Notes
All votes are given in the form "votes for"-"votes against". Where no figures are given the vote was taken by a show of hands.

The following are not, in general, included:

• Take Note motions; and
• amendments to motions.

Motions are given in their final form, after any successful amendments.

carried

That this Synod invite the Standing Orders Committee, in consultation with the Business Committee, to

(a) introduce amendments to the Standing Orders and the Constitution to permit votes to be recorded electronically;

(b) consider reducing the time normally allowed for speeches under Standing Order 21;

(c) and consider ways in which downward pressure can be applied in relation to the number of amendments tabled for debate.

That the petition for Her Majesty’s Royal Assent and Licence (GS 1484C) be adopted.

The Draft Pastoral (Amendment) Measure (GS 1524A)
Measure for Revision
Report by the Revision Committee (GS 1524Y)

That this Synod:

(a) welcome the progress made by the Working Group in taking forward the matters covered by the Synod's resolution in July 2002 regarding changes in the law on marriage; and

(b) ask that, in relation to the parochial places of worship where marriages may be solemnised, the draft legislation to be brought to this Synod should be prepared on the basis of the 'demonstrable connection' principle as outlined in the Working Group’s report.

That this Synod

(a) commend the report Rethinking Sentencing as a valuable contribution to the debate over penal policy;

(b) welcome Her Majesty's Government's proposals to promote and develop restorative justice as a significant feature of its strategy to limit re-offending;

(c) express dismay at the ever-rising prison population, which limits the effectiveness of programmes to reduce re-offending, to rehabilitate offenders, and provide healing for victims of crime;

(d) re-affirm the ministry of Christians within the criminal justice system, especially those in Prison Service Chaplaincy, the Churches' Criminal Justice Forum (CCJF), the lay magistracy and the many voluntary Christian organisations working with offenders and victims; and

(e) encourage Church members to embrace criminal justice as a cause for prayer and Christian concern and – where able – to involve themselves in practical initiatives.

That this Synod

(a) believe that differentials in stipend for dignitaries and others who are paid above the level for incumbents should be phased out;

(b) call for action to achieve this by ensuring that where a post at present carries such a differential, any new holder of the post is appointed on a stipend equivalent to those for clergy of incumbent status, and that the annual stipend increases for any existing holder of such a post are restricted to the increase in the Retail Prices Index (or the increase in the National Minimum Stipend, if lower) until the differential has been removed; and

(c) ask the Archbishops' Council to arrange for its Deployment, Remuneration and Conditions of Service Committee to consider in detail the step that should be taken to implement this.

The above is the text of the motion as amended; the original wording was:

That this Synod believe that differentials in stipend for dignitaries should be phased out and call for action to achieve this by freezing the stipend of dignitaries and other clergy receiving differentials at the present level until the National Stipend Benchmark for Incumbents (which is set at or close to the national average stipend) has reached the same level.

That this Synod, noting the recommendations summarised in Appendix A to GS 1541A and the concerns set out in GS 1541:

(a) believe that a reduction of residential places for married ordinands requiring significant family support should not now be pursued;

(b) affirm the value of the present arrangements for funding ordination training and decline to support the changes canvassed in GS 1541A:

(c) invite the Archbishops’ Council, after consultation with the dioceses and others, to bring to the February 2005 Group of Sessions proposals for CME 1-4 and, subject to paragraph (b) above, how such proposals might best be funded.

The above is the text of the motion as amended; the original wording was:

That this Synod, noting the recommendations summarised in Appendix A to GS 1541A and the concerns set out in GS 1541:

(a) believe that a reduction of residential places for married ordinands requiring significant family support should not now be pursued;

(b) affirm the value of the present arrangements for funding ordination training and decline to support the changes canvassed in GS 1541A:

(c) affirm its support for an increase of £750,000 in the funding of CME 1-3 which will become an integral part of initial ministerial education and training; and

(d) invite the Archbishops’ Council, after consultation with the dioceses and others, to bring further proposals to the February 2005 group of sessions for how the funds for this additional spending might best be raised and channelled from September 2006

That this Synod, in reaffirming its continuing commitment to the work of the mission agencies:

(a) acknowledge its responsibility to co-operate in God’s global mission with other partners and especially the mission agencies;

(b) endorse a vision of mission that is made more complete by acknowledging our part in, and what is offered by, the global church;

(c) affirm the distinctive ministry of mission partners from across the world who are serving in England, enriching the work of God’s mission to our country:

(d) encourage each diocese and deanery to explore the challenges of our involvement in God’s Mission offered by the mission agencies with the help of resources produced by PWM;

(e) request PCCs to review their financial and prayer support of the mission agencies in the light of the 1996 General Synod motion "that all PCCs seek to commit at least 5% of their annual income to the support of … the agencies" and the contribution they make to God’s Mission.

That this Synod now consider for approval the Draft Budget of the Archbishops' Council to cover expenditure to be incurred in the year 2004, as set out in GS 1545.

[Training for Ministry]

That this Synod authorise the Archbishops' Council to expend in 2005 a sum not exceeding £10,446,840 in respect of Vote 1, but request the Archbishops' Council to consider removing the provision for ordinand family support from the expenditure under this Vote with a view to the dioceses retaining responsibility for funding ordinand family support.

[National Church Responsibilities]

That this Synod authorise the Archbishops' Council to expend in 2005 a sum not exceeding £17,096,220 in respect of Vote 2.

[Grants and Provisions]

That this Synod authorise the Archbishops' Council to expend in 2005 a sum not exceeding £1,271,850 in respect of Vote 3.

[Inter-diocesan Support/Mission Agencies Clergy Pension Contributions]

That this Synod authorise the Archbishops' Council to expend in 2005 a sum not exceeding £735,753 in respect of Vote 4.

[CHARM]

That this Synod authorise the Archbishops' Council to expend in 2005 a sum not exceeding £3,117,000 in respect of Vote 5.

Common Worship: Initiation Services (GS 1546)
(Rites on the Way; Reconciliation and Restoration; Christian Initiation within a Vigil Service) (for commendation)
Report by the Liturgical Commission

That this Synod, recognising that issues of trade justice are applicable to all parts of the world,

(a) commend Trade Justice: A Christian Response to Global Poverty to the wider Church as a contribution to further study, reflection and action in preparation for the Week of Action for Trade Justice, 10-16 April 2005:

(b) encourage all diocesan synods to consider becoming fairly traded dioceses and to circulate guidelines to assist congregations to use fairly traded products;

(c) express its support for the aims and objectives of the Trade Justice Movement, by becoming a member of that movement;

(d) encourage the Church through its mission agencies, diocesan companion links and development agencies to build international support for the Trade Justice Campaign within the Anglican Communion and its ecumenical links;

(e) ask the Mission and Public Affairs Council to develop an advocacy strategy in favour of trade justice that can inform the Church’s contribution to public policy debates on this issue during 2005; and

(f) commit itself to prayerful support of Her Majesty’s Government and politicians of all parties in any actions to reduce global poverty.

That this Synod, noting that Domestic Violence is regarded by the Home Office and the Police as a crime:

(a) view with extreme alarm the number of incidents being regularly reported, as being an unacceptable picture of suffering and abuse;

(b) call for national guidelines to be issued by the Archbishops' Council for those with pastoral care responsibilities, as to the appropriate relationship with both victims and perpetrators;

(c) recognise the special circumstances associated with domestic violence, and therefore the special needs of victims, in minority ethnic communities; and

(d) urge all Dioceses to consider ways in which they could (i) work in partnership with other agencies, co-operating sensitively with those serving minority communities, to provide the resources needed by victims and their families; (ii) speak out against the evil of domestic violence; and (iii) work for justice and safety in the homes of this nation.

That this Synod, mindful of the special role of the Christian faith in Europe's history, recognising the historic change that has occurred in Europe with the enlargement of the European Union and conscious of the Churches' ongoing commitment to the process of healing, reconciliation, and mission across the continent:

(a) affirm the continued role of Christianity as an empowering source of inspiration and enrichment for Europe’s continued cultural, spiritual, political and socio-economic development;

(b) commend the report The Church of England and Europe (GS 1548) to dioceses to assist reflection on the Church’s calling in Europe;

(c) welcome the contribution made by the Conference of European Churches and other church organisations to the EU Convention on the Future of Europe;

(d) affirm the Charta Oecumenica as a basis for ecumenical work in Europe;

(e) endorse the aims and avenues of opportunity set out in Chapter Five of GS 1548 as a framework for developing the Church's common witness and mission in Europe; and

(f) ask the Mission and Public Affairs Council and the Council for Christian Unity in liaison with the Diocese in Europe to consider and take forward the recommendations and report back to General Synod during the next quinquennium.

That the Synod do take note of this Report.

Common Worship: Times and Seasons and
Common Worship: Festivals (for commendation)
Report by the Liturgical Commission (GS 1549)

That the Synod do take note of this report.

Peter Owen
last modified 23 July 2004
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