General Synod 13-16 Feb

Synod proceedings

Live video stream

Full timetable here

Full list of papers and other resources here

Selected highlights to follow, for information and prayer:

Monday 13 Feb

4.15pm GS 2044 Debate on the Anniversary of the Reformation

5pm Presidential Address from the Archbishop of Canterbury

5.30pm Questions (pre-selected questions from Synod members, including a number relating to the Bishops’ Report GS2055 on same sex relationships, and answers from the Bishops, can be found here)

Wednesday 15 Feb

12 noon: Presentation of GS2055

2-4.30pm: Group discussions around GS 2055

5.30-7pm “Take Note” debate: whether to receive GS2055 and take note that it has been delivered, or not. (A debate is already occurring about whether voting to ‘Take Note’ is simply a neutral, administrative event, or whether it involves acknowledgement of the central thinking and conclusions of the Report as a basis for going forward).

Thursday 16 Feb

9.45am Speech by The Most Revd Dr Josiah Atkins Idowu Fearon – Secretary General of the Anglican Communion. (This is significant, as Dr Idowu Fearon recently gave an interview highly critical of GAFCON, and suggesting that the way forward in the sexuality debate is to find ways of reconciling those in conflict, rather than establishing the truth of what God requires of us from the Bible. See this article for further analysis.)

10.15  “Setting God’s People Free”: Debate on a Motion from the Archbishops’ Council on the Report of the Lay Leadership Task Group. (See AM editorial summary and comment here).

Fireworks and faith at general synod by Martin Bashir, BBC

General Synod votes to retain marriage banns

General Synod February group of sessions 2017: Tuesday