Synod round-up Tuesday 14/07/26

Today, this quinquennium of General Synod came to an end. The synod was officially 'dissolved' - though by looking at the chamber at that time it seems many had left before the service of Holy Communion, for theological or practical reasons, and headed back to their homes and dioceses.

The brief version:

• The delayed Private Members' Motion, Support for Looked After Children and those in care was given just under an hour of Synod's time. It was passed unanimously.

• The Abuse (Redress) Rules 2026 were amended and approved by a show of hands

• A further Private Members Motion - Protecting nature on Church Commissioners' land in line with the scale and urgency of the climate and biodiversity crises - was debated. The original motion was replaced with a 'pragmatic' amendment brought by the Bishop of Norwich, the lead bishop for the environment who is also a Church Commissioner.

For those looking for more detail:

Billy-Jo Leary's Private Member's Motion called for a lead bishop for looked after children and those in care. Members of synod spoke of their own experience of the care system and challenged dioceses, parishes and individuals to get involved in a variety of ways. The whole debate is worth watching.

"There is a compelling and unmissable biblical imperative, not only to express our concern, but to pursue justice and to work to make a difference. On a personal level, with my wife, we have been local authority foster carers for fourteen years and during this time we have had the privilege of learning to look at the world through the eyes of some remarkable young people."

Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham

"When I was seven years old I was place in care by social services, not because I didn't have parents who loved me, but because I was a disturbed child. I had issues with my race and issues that had gone on that caused me to effectively try and burn down my school one day - which didn't go down well. So. I basically got put in care for a couple of years, and I had a horrific time in that care home - a horrible, horrible time. I was stuck in that place, my parents were fighting to get me out, to get me released from that position but it was a hard, hard fight... but there was a problem, because I had tried to burn down my school, strangely enough, other schools didn't want me in their school.... but then these nun's from a local church school said, 'We'll take him on. We'll give him a second chance', and they became like mothers to me."

Revd Adrian Clarke

"Safe Familes and Home for Good want to work together with charities to see families thrive. There is the most extraordinary need in our country at this time. As, we have heard from Billy-Jo one child enters the care system every fifteen minutes... Safe Families works with local churches who can offer their service as family friends, resource friends, or hosts. Through this family support system many local authorities have reported a reduction in the number of children entering the care system."

Revd Kate Wharton

"What was so strange about the witness of the early church in the Roman world, there was a bunch of things that were strange but one of the things that stood out, was their care for the last, the least and the lost. The Roman emporer, known as Julian the Apostate, complained to his pagan priests that, 'the Christians not only take care of their own poor, but of ours also.' And it wasn't just taking care of the poor, it was rescuing children who were left to die. The form of abortion most common in the ancient world was leaving unwanted babies to die, most of them girls. And the early church was famous for adopting those children."

Revd Jake Madin

"We want to celebrate the gifts, the dignity and the potential of care experienced young people. I want care experienced young people to experience all that I have in my five years here - the dedicated support of all of you has given me the courage and the commitment to stand here and do what I have been able to do. Thank you for my church, my family and the three people who have helped me respond to you. Bless you Synod."

Mrs Billy-Jo Leary