Posted Friday 12 June 2009
The afternoon session commenced with the Mission and Ministry Board and a presentation from the Scottish Churches Parliamentary Officer - Chloe Clemmons, who spoke about her role in building relationships between the Churches and the Scottish Parliament.
This was followed by an overview of the work of the Provincial Youth Network from the Rt Rev Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross & Caithness. In praising the commitment of the Youth Network to the life of the Scottish Episcopal Church he highlighted their involvement in last year’s Lambeth Conference. Bishop Mark then presented the next session of Synod - a report on the Rural Commission.
The Rev Donald Reid presented the penultimate session under the Mission & Ministry Board heading - the Committee for Relations with People of Other Faiths. He encouraged churches to be more involved in inter-faith dialogue and promoted the Edinburgh Festival for Spirituality and Peace which takes place in August and is following the theme of ‘The Call of Home’ .
The work of the Overseas Committee was outlined by it’s Convener, Rev Duncan McCosh, who then introduced Catriona Beel who spoke about the Committee’s small grants portfolio and in particular travel grants. Synod then heard a report from Bobby Anderson of World Exchange.
The Very Rev Gregor Duncan presented the Doctrine Committee’s session (standing in for Doctrine Committee Convener David Jasper). He highlighted a booklet produced by ACTS, entitled ‘Talking of the Trinity’ and announced that the Doctrine Committee will produce a further series of Grosvenor Essays - exploring aspects of the Nicene Creed. The first of these - on the death and resurrection of Christ - is underway and is scheduled to be published in the Autumn.
The Rev Jeremy Auld presented the session on Committee on Canons. He explained that as Motion 16 regarding Canon 62 in the morning session fell, other matters relating to Canon 62 needed to be considered. Further discussion was invited and comments are to be submitted to the General Synod Office. He then presented Motion 18 asking that amendments to Canon 8 section 1 be read for the first time - this relates to division of dioceses. He indicated that while there is currently no discussion taking place at present regarding this, the deletion of a sentence in Canon 8 would allow initiation of such discussions at any appropriate time in the future regardless of whether there was a vacant See. This Motion was carried.
The Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney, the Rt Rev Bob Gillies, introduced a Motion from his diocese suggesting that a review of the parameters regarding the membership of electoral synods during an Episcopal election be considered by the Faith and Order Board. This Motion was carried.
The last session of the day was presented by Norma Higgott, Convener of the Inter-Church Relations Committee, who spoke of the wide work of her Committee and praised Synod for making many references to the word “ecumenical” during its business so far. The Primus then asked General Synod to approve Motion 21 regarding the Statement of Partnership between the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church , the United Reformed Church (National Synod of Scotland) and the Methodist Church in Scotland. Mrs Jenny Easson of the Methodist Church commended this Motion. The Motion was carried
Motion 22 to encourage all congregations to support and particpate in local ecumenical events to celebrate the centenary of the Edinburgh Missionary Conference of 1910 and to work with their ecumenical neighbours in their shared mission during 2010 and beyond was also approved.
Friday’s proceedings came to a close with Evening Office.
Category: General Synod 2009
