Page 20 - The Portal magazine - February 2025
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THE P    RTAL                            February 2025                                    Page 20

        Our window on the CofE


        General Synod




        Fr Paul Benfield


             ENERAL SYNOD is to meet in London from February 10th to 14th. At the time of writing the
        Gdetailed agenda and papers have not been circulated, but we do have an outline of business. The synod
        promises to be a heavy one with much legislation and regulatory business together with the significant and
        controversial matters of safeguarding and Living in Love and Faith as well as less controversial debates.

         After a presidential address by the Archbishop  July. However, the House of Bishops met on 20th
        of York and the usual formal debate on the agenda  January and issued a communique which said ‘After
        there will be questions from members – presumably  considered reflection on the complexity and depth of
        many will be around the issue of safeguarding which  the proposed changes, it became clear that bishops
        may inform the debate on the Makin Report. This is  with views across the range of different perspectives
        the report into the abuse meted out by John Smyth  agreed that it was unlikely all elements of the proposals
        published in the autumn which led to the resignation  would be sufficiently developed in time for Synod to
        of Justin Welby as Archbishop of Canterbury. It is  make a decision in July’. Leaks suggest that there is a
        difficult to predict what will happen until we see the  growing unease with the process and proposals.
        wording of the motion and any amendments to it.
                                                               Synod’s principal function is to pass draft legislation
         The next day there is to be a two hour debate on  for Parliament’s approval. This February we will give
        the next steps in church safeguarding independence  final approval to the Clergy Conduct Measure (which
        following the Jay and Wilkinson reports. This will be  will replace the Clergy Discipline Measure) and take
        crucial in restoring some credibility to the Church of  the Revision Stage of the National Church Governance
        England’s safeguarding, but again until we know what  Measure. This will create a new body, Church of
        is proposed it is impossible to comment.              England National Services (CENS), which will take
                                                              over the functions of the Archbishops’ Council and
         The Archbishops’ Commission on Racial Justice was  most functions of the Church Commissioners apart
        set up by the Archbishops in 2021 with no synodical  from investment functions. A new Mission and
        input.  The Commission, chaired by Lord Boateng,  Pastoral Measure will be given first consideration and
        was tasked with implementing and monitoring the  we will be asked to approve regulations concerning
        47 recommendations of the Archbishops’ Taskforce  clergy risk assessments.
        on Racism. Many synod members are unhappy that
        these recommendations have never been considered
        by Synod. So, for example, there was some resistance   The Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham
        to the recommendation that 10 racial minority              THE ORDER OF MASS
        members  should be coopted to  Synod,  especially
        when some had stood for election and been defeated.               Divine Worship: The Missal
        The Commission came to an end in November and                  in accorDance WiTh The roMan riTe
        we  are  to  have  ‘a  presentation  and  debate  on  the   Ordinariate Mass cards with the
        implementation of From Lament to Action (FLTA) in             Order of Mass from
        terms of the successes, challenges and opportunities,        Divine Worship: The Missal
        and also affirm the future strategic direction of racial       are now available
        justice. The difficulty with such debates is that if      Prices including UK delivery:
        anyone speaks against a proposal they can be accused    £1 for a single copy,  £3.50 for 10,
        of being racist.                                        £14 for 50, £26 for 100, £48 for 200


         The Living in Love and Faith process, concerning         Overseas enquiries please email:
                                                                  mass.cards@ordinariate.org.uk
        blessing of same sex couples, limps along but is               for postage costs
        going slower than planned. We are to have an update      To order, please send your name and address with your
        and opportunity for questions at this Synod and              cheque, made payable to Ordinariate OLW to:
        were  expecting  to  be  asked to make decisions  in   Mass Cards, Ordinariate OLW, 24 Golden Square, London W1F 9JR
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