THE P RTAL
March 2014
UK Page 4
One step nearer Anglican
from The Revd Paul Benfield
News
The General
Synod of the Church of England met for two and a half days in February. Much
of the time was spent in considering further the package of proposals which would allow women to
become bishops. The Measure and Canon were considered for revision on the floor of synod (rather than in
Committee which would be the usual manner of proceeding).
Although some amendments
were moved, none was passed
and the simple legislation
remains
intact.
Synod
welcomed the amendments
to the House of Bishops
Declaration and Disputes
Resolution Procedure which
will provide space for those
who cannot accept women
bishops to remain in the
Church of England.
The package of proposals
now goes out to the Dioceses
and Synod shortened the usual
6 month time limit for such a
reference. Dioceses have until
May 22nd to approve (or reject)
the Measure and Canon, after
which it is anticipated that they
will be given final approval at
York in July.
farewell to the Bishop of
Wakefield, Stephen Platten,
whose diocese will be
abolished on Easter Day when
the new Diocese of Leeds
(known as West Yorkshire
and the Dales) comes into
being.
As well as Wakefield, the
new diocese will incorporate
most of the present dioceses
of Ripon and Leeds, and
Bradford. The first bishop of
the new diocese will be Nick
Baines, the current Bishop of
Bradford.
avoid drawing lines
too firmly
On the day after Synod
the House of Bishops met
to consider various matters
amongst which were the implications for the Church
put self before Christ?
of the advent of same sex marriage in England from the
Other matters considered were proposals to introduce end of March. The legislation prohibits such marriages
further legislation on safeguarding in the light of the taking place in Church of England premises.
recommendations of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s
Commission to the Diocese of Chichester after the
The bishops issued pastoral guidance in which they
scandals there involving children and young people said that they were not willing for those in same sex
being abused by priests.
marriages to be ordained to any of the three orders
of ministry. In addition they said that it would not
There was a debate on the new Girl Guide promise be appropriate conduct for someone in holy orders
which does not include any reference to God, but to enter into a same sex marriage, given the need for
in which the guide promises to be ‘true to myself ’. clergy to model the Church’s teaching in their lives.
Speakers pointed out that a Christian could not make
They conclude by saying ‘The Church of England
such a promise since to do so would put self before
Christ. Due to an amendment the debate did not have has a long tradition of tolerating conscientious dissent
a very satisfactory conclusion, but the fact that the and of seeking to avoid drawing lines t