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General Synod - Summary of Business Conducted on Wednesday 28th February pm

28 February 2007

 

ELECTRONIC VOTING: REPORT BY THE BUSINESS COMMITTEE  (GS 1636)

The Synod approved plans to continue work on developing a system of electronic voting and to draft alterations to Synod’s Standing Orders to allow this technology to be used.

 

Audio of session

 

 

CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS (GS Misc 843A and B)

Following debate, an amendment to the original motion was moved by the Bishop of Liverpool; this was further amended, and was carried by the Synod in the following form:

‘That this Synod

(a) acknowledge the diversity of views within the Church of England on whether Parliament might better have addressed the injustices affecting persons of the same sex wishing to share a common life had it done so in a way that avoided creating a legal framework with many similarities to marriage;

(b) note the intention of the House to keep their Pastoral Statement under review.’

 

Audio of session

 

 

The Bishop of Dover, Acting Chair of the Board of Education, gave tribute to Canon John Hall (previously Chief Education Officer) who became Dean of Westminster in December 2006.

 

ACHIEVING THE FIRST TWO HUNDRED YEARS: Report by the Board of Education (including the Dearing Report: Five Years On) (GS 1646)

Following debate and an amendment to the original motion, the following motion was carried:

‘That this Synod:

(a) welcome the positive progress made towards the achievement of the Dearing aspirations and its vision of schools at the heart of the Church’s mission;

(b) endorse the five themes for the development of the Church of England’s contribution to schools and other educational institutions from 2007-2011;

(c) approve the strategies set out for the continued development of a distinctive and inclusive Church of England contribution and call on dioceses and their Boards of Education to put them into practice;

(d) encourage dioceses and local churches to give prayerful and active support to teachers and school leaders and to those exploring a vocation in education; and

(e) call upon the Board of Education to promote dialogue with the Roman Catholic Church in relation to education, with a view to enhancing the potential for mutual co-operation between our Churches especially as regards secondary education.’

 

Audio of session