from Religion Media Centre
The general synod of the Church of England, meeting in York, has considered the UK’s readiness for war, the assisted dying bill, future funding, church growth, the continuing dispute over same sex blessings – and speculation over who will be the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
Church urged to support the military in ‘uncertain times’
Brigadier Jaish Mahan, Deputy Commander of the 1st UK Division, warned the general synod of the risk of conflict and urged the church to support the military, saying it has always stood firm as part of the fabric of the nation, and its leadership has been pivotal. The Brigadier, a guest speaker on synod’s opening day, said the world is in a complex place: “We find ourselves with a land war in Europe, a situation many believed would never happen again”. There was a risk of further conflict in Europe, with Russia generating more munitions in the last twelve months than the rest of Nato put together. The Brigadier reminded members that the recent Strategic Defence Review spoke of a “whole society approach” to the threat of further conflict. The Church would be a vital part of that approach, he said. He welcomed the Synod proposal to simplify the licensing arrangements for Armed Forces chaplains, enabling them to serve in different parts of the country with more flexibility. He also called on the Church to consider how best to support service personnel and the families they leave behind.
Assisted dying bill ‘assumes authority over death that belongs to God’