Diocesan Synod
News and announcements.
Diocesan Synod on Saturday 16 March 2013
The Diocesan Synod discussed a new joint venture with the Church Urban Fund, Annual reports from Diocesan Committees and the Growth Action Planning process.
There was also discussion of Bishops Council matters and the General Synod meetings in November.
Papers and presentations can be found below.
General Synod Report - Jonathan Gibbs
General Synod Report - John Mason
Committee for Social Responsibility
The Church Growth Research Programme website can be found here.
Meeting of the new Diocesan Synod Saturday 10 November 2012
Pictured - the new Diocesan Synod, Bishop Keith reporting on the visit to Aru Diocese, the Chancellor of the Diocese
The meeting started with a Eucharist at which the His Honour Judge David Turner QC (Chancellor of the Diocese of Chester) preached. His sermon can be found here.
The main items of business of the Diocesan Synod included the Diocesan Chancellor taking questions, approval of the budget for 2013, a report on a visit to Aru Diocese, and a report on the July sessions for General Synod.
Agenda papers for November 2012 meeting (pdf)
Meeting June 2012
The previous Diocesan Synod approved the Diocesan accounts for 2011, gave initial comments on the 2013 budget, discussed and approved a review of the parish share scheme and received the Bishop of Chester's presidential address.
Agenda papers for June 2012 meeting (pdf)
Bishop Peter's Presidential Address (pdf)
Chester Diocesan Board of Finance - Annual Report and Accounts for 2011 (pdf)
Other information
Diocesan Synod Standing orders (pdf)
CSR Poverty resources including Frank Fields report
Please send any questions on Diocesan Synod to
George Colville
Diocesan Secretary
Church House
Lower Lane
Aldford
Chester
CH3 6HP
Tel: 01244 681973
Email: george.colville@chester.anglican.org
In 2011 two important votes on the Anglican Covenant and Women in the Episcopate took place at Diocesan Synod. Details can be found below of the outcome.
Voting on the Anglican Covenant
The Diocesan Synod voted on the Article 8 reference by General Synod as follows:-
"That this Synod approve the draft Act of Synod adopting the Anglican Communion Covenant"
House of Bishops - For 3; Against 0; Abstentions 0
House of Clergy - For 22; Against 14; Abstentions 5
House of Laity - For 26; Against 23; Abstentions 5
The motion was therefore carried
A following motion was defeated on a vote of the whole Synod. (For 36, Against 49, Abstentions 17)
Anglican Covenant Reference to the Diocese
The Diocesan Synod consided the Anglican Covenant at its March 2012 meeting. Background material for that discussion can be found below.
Note from the Business Committee of the General Synod (GS Misc 971)
Transcript of the General Synod debate on the Covenant in November 2010
Text of the draft Act of Synod adopting the Anglican Communion Covenant (GS 1809)
A background paper from the Faith and Order Commission prepared for General Synod in November 2010 (GS Misc 966). The background paper includes material about the history of the Covenant, provides some answers to frequently asked questions and also gives the full text of the Covenant itself.
David Blackmore and Roger Yates have prepared the following two documents to assist Deaneries in their discussions.
Other external links providing further information
Yes to the Anglican Covenant website including a video message from the Archbishop of Canterbury introducing the Anglican Communion Covenant.
No Anglican Covenant website including Bishop Peter Selby's 10 Reasons against
Fulcrum A Churchgoers Guide to Anglican Communion Covenant (including 10 Reasons for )
Anglican Communion website The Covenant Study materials and Q and A documents
Women bishops reference to dioceses November 2011 meeting.
The Article 8 process regarding women bishops is outlined and explained in a note from the Business Committee of the General Synod GS Misc 964.
The Business Committee has also circulated four other documents: a background note on the history of the legislative proposals A8(WE)BACKGROUND; the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordination of Women) Measure A8(WE)M; the draft amending Canon 30 A8(WE)AC; and an explanatory memorandum relating to the draft measure and amending Canon A8(WE)X.
Further information on women bishops from the National Church
Voting - Consecration of Women to the Episcopate (November 2011)
The votes cast where:-
House of Bishops - For 2; Against 0; Abstentions 2
House of Clergy - For 46; Against 21; Abstentions 3
House of Laity - For 50; Against 15; Abstentions 3
The motion was therefore carried
The Synod having agreed unanimously to combine the motions on the agenda then voted on a following motion
"This Synod
1. Desires that all faithful Anglicans remain and thrive together in the Church of England; and therefore
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 Ordinantion of Women] Measure in the manner propose by the Archbishops of Canterbury and york at the Revision Stage for the draft Measure"
Despite a small majority overall, in a vote by houses the House of Bishops and Clergy voted for the motion and the House of laity vote was tied and therefore the motion just failed to be carried.
House of Bishops - For 3; Against 1; Abstentions 0
House of Clergy - For 36; Against 31; Abstentions 1
House of Laity - For 34; Against 34; Abstentions 1
