And the final blog post from this Synod… 

I was really looking forward to the Private Member’s Motion from Billy-Jo O’Leary on “Support for looked after children and those in care” but after the agenda was changed to move it to first thing on the Tuesday morning, that was impossible because it clashed with seeing the consultant to get some more answers on what has been going on with my hip pain. My vote certainly wasn’t needed as it passed with 280 votes, none against and no abstentions. The number there makes it clear that I was not the only absentee; there are around 480 voting members of Synod, although of course there are always a few vacant seats. There were around 390 present for the voting on Monday, so that gives some idea of how many had left already. And from my vantage point on Lumi/Zoom, just in case you were wondering, there were usually around two dozen of us attending remotely.

I’d hoped to speak in this debate on looked-after children, by focusing on adoption, and had put in a formal request to speak. So, after I watched the whole debate on YouTube I wrote something about what I would like to have said. There were a few speeches made which felt very ‘off’ to me; not least that by the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, Paul Williams, on how these children are “closest to God’s heart”, which strangely suggests that God has favourites. Some speakers sounded very self-congratulatory, or were suggesting that Christians need to step up and help, but I am aware that some have had experiences that suggest we are not always doing well in this important work; and that it’s not just Christians who make great supporters for children in care! This is the established Church: we have a special position from which to speak to the nation.

When I made it back to my computer as that debate ended, I was reminded that it was the anniversary of the day on which the Synod passed the legislation allowing for women to be bishops, back in 2014. It was a useful reminder that, eventually, change does come. As there was complete silence from the Archbishops about the previous day’s voting on my Private Member’s Motion, that was helpful. In his sermon for the service that ended this quinquennium of Synod, the Archbishop of York spoke on “rest from our labours” and said:

And if you feel let down by the Church, battered by the storms of our debates, let down by the General Synod, let down by the bishops, marginalised and excluded for whatever reason, come to him whose love for you is perfect, without condition, unrestrained.

And I fear that you can go to church in the Church of England for a lifetime and no one ever tells you this stuff straight – thankfully, having been made the Archbishop of York, I’ve received that gift of the Spirit that, for some reason, isn’t listed in the Bible, the gift of bluntness – dear friends you are included by God – even if his church is still trying to work out what that inclusion looks like. And you, each of you, is dearly, dearly loved. Precious, not because of achievement, holiness or moral probity, but because you are the one for whom Jesus died. Like me, a sinner, saved by grace.

Indeed, the Church is still trying to work out what inclusion looks like. 

Before that service, Synod considered the Abuse (Redress) Rules – with more clarity about how the payments will be made. The rest of the morning was devoted to another Private Member’s Motion, from another Oxford member, Val Plumb, on Protecting Nature on Church Commissioners’ Land. The Commissioners are a major landowner and the motion asked them to work to meet the United Nations 30by30 target: 30% of land and seas protected for nature by 2030 (at present the figure for our land is more like 3.5%). This was an interesting debate, not just because it meant that we heard from various churches doing the Eco Church programme (my own church is a Silver Eco Church). An amendment was successfully made by the Bishop of Norwich, supported by the First Church Estates Commissioner, Alan Smith. This had a very different content: nothing on the 30by30 target, which was described as too soon, but bringing in other environmental objectives like managing forests in a sustainable way. Arguments were also made about the need for food security, and the balance between investment and effectiveness. And we heard about pingos in Norwich (I had to look that one up!).

Val rejected the amendment but there was much support for it. The House of Bishops voted unanimously in favour; it’s easier to agree on the environment than on sexuality, evidently. The motion was passed as amended.

And then Synod was officially dissolved and prorogued. So… I am no longer a member of Synod. Over the past five years, I’ve attended every day of every meeting, usually for all of it. It’s been a far more intense experience than I ever imagined. I’ve had the opportunity to work with Together for the Church of England and to be a trustee of a theological college as well as an elected member of the national Ministry Development Board. The support and challenge from the various WhatsApp groups to which I belong has been something I’d not expected (WhatsApp wasn’t invented when I had my first stint on Synod). I’ve met some amazing people and am pleased with much of what we’ve achieved. I’m not finished yet, so I intend to stand in the elections and then it’s up to the lay deanery synod members of my diocese whether or not I resume that membership again. I remain entirely transparent about what I believe, and what organisations I belong to, so what you see is what you get. This blog will continue, regardless. Thank you for reading and commenting, here and through other modes of communication.