{"id":118807,"date":"2023-02-17T17:17:54","date_gmt":"2023-02-17T22:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=118807"},"modified":"2023-02-17T18:19:22","modified_gmt":"2023-02-17T23:19:22","slug":"church-times-general-synod-digest-governance-plan-sidelined-by-same-sex-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kendallharmon.net\/?p=118807","title":{"rendered":"(Church Times) General Synod digest: Governance plan sidelined by same-sex debate"},"content":{"rendered":"

The pressure on time as a result of the extended debate on Living in Love and Faith<\/a>\u00a0provisions was never going to allow this group of sessions to complete the scheduled debate on simplifying the governance of the national church institutions (NCIs). An interim report presented to the\u00a0General Synod<\/a>\u00a0for debate contained 22 recommendations in relation to creating a single governance body: Church of England National Services (CENS).<\/p>\n

Prudence Dailey<\/strong>\u00a0(Oxford) tried to intervene at the outset to adjourn the debate, but procedure meant that the motion \u2014 to welcome the report and encourage the National Church Governance Project Board (NCGPB) to continue developing a legislative framework \u2014 had first to be moved by\u00a0the\u00a0Bishop of Guildford<\/a><\/strong>, the Rt Revd Andrew Watson.<\/p>\n

He was keen to do this, he said, given how many staff had been working on it. Many people would be affected by the changes, he said, referring to a \u201cthem-and-us\u201d trust deficit in the Church at many levels, compounded by a national governance structure that meant that people were unclear how decisions were made. The \u201cconvoluted structures\u201d were liable to be bypassed to get something done, he suggested.<\/p>\n

The positive aim of CENS was clarity, Bishop Watson said. There would be a full overview at the July sessions.<\/p>\n

Miss Dailey tried again for adjournment on a \u201cmatter of exceptional significance and importance\u201d that, through no one\u2019s fault, had been \u201cshoved in at the tag end of Synod\u201d. It needed proper scrutiny, she said.<\/p>\n

Bishop Watson urged members to resist adjournment at this stage, which they did.<\/p>\n

Read it all<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

General Synod digest: Governance plan sidelined by same-sex debate https:\/\/t.co\/JCK55RGOci<\/a><\/p>\n

— Church Times (@ChurchTimes) February 17, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n