Posted Thursday 10 June 2010 | 4:03pm
The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
Rev Canon Dr Michael Fuller presented the background to the Anglican Covenant process and the Scottish Episcopal Church’s responses to the various drafts of the Covenant (Nassau, St Andrews, Ridley Cambridge). He concluded his presentation by saying that the Covenant proposed back in 2004 Windsor Report is now a reality and that “each province needs to think carefully about the text that lies before us and about how it should proceed in terms of ‘owning’ that text. Not least each Province will have existing synodical, canonical and practical structures that will govern the means by which it seeks to address the Covenant and its implications.”
The Primus then proposed the Motion:
That this Synod, recognising the publication of the Anglican Covenant and the need to address the Covenant in a manner which is careful and prayerful, request the Faith and Order Board to advise General Synod 2011 on what process or processes might be appropriate to be followed by this Synod to enable due consideration of the final version of the Covenant by the Scottish Episcopal Church. - in doing so he set out his feelings about where the Anglican Communion is at the moment (this speech is available to download - see below). The Rt Rev Brian Smith, Bishop of Edinburgh, seconded this Motion. The Motion was carried.
The Very Rev Kelvin Holdsworth, Convener of the Informatin & Communication Board, asked Synod members to give feedback on the changes in the way the Church has been communicating over the past year - most notably the launch of inspires online which has about 1,000 subscribers to date. A number of Synod members shared their feedback and their enthusiasm for the way communications in the Church is developing.
Professor Patricia Peattie introduced Elaine Cameron who presented the Gender Audit Report. There was considerable discussion of this, with input from a number of Synod members. It was agreed to amend the Motion That this Synod receive the report of the Gender Audit carried out in relation to the Scottish Episcopal Church and invite the Standing Committee to consider the recommendations made in the report to include the words “and Diocesan Synods” after “Standing Committee”. The Motion was then carried.
The afternoon session came to a close with an overview of the work of the Committee for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults by its Convener Lexy Plumtree - who announced that a successor to replace the current Provincial Officer for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults has recentrly been appointed.
This session was followed by voting on Motions 5 - 9 regarding changes in wording to sections of the Digest of Resolutions.
The evening closed with Evening Prayer.
Downloads
Downloads to related files:
- Primus speech on Anglican Covenant (PDF)
- Primus speech on Anglican Covenant
