Devloping this theme of giving respect to Questions and their (paralleling the disdain shown at Parliamentary PMQs?) – I note there are 217 questions and a slightly lower number of answers, where some answers avoid addressing the bpoints of one or more questions in ‘answering’ another .2 If all questions attract one or more ‘Supplementary’ deemd to be ‘in order’ (unlikely in the mere 90 minutes allocated in the Aganda); that’s less than half a minute for each Supplementary to be asked and responded to. That’s ridiculous and disrespectful. More likely, many qustions will not be reached when time is… Read more »
While you’re analysing that questions, you have passed over that in more than one case, the exact same verbal question is asked by two people (who may possibly be members of the same extra-synodical organisation), that many questions really are asking the same thing as the one above them, and that some pairs of questions are more economically answered by a single answer. The overall number of questions has more than doubled from the usual number during my six years on Synod, is as indicative of the fractious and combative mood of various groups in Synod, and is a very… Read more »
The scrutiny committee created under the Governance Measure – if that passes – will, I hope – as I said in a speech in February – help us to get “the answers we deserve to the questions we ought to be asking”. The culture of questions as points scoring and answers as clever evasions of the real point wastes everyone’s time. Everyone knows it happens, but that doesn’t stop people joining in. There are always some important questions, and they don’t always get the answers or attention they deserve. In short, questions and answers are often tactical rather than strategic.… Read more »
Mark, it’s worth reflecting on this extract from a speech by Bishop Pete Broadbent, which I included a comment on another TA thread a few days ago: “Three words: democracy, accountability and transparency. Question time is where you get the chance, from people who are not involved in all the things that go on in the powerhouses of Synod, to be able to exercise some democracy. It also allows you to hold people to account. There is an awful lot of wriggling goes on during question time, where people try hard not to answer the question on the paper and… Read more »
Nigel Goodwin
1 month ago
I thought Q 150, and the answer, was funny.
The total effort to ask, and answer, these questions is maybe not so funny.
I wasn’t convinced by the answer! I expect it would take half an hour for one of us to trawl back through the Thinking Anglican archives, download the papers, upload them to ChatGPT and it would spit out the answer. If I thought Revd Mawdesley was asking genuinely rather than making a point (and making it very well!) I would offer! She is welcome to get in touch if it was a serious question.
Many questions seem intended to make a comment rather than ask for information. There is so much criticism today of the bishops and the church bureaucracy, but they are then pestered to find time to answer a heap of questions, many of which are probably not designed to seek information, and many of which require considerable time and effort to respond. It is not a pretty sight.
Thank you for this observation. Instead of presuming the worst behind the responses of bishops and others, you are right to note that the motivations behind the questions may themselves be questionable, and often are. The responsible use of Synod questions has long been an issue for this very reason.
Regarding ‘questionable’ motivations for questions ( and ‘answers’?) might questions be some kind of statement on the ‘state of the church’, its governance, accountability and communications? By interrogating the excellent TA archive I am reminded that the February 2025 GS attracted a mere 153 questions, and only Q94 was reached. July 2024 attracted 221 questions, and the previous GS, 225. So 220-ish looks ‘normal’, and suggests that more time should be allocated routinely in order that respect may be shown and trust restored in those who serve.
Questions, answers and statements, about the questions, answers and statements generated by the Synod. Evidence of Anglican engagement and commitment, or self-indulgently meta-narratival?
Oops, hoisted by my own petard there, I fear.
Shamus
1 month ago
Sadly, the volume and range of questions is indicative of a church falling apart. I wish it were not so.
I cannot understand why this comprehensive range of questions and concerns represents:
A national Synod ‘detached’ the local church, still less ‘Indicative of a church falling apart’
It is very obvious some of it is politicised behaviour and there is the usual bishop baiting, But taken as a whole it reflects a strong commitment to the life of the church and to its faithfulness to Christ. If that is what ‘some kind of statement’ means, I for one am grateful.
Thank you David for your reference to my ‘some kind of statement’. Some ‘questions’ and some ‘answers’ may indeed be seen as ‘some kind of statement’. For example the similarities (copying?) of some questions, as observed by Paul Hutchinson above (e.g. Qs 80 and 81 may say something, and they were indeed ‘grouped’ and answered as one. In responding to a couple of Supplementaries, the Archbishop of York showed appropriate humility in having given single sentence responses to a couple of questions- a ‘measure’ of needing to spend more time in their consideration. He’s a busy man, wearing more than… Read more »
I think one of the major problems of the Synodical System is that so many clergy and Deanery Synod members simply don’t bother to vote.
Sam Jones
1 month ago
The answer to Q128 states that 6 out of the 10 TEI’s have less than 20 ordinands. I do not understand how these can be viable. Is there a case for rationalising ordination training and reducing the number of TEI’s?
Some quick comments on this – it is a bigger question… We are told by those in the Ministry Council centrally that ordinand numbers will go back up. There is some evidence that this is beginning to happen but the increase is small. We need approximately 600 to enter training each year and currently it is looking like about 300. 600 was the figure prior to the pandemic. Each TEI is an independent entity and nothing is controlled centrally. The Church of England cannot actually close any TEIs down. What happens is that bishops decide to stop sending ordinands to… Read more »
I’m intrigued. I was an ordinand of the former London College of Divinity which closed in 1970 and ‘morphed’ into St Johns Nottingham which ceased residential training some time later and finally ceased to exist.
I has no idea that the ‘details of what happened there are not in the public domain’. First of all, this smacks of an unhealthy secrecy. Second, one might ask ‘for what reason? And Third, isn’t it high time this was rectified,??
Decline in the number of residential students at TEIs was entirely predictable, and indeed predicted at the time of changes to funding arrangements. I believe TEIs are putting their faith in God to deliver them a never-ending stream of ordinands, despite the evidence to the contrary. Looking on the bright side (!), at least there should be few ordinands failing to find a suitable curacy, and noting the trend toward SSM (non-stipendiary) and HfD (part-time) posts. Feeling for TEI staff.
Michael H
1 month ago
Q17 Mr Nigel Lea-Wilson (Liverpool) to ask the Chair of the House of Bishops: What is the current ministry status of the Bishop of Warrington? The Archbishop of York to reply as Vice-Chair of the House of Bishops: A Thank you for your question. The Bishop of Warrington remains in post.
But the Petertide ordinations in Liverpool Cathedral (deacons and priests) were conducted by the Rt Rev Geoffrey Pearson (a retired bishop). Why not the Bishop of Warrington if she’s still in post or the newly minted Bishop of Wigan/Acting Bishop of Liverpool?
In reply to a supplementary the Archbishop said that as far as he was aware the Bishop of Warrington was not exercising any ministry in the Diocese of Liverpool. That is my diocese, and my understanding of the situation agrees with what the Archbishop said.
The reason why the Interim Bishop of Liverpool did not conduct the Petertide ordinations is that she was on sick leave recovering from surgery.
She is still the Bishop of Warrington, and presumably still receiving the appropriate stipend from the Church Commissioners for that office. Meanwhile she has been an honorary assistant bishop in the diocese of St Asaph in north Wales since Maundy Thursday (17 April).
Question 54 is an excellent example of answering a completely different question than the one which was actually asked.
In what way does it not answer the question? When has the C of E criminalized abortion?
The question asks about a statement reported by the Church Times on 18 June. The answer refers to a statement issued on 19 June.
Devloping this theme of giving respect to Questions and their (paralleling the disdain shown at Parliamentary PMQs?) – I note there are 217 questions and a slightly lower number of answers, where some answers avoid addressing the bpoints of one or more questions in ‘answering’ another .2 If all questions attract one or more ‘Supplementary’ deemd to be ‘in order’ (unlikely in the mere 90 minutes allocated in the Aganda); that’s less than half a minute for each Supplementary to be asked and responded to. That’s ridiculous and disrespectful. More likely, many qustions will not be reached when time is… Read more »
While you’re analysing that questions, you have passed over that in more than one case, the exact same verbal question is asked by two people (who may possibly be members of the same extra-synodical organisation), that many questions really are asking the same thing as the one above them, and that some pairs of questions are more economically answered by a single answer. The overall number of questions has more than doubled from the usual number during my six years on Synod, is as indicative of the fractious and combative mood of various groups in Synod, and is a very… Read more »
The scrutiny committee created under the Governance Measure – if that passes – will, I hope – as I said in a speech in February – help us to get “the answers we deserve to the questions we ought to be asking”. The culture of questions as points scoring and answers as clever evasions of the real point wastes everyone’s time. Everyone knows it happens, but that doesn’t stop people joining in. There are always some important questions, and they don’t always get the answers or attention they deserve. In short, questions and answers are often tactical rather than strategic.… Read more »
Why does it need ‘theological reflection’? That term, plus ‘theological discernment’, always seems to me to be a can kicking exercise.
I may not like much of Musk, but his advice on meetings is on point.
https://www.skillpacks.com/elon-musk-meetings/
Mark, it’s worth reflecting on this extract from a speech by Bishop Pete Broadbent, which I included a comment on another TA thread a few days ago: “Three words: democracy, accountability and transparency. Question time is where you get the chance, from people who are not involved in all the things that go on in the powerhouses of Synod, to be able to exercise some democracy. It also allows you to hold people to account. There is an awful lot of wriggling goes on during question time, where people try hard not to answer the question on the paper and… Read more »
I thought Q 150, and the answer, was funny.
The total effort to ask, and answer, these questions is maybe not so funny.
I wasn’t convinced by the answer! I expect it would take half an hour for one of us to trawl back through the Thinking Anglican archives, download the papers, upload them to ChatGPT and it would spit out the answer. If I thought Revd Mawdesley was asking genuinely rather than making a point (and making it very well!) I would offer! She is welcome to get in touch if it was a serious question.
Many questions seem intended to make a comment rather than ask for information. There is so much criticism today of the bishops and the church bureaucracy, but they are then pestered to find time to answer a heap of questions, many of which are probably not designed to seek information, and many of which require considerable time and effort to respond. It is not a pretty sight.
Thank you for this observation. Instead of presuming the worst behind the responses of bishops and others, you are right to note that the motivations behind the questions may themselves be questionable, and often are. The responsible use of Synod questions has long been an issue for this very reason.
Regarding ‘questionable’ motivations for questions ( and ‘answers’?) might questions be some kind of statement on the ‘state of the church’, its governance, accountability and communications? By interrogating the excellent TA archive I am reminded that the February 2025 GS attracted a mere 153 questions, and only Q94 was reached. July 2024 attracted 221 questions, and the previous GS, 225. So 220-ish looks ‘normal’, and suggests that more time should be allocated routinely in order that respect may be shown and trust restored in those who serve.
Questions, answers and statements, about the questions, answers and statements generated by the Synod. Evidence of Anglican engagement and commitment, or self-indulgently meta-narratival?
Oops, hoisted by my own petard there, I fear.
Sadly, the volume and range of questions is indicative of a church falling apart. I wish it were not so.
It indicates to me how detached Synod is from much parish life.
I cannot understand why this comprehensive range of questions and concerns represents:
A national Synod ‘detached’ the local church, still less
‘Indicative of a church falling apart’
It is very obvious some of it is politicised behaviour and there is the usual bishop baiting, But taken as a whole it reflects a strong commitment to the life of the church and to its faithfulness to Christ. If that is what ‘some kind of statement’ means, I for one am grateful.
Thank you David for your reference to my ‘some kind of statement’. Some ‘questions’ and some ‘answers’ may indeed be seen as ‘some kind of statement’. For example the similarities (copying?) of some questions, as observed by Paul Hutchinson above (e.g. Qs 80 and 81 may say something, and they were indeed ‘grouped’ and answered as one. In responding to a couple of Supplementaries, the Archbishop of York showed appropriate humility in having given single sentence responses to a couple of questions- a ‘measure’ of needing to spend more time in their consideration. He’s a busy man, wearing more than… Read more »
I think one of the major problems of the Synodical System is that so many clergy and Deanery Synod members simply don’t bother to vote.
The answer to Q128 states that 6 out of the 10 TEI’s have less than 20 ordinands. I do not understand how these can be viable. Is there a case for rationalising ordination training and reducing the number of TEI’s?
Some quick comments on this – it is a bigger question… We are told by those in the Ministry Council centrally that ordinand numbers will go back up. There is some evidence that this is beginning to happen but the increase is small. We need approximately 600 to enter training each year and currently it is looking like about 300. 600 was the figure prior to the pandemic. Each TEI is an independent entity and nothing is controlled centrally. The Church of England cannot actually close any TEIs down. What happens is that bishops decide to stop sending ordinands to… Read more »
I’m intrigued. I was an ordinand of the former London College of Divinity which closed in 1970 and ‘morphed’ into St Johns Nottingham which ceased residential training some time later and finally ceased to exist.
I has no idea that the ‘details of what happened there are not in the public domain’. First of all, this smacks of an unhealthy secrecy. Second, one might ask ‘for what reason? And Third, isn’t it high time this was rectified,??
Decline in the number of residential students at TEIs was entirely predictable, and indeed predicted at the time of changes to funding arrangements. I believe TEIs are putting their faith in God to deliver them a never-ending stream of ordinands, despite the evidence to the contrary. Looking on the bright side (!), at least there should be few ordinands failing to find a suitable curacy, and noting the trend toward SSM (non-stipendiary) and HfD (part-time) posts. Feeling for TEI staff.
Q17 Mr Nigel Lea-Wilson (Liverpool) to ask the Chair of the House of Bishops: What is the current ministry status of the Bishop of Warrington? The Archbishop of York to reply as Vice-Chair of the House of Bishops: A Thank you for your question. The Bishop of Warrington remains in post.
But the Petertide ordinations in Liverpool Cathedral (deacons and priests) were conducted by the Rt Rev Geoffrey Pearson (a retired bishop). Why not the Bishop of Warrington if she’s still in post or the newly minted Bishop of Wigan/Acting Bishop of Liverpool?
In reply to a supplementary the Archbishop said that as far as he was aware the Bishop of Warrington was not exercising any ministry in the Diocese of Liverpool. That is my diocese, and my understanding of the situation agrees with what the Archbishop said.
The reason why the Interim Bishop of Liverpool did not conduct the Petertide ordinations is that she was on sick leave recovering from surgery.
So the Bishop of Warrington is simultaneously in post & not exercising that ministry? Truly the CofE does tie itself in knots on tis issue.
She is still the Bishop of Warrington, and presumably still receiving the appropriate stipend from the Church Commissioners for that office. Meanwhile she has been an honorary assistant bishop in the diocese of St Asaph in north Wales since Maundy Thursday (17 April).