS 1487B (23 kB)
GS 1484-7Z (208 kB)
These are the amendments to the Canons and representation rules to put into effect changes in the size and composition of Synod.
GS 1505Z - Report of the Steering Committee on final drafting of the Draft Stipends (Cessation of Special Payments) Measure. (27 kB)
GS 1524Y - Report of the Revision Committee for the Draft Pastoral (Amendment) Measure. (99 kB)
GS 1555X - Explanatory memorandum for the Draft Church of England (Miscellaneous Provisions) Measure (35 kB)
GS 1537 - Legal Officers (Annual Fees) Order 2004 (77 kB)
GS 1538 - Ecclesiastical Judges, Legal Officers and Others (Fees) Orders 2004 (127 kB)
GS 1553X - Memorandum by the Archbishops’ Council on the Draft Parochial Fees Order 2004 (52 kB)
Papers for Liturgical Business: Weekday Lectionary and Amendments
GS1520A Texts for Authorization, split into eight files
Contents (17 kB)
Table 1 The Lectionary Years (33 kB)
Table 2 Weekday Lectionary: Old and New Testament Readings (331 kB)
Table 3 Psalm Tables for Seasons (43 kB)
Table 4 Psalm Table for Weekdays in Ordinary Time (26 kB)
Table 5 Psalms in Course (26 kB)
Table 6 Daily Eucharistic Lectionary (231 kB)
Amendments to Calendar, Lectionary and Collects etc (36 kB)
GS 1520Y Report of the Revision Committee (66 kB)
More papers are now online.
GS Misc 749 Rethinking Sentencing (49 kbB
GS1544 Enabling a World of Difference (133 kB)
GS1550 Archbishops’ Council’s Annual Report (1122 kB)
GS1545 Financial Business - Budget for 2005 (462 kB)
GS1546 Common Worship: Initiation Services (369 kB)
GS1547 Trade Justice: A Christian Response to Global Poverty (73 kB)
GS1548 The Church of England and Europe (239 kB)
It has been pointed out to me (see Paul Bagshaw’s comment) that the online version of GS1554 Clergy Discipline (Doctrine) does not include the text of the draft measure. I’ve enquired at Church House and been told that
“It is not in a format that can go on line. It is produced by Framemaker as required by the Parliamentary authorities, so is not readable unless you have this software.”
Comment
Comment
And doesn’t the choice of this format cast some doubt on the description of the draft measure as ‘for illustrative purposes only’?
Posted by Paul Bagshaw on Monday, 28 June 2004 at 1:24 PM GMTMy second bundle of papers for next month’s Synod (listed below) arrived today. It was rather larger than I expected, mainly because of the size of GS 1549.
GS 1543 Marriage Law Review
GS 1541 Alternative Sources of Funding for Ordinands in Training
GS 1541A Alternative Sources of funding
A Constitution for Europe
A booklet about the European Constitution published by the Office for Official Publications of the European Communities.
GS 1549 Common Worship: Times and Seasons and Festivals
Texts for Commendation. 558 A5 pages.
Papers for Private Members’ Motions
GS Misc 747 Domestic Violence: note by Mrs Ben Rabha
Papers for Contingency Business
GS Misc 752A Canon B44: Background Note
GS Misc 752B a note from the Council for Christian Unity
Papers not for debate
GS Misc 742 Paths to Unity: explorations in ecumencial method
by members of the Faith and Order Advisory Group
GS Misc 743 Adding Values: Annual Report of the Ethical Investment Advisory Group
GS Misc 751 Membership of the Archbishops’ Council etc
GS Misc 753 Formation for Ministry within a Learning Church: An update
GS Misc 750 Strategic Spending Review
GS Misc 755 Staff Pay Structures
GS Misc 756 The Church Urban Fund
GS Misc 757 CCU Visit to Finland
GS Misc 758 Report on the activities of the Archbishops’ Council
HB[04]M2 House of Bishops Summary of Decisions (10 June 2004)
GS 1556 List of Members
I have used this to update the list of members that I maintain here.
Paper copies of General Synod papers can always be purchased from Church House Bookshop. There is a list of the July 2004 papers here on the bookshop website. I understand that the list will remain until the end of September.
There is a link from the bookshop’s homepage.
An initial batch of General Synod papers has been put online today.
GS1540 Report by the Business Committee (79 kB)
GS1542 Making the Synod’s Procedures More Effective (54 kB)
GS1551 Appointments of Chairs (26 kB)
GS1554 Clergy Discipline (Doctrine) (227 kB)
GS1543 Marriage Law Review (86 kB)
GS1541A Alternative Sources of Funding (185 kB)
GS1541 Alternative Sources of Funding for Ordinands in Training (48 kB)
Paper copies of the last three are due to be sent out to members today; the others have already been issued.
Comment
GS1554 Clergy Discipline (Doctrine)
The online paper seems to lack the vital information - Appendix III draft Measure (p. 46 onwards). Any news of it?
Overall I think the report tries to be balanced and careful but it still fudges the most vital issues:
1) The report remains vague as to exactly what constitutes doctrine and doctrinal authorities in a legal setting.
2) It doesn’t address the place of the laity in relation to doctrine.
3) Nor does it adequately explore the relationship of university-based theology to parish-based teaching. (Seeking to exclude ordained university teachers from the scope of this legislation - while right - begs a number of further questions.)
4) Although Bishops can appeal against findings they don’t like (on a point of law), the report envisages that the court will have the final say. Presumably if the court determines something that future generations don’t like, legislation will be required to remedy the matter (just as has been the case in the past). Thus the final determination of authentic Christian teaching passes from the bishops to the court (see para. 51).
(And on a point of detail, the present legislation allows a case to be stopped at an early stage if is deemed not in the interests of the church for it to proceed. That appears to have vanished in these proposals.)
In ‘An historical perspective’ the report quotes several commendations of debate and discussion, and not closing down dissension prematurely, as the Anglican way. But this does not happen without deliberate effort.
I would argue that encouraging and managing doctrinal debate, and incorporating the laity extensively, would be a far more effective way of promoting doctrinal vitality - and that it cannot be conducted effectively under the shadow of potential prosecution. This would require skills of political leadership and communication different to those required for a legal ethos.
However, I suspect that a court for doctrinal matters is politically inevitable, and also that to use it will be disatrous.
Posted by Paul Bagshaw on Friday, 25 June 2004 at 2:16 PM GMT
The Report of Proceedings for the February 2004 meeting of General Synod is now available for download in pdf format.
Complete report as one file (1.28Mb)
Sections of the report, listed by sitting
Prelims (106Kb)
1st Day (256Kb)
2nd Day (388Kb)
3rd Day (402Kb)
4th Day (380Kb)
5th Day (233Kb)
Index (100Kb)
The agenda for next month’s General Synod is now online as a set of Word documents.
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Special Agendas
1 - Legislative Business
2 - Liturgical Business
3 - Private Members’ Motions
4 - Diocesan Synod Motions
5 - Financial Business
The introductory pages to the agenda are not online. They include a summary of the times of the sessions, the times of services, and the times by which questions, amendments etc must be submittted. They also list the contingency business which will be taken if a gap opens up in the Agenda:
1. Canon B44 - item 810 (in special agenda 4)
2. Christmas Stamps - item 703 (in special agenda 3)
I’ve now found one and a bit reports online.
GS Misc 744 Trade Justice is available online here but beware, it is a large (1.3 MB) pdf file.
The Preface, Introduction and Chapter 1 of GS 1536 Rethinking Sentencing can be dowloaded from here on the Church House Publishing website as a 400 kB pdf file.
None of next month’s Synod papers appear to be online yet, but the Church of England has issued a press release with an outline of the agenda.
Public policy and mission issues feature strongly in wide-ranging Synod agenda
There are also press releases about two of the reports to be debated.
Trade justice report calls for church action
Synod to debate Rethinking Sentencing report
Note added on 18 July. Synod agreed to the dates below.
The Business Committee’s report for the July Synod contains two items relating to the dates of Synod meetings.
First, there will be no meeting in November 2004.
Second, there is a list of proposed dates for February 2006 to February 2008. Assuming that Synod agrees to these it will be meeting as follows.
09-13 July 2004
14-18 February 2005
08-12 July 2005
14-16 November 2005 (Inauguration of the new Synod)
06-10 February 2006
07-11 July 2006
13-15 November 2006 (only if required)
26 February - 02 March 2007
06-10 July 2007
12-14 November 2007 (only if required)
11-15 February 2008
The meeting in February 2006 is slightly earlier that usual and that in February 2007 slightly later because of the planned refurbishment of Church House in 2006/7. If a meeting is required in November 2006 it will not be possible to hold it in Church House.
Here are the papers for July’s liturgical business.
GS 1520A Weekday Lectionaries and Amendments
GS 1520Y Report by the Revision Committee
GS 1546 Common Worship: Initiation Services
Rites on the Way and Reconciliation and Restoration
a report from the Liturgical Commission
Here are the papers for July’s legislative business.
GS 1484-7Z Report by the Steering Committee
GS 1484B Draft Amending Canon No 26
GS 1484C Petition to the Crown
GS 1485B Draft Church Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 200-
GS 1486B Draft Clergy Representation Rules (Amendment) Resolution 200-
GS 1487B Draft Religious Communities (Lay Representation) Rules (Amendment) Resolution 200-
Papers for final approval of the changes to the composition of General Synod
GS 1505B Draft Stipends (Cessation of Special Payments) Measure
GS 1505Z Report by the Steering Committee
Papers for final approval
GS 1524A Draft Pastoral (Amendment) Measure
GS 1524Y Report by the Revision Committee
GS 1555 Draft Miscellaneous Provisions Measure
GS 1555X Explanatory Memorandum
GS 1537 The Legal Officers (Annual Fees) Order 2004
GS 1538 The Ecclesiastical Judges, Legal Officesr and Others (Fees) Order 2004
GS 1537&8X Explanatory Memorandum
GS 1553 The Parochial Fees Order
GS 1553X Explanatory Memorandum
GS 1538 and GS 1553 will be deemed to be approved without debate, unless a member requires a debate.
Comment
Do you attempt in the post synod period to offer any reflection on trends/perceptions etc that you have made? I would ewelcome your interpretaion any chance?
Posted by neville black on Saturday, 19 June 2004 at 11:25 AM GMTComment
I’ve written a report for Anglicans Online that you can read here.
Posted by Peter Owen on Saturday, 19 June 2004 at 11:25 AM GMTThe postman brought the main bulk of papers for next month’s General Synod this morning. A few more papers are due to be issued in a week’s time.
I have split my list of them into three. Below is everything except for legislative and liturgical business.
GS 1539 Agenda
GS 1540 July Group of Sessions 2004: Report by the Business Committee
GS 1542 Making the Synod’s Procedures More Effective
GS 1551 Appointment of Chairs
Synod will be asked to approve three appointments.
Chair of the Appointments Committee: Prebendary David Houlding
Chair of the Archbishops’ Council’s Audit Committee: Tony Hesselwood
Chair of the Business Committee: Revd Dr Richard Turnbull
GS 1554 Clergy Discipline (Doctrine)
Report of a working group set up by the House of Bishops
GS 1536 Rethinking Sentencing
GS Misc 749 Restorative Justice - Rethinking Sentencing: Background to the Synod debate
Reports from the Mission and Public Affairs Council
GS 1544 Enabling a World of Difference: The contribution of the Mission Agencies to the Mission of the Church of England
Report from the Partnership for World Mission
GS Misc 744 Trade Justice: a Christian response to global poverty
GS 1547 Trade Justice: a Christian response to global poverty: An Introduction to the Debate
Reports by, respectively, Christian Aid and the Mission and Public Affairs Council
GS 1548 The Church of England and Europe
Joint Report by the Mission and Public Affairs Council and the Council for Chrisitian Unity
Papers for Private Members’ Motions
GS 738A Stipend Differentials Note by Mr Lilley
GS 738B Note from the Ministry Division
Papers for Diocesan Synod Motions
GS 748 Drug Misuse
Financial Business
GS 1545 Archbishops’ Council Proposed Budget for 2005
GS 1550 The Archbishops’ Council Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2003
GS 1552 Annual Report of the Archbishops’ Council’s Audit Committee for the year to 31 May 2004
GS1550 will only be debated if a member asks for this. GS 1552 is for information only.
Members of General Synod have just been sent a provisional timetable for next month’s meeting in York. I have put it online here.
“It is not in a format that can go on line. It is produced by Framemaker as required by the Parliamentary authorities, so is not readable unless you have this software.”
Can’t they produce a pdf file for general consumption? Surely that doesn’t take a great deal of effort?
Posted by Simon Kershaw on Monday, 28 June 2004 at 1:24 PM GMT