Anglican-Methodist Covenant l Rescinding the Act of Synod l 'Cohabitation - a Christian Reflection' l Changes to Fairer Shares

The Synod was welcomed to Emmanuel, Morden by the Rev. Andrew Flowerday who also led the members in prayer.

In his Presidential Address Bishop Tom noted that in the light of the developing situation with Iraq the agenda could seem domestic and churchy, but the issues which were to be debated were "serious work as the Church's ministry impacts on many thousands". Much of the address focussed on the motion to be debated on rescinding the Act of Synod. Nailing his colours firmly to the mast (for women bishops and against a third province) Bishop Tom said that he thought that the debate would be "no more than a skirmish compared to the battles to come".

In a typically humorous speech, Bishop Colin noted that the motion (sent to us from the national discussions) doesn't really tell us what we are voting for or what the remaining obstacles to unity are. For him, it was not clear enough. Nonetheless, he urged Synod to vote for the motion and then said that he would come back with a following motion. Four spoke in the debate including John Swarbrick and Harvey Richardson, both of whom urged the Synod to vote for the motion. The two members of Synod who spoke were against the motion.

Bishop Colin moved that Synod approve the Anglican-Methodist Covenant as set out in the papers. The vote was taken in houses (laity, clergy, bishops) and was overwhelmingly passed in all three. He then proposed a further motion to give more impetus to the report back to General Synod, which noted that this Synod believed that the Anglican Methodist covenant entails a movement towards the interchangeability of presbyteral ministries and calls upon General Synod to take steps to effect that change. This motion was passed with a large majority.

Rescinding the Act of Synod

General Synod

The Rev Justine Allain-Chapman gave a report on the February session of General Synod and this was followed by the introduction of the Report 'Cohabitation - a Christian Reflection'.

Last business...

Two further items completed this busy Synod. In the first, April Alexander, Chair of the Ministry Training Policy Committee Working Party, presented the proposal that the Ministry Training Policy Committee should be separated from the Board for Church in Society from 1 January 2004.

Then Andrew Britton, Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance, proposed that Synod should approve changes to the Personal Income Category Codes of the Fairer Shares Apportionment Scheme in accordance with the proposals already agreed by the Diocesan Synod in March 2000. Both motions were carried.

Before pronouncing the blessing Bishop Tom thanked the Rev Colin Pritchard and Canon Bernice Broggio at their last Southwark Synod. He wished them well in the future and said that the Diocese owed them an immense debt of gratitude.