Twelve take-homes from Synod - July '25

As Synod members return to their parishes, file away their unmade speeches, and reflect on all that has taken place, here are twelve key moments of to remember.

ONE: The need for spiritual and theological renewal

"I believe, and never more so than at this point in our history, the resolute focus and calling of the Church of England to be centered in Christ and from it the deep and profound spiritual and theological renewal which must follow. That as we continue the process of discerning whom God might be calling to be the next Archbishop of Canterbury it is this spiritual and theological leadership that we need more than anything else."

The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York

TWO: The need to pray for peace and prepare for conflict

"In the past, during national wars, the church has been a fundamental bullwalk for our society, deftly engaging across the complexity of challenges that scenario brings - from spiritually supporting those deployed to families at home and the wider societal preparedness for national defense and the fear and insecurity that that can bring. If we find ourselves in an expanded conflict once more, the church might find itself again in the midst of that challenge."

Brigadier Jaish Mahan, Deputy Commander, Deputy Commander of the 1st UK Division

THREE: The valuable role chaplains play in the Armed Forces

"Our chaplains go where people go. They preach, they pray, they pastor in barracks and on bases and in conflict zones and on ships. And we're recognizing in this measure, their calling does not sit neatly within diocesan maps. It follows the men and women of our armed forces wherever they go. And yet in those spaces, they're doing what clergy everywhere are called to do. They're proclaiming Christ in word and sacrament. They are shepherds of the flock entrusted to them. and they're standing boldly declaring God's wonderful presence in a world that desperately needs him. So this measure, it's not just, you know, tidying up some legal anomaly. It's saying something profound about our vocation as the Church of England. We do not exist as a Church of England for the sake of our structures, but for the sake of Christ's commission, the gospel being a light in every part of the world."

Rev James Menzies, Reservist Chaplain

FOUR: The need to learn from those who face conflict and persecution

"The major question that Christians in the holy land are struggling to address is what it means to be a church in a time of war. We are battered and bruised. But we are not defeated or crushed. In the midst of ethnic cleansing, threats of deportation, violence, war on every side, economic pressure, the absence of pilgrims, the daily devastation on every side, the church has to reflect on what makes a church and how to get at the heart of the gospel."

The Most Revd Dr Hosam E Naoum, Archbishop of Jerusalem

"... they died with the name of the Lord Jesus on their lips because they would not renounce their faith, their belief, and their trust in him. I have no idea how I would react in a similar situation, but I do know that I need to ask myself that question and go on asking it. And this commemoration would force us all to ask it."

Rt Revd Philip Mounstephen, Bishop of Winchester - speaking of the 21 Libyan Martyrs

FIVE: Bishops may (or may not) think CofE's doctrine of marriage is a safeguarding risk

"Can the archbishop confirm that the teaching of the Church of England doctrine on marriage and the place of sexual intimacy is not a safeguarding risk?"

Mrs Rebecca Hunt, Lay Member of General Synod

"Well, well, I can say that, but as your original question was about whether the House of Bishops had ... I read that to be the House of Bishops... and we haven't had that particular discussion."

The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York

SIX: Delegated Episcopal Ministry is "not looking likely"...

"At a fringe meeting yesterday evening we heard from Nick Shepard that delegated episcopal ministry is not looking a likely proposal given indications to date that it would not be considered an acceptable solution for various parties. We also heard that the LLF team are looking at the risks of not being able to find an agreement. It was then noted that we face some significant challenges if we can't bring an agreement to February."

Mr Bob Chambers, Lay Member of General Synod

SEVEN: ...because the answer to conflicts about LLF is to "play nicely"

"You've got to keep the law as it currently stands, but it's all right to have a big and conflicted debate in our church because we sometimes have a debate about what it's all right to have a debate about. So, that's all right. And you got to play nicely. And if we can do those three things, as I think we're beginning to model today, then we can approach really complex and conflicted things well.

Ven Luke Miller, Archdeacon of London

EIGHT: Ordinands will temporarily be subject to the Guidelines for the Professional Conduct of Clergy rather than 'Issues in Human Sexuality'

A progressive motion to remove any requirements relating to 'Issues of Human Sexuality' from the vocations process was amended to avoid the vacuum that could have resulted as the new 'pastoral guidance' has not yet been published.

"Progressive sorts are happy because we get rid of a fairly minging document and conservatives can also rest easy because we keep the church's doctrine of marriage and fidelity."

Mr Paul Waddell, Member of the House of Laity

"It is utterly logical and consistent for bishops to require ordinands and those in the discernment process to live in a manner consistent with the fitness to practice framework that they will be living throughout their life. This just makes sense. And secondly, the guidelines are very clearly in line with the practice doctrine, disposition, and teaching of the church."

Rt Revd Mark Tanner, Bishop of Chester

NINE: Synod began the process of introducing new liturgy

Not for PLF (as the prayers and standalone service is currently considered a 'resource' rather than a 'liturgy') but for a new Festival of God the Creator and for a Commemoration of the 21 Martyrs of Libya

"Members of Synod these procedures may sometimes appear painstaking, but they are a good thing. They ensure that what we authorize for use in the worship of the Church of England is tested and that members have a full and equal voice in shaping the church's worship. I hope this explanation has helped make clear how liturgical business moves through our synod, the safeguards in place, and the vital role each of you plays in discerning, shaping, and finally approving the prayers and praises we offer to God in the name of the church."

Revd Dr Matthew Salisbury, University of Oxford

TEN: Agreeing 'Redress' for victims of church abuse is not the end of the process

In the context of agreeing the Abuse (Redress) Measure, Synod was warned...

"... the risk is that we could end up thinking we can so order the life of the church that it could not happen, and the reality is that is never the case. Sin happens, abuse happens, and we do need to have a healthy and realistic theology of human sinfulness which keeps us constantly on our guard.

The second thing, and I speak here, not only from my experience over those years I had the privilege of being involved in the church’s national safeguarding work but myself as a victim of childhood trauma... the flip side of being trauma informed is that we need to recognise the tendency of an institution to be defensive – self-defensive - when responding to such difficult matters and therefore we need also to build into our corporate life a continual self-reflection and examination, including help, possibly the need for external help."

Rt Revd Jonathan Gibbs, Bishop of Rochester

ELEVEN: That the 'right to die' can all to easily become a 'duty to die'

‘That this Synod, in light of recent debates on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, reaffirm that every person is of immeasurable and irreducible value, and request His Majesty’s Government work to improve funding and access to desperately needed palliative care services instead of enacting a law that puts the most vulnerable at risk.’

Motion passed by General Synod with only 8 abstentions

"That this life we have is God's gift. And it's not for us to take away. That to give someone the right to take their own life in the last few months of their life is no different from giving them that right much earlier in their life. The argument is the same. But by undermining life in any context, we take away something of its beauty, something of its mystery, something ineffable, something indescribable, something impossibly beautiful."

Rt Revd Philip North, Bishop of Blackburn

TWELVE: More money for the parishes and pensions

There was much debate about money this synod - particularly the question of who is best placed to determine how the historic reserves of the Church of England are stewarded and spent. In that context, two announcements were well received.

"I'm delighted that we've been able to announce material changes in pensions benefits that are affordable within the scheme given the outstanding performance of the pensions board particularly in the last three years."

Mr Carl Hughes, Chair of Archbishops' Council Finance Committee

"The church commissioners have made a huge step up in their distributions to £1.6 billion for the next three years and we hope £4.6 billion over the next nine."

Rt Revd Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London

FINALLY

Do you want to find out who General Synod unofficially voted to be Archbishop of Canterbury in the Anglican Futures poll?

FIND OUT HERE

Thanks to Hannah Olinger from Unsplash for the image

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