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General Synod - Summary of Business Conducted Wednesday 8th February am

8 February 2006

 

SPECIAL AGENDA I

LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS

 

ADMISSION OF BAPTISED CHILDREN TO HOLY COMMUNION REGULATIONS  (GS 1596A)

Article 7 business

 

Regulations for final approval

(Preliminary Consideration at the November 2005 Group of Sessions)

 

Report by the House of Bishops (GS 1596Y)

The Bishop of Dover moved:

‘That the Admission of Baptised Children to Holy Communion Regulations be finally approved’.

Following debate, the Synod carried the motion.

 

Audio of debate

 

Mr Clive Scowen (London) moved:

‘That this Synod request the House of Bishops to consider bringing forward amending regulations

(a) introducing into regulation 8 a requirement that the incumbent should be satisfied before a child is first admitted to Holy Communion that the child has a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; and

(b) introducing into regulation 5 a requirement that the bishop shold be satisfied before granting permission under regulation 4 that adequate provision had been made in the parish for training and equipping parents in the spiritual nurture of their children.’

The Synod voted to proceed to next business following a brief debate; this motion now lapses.

 

Audio of debate

 

 

QUESTIONS

Due to the high level of interest in the subject, nine questions submitted by Synod members regarding the subject of the sale of the Octavia Hill estates were brought forward to this juncture. They are available between questions 17-25.

Several supplementary questions were asked, to which Mr Andreas Whittam Smith responded.

 

Audio of debate

 

 

SPECIAL AGENDA III

PRIVATE MEMBERS’ MOTIONS

 

READER MINISTRY

Mr Nigel Holmes (Carlisle) moved:

‘That this Synod, aware that the work of the ten thousand Readers is crucial to the mission of the Church, requests the Archbishops' Council to assess the implications for this nationally-accredited office of the recent introduction of a great variety of patterns of voluntary local ministry, both lay and ordained.’

 

Dr Peter Capon (Manchester) moved an amendment:

‘Leave out the words “assess the implications for this nationally-accredited office of the” and insert the words “consider how this nationally-accredited office should be developed, and Readers more fully and effectively deployed, in the light of the welcome”.’

 

Following debate, the Synod carried the amended motion.

 

Audio of debate