Church Times–C of E plans neighbourly scheme for Big Society

The General Synod will debate the Government’s Big Society pro­gramme, which is to give voluntary groups a greater part in serving local commun­ities, when it meets in Westminster this month.

The debate, on a motion from the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Revd Tim Stevens, will respond to a report by the Mission and Public Affairs Council, “The Big Society” and the Church of England (GS1804). It will take place on Tuesday afternoon (23 November), during the first of two days of sessions.

The secretary general of the Synod, William Fittall, said at a press conference at Church House on Monday that it would be “an interesting and a rather unpredic­table” debate, in the context of “very severe cuts” to public spending.

“[It is] a helpful reminder that the Synod doesn’t just sit around thinking about the organisation of the Church of England. . . It does actually deliberate on matters of public policy that the Church of England’s got something to say about,” he said. “It is natural ter­ritory for the Church.”

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