Legislative Business II – General Synod

Additional Legislative Business at General Synod

An earlier post contained details of the legislative business conducted by General Synod in its group of sessions on Tuesday 14 February. In addition to the “take note” debate on the House of Bishops’ Report, here, further legislative issues were considered on Wednesday 15 February, and the Church’s Press Release is reproduced below.


General Synod February Group of Sessions 2017: Wednesday

15 February 2017

CREATION OF SUFFRAGAN SEE FOR THE DIOCESE OF LEICESTER (GS 2052)

Synod approved a motion moved by the Bishop of Leicester to request HM The Queen to create a new Suffragan See of Loughborough.

APPOINTMENT TO THE ARCHBISHOPS’ COUNCIL (GS 2053)

Synod approved the appointment of Mark Sheard as a member of Archbishops’ Council

https://www.churchofengland.org/media/3863433/gs-2053-appointment-of-archbishops-council-member.pdf

LONDON DIOCESAN SYNOD MOTION: FIXED ODDS BETTING TERMINALS: REDUCTION OF MAXIMUM STAKE (GS 2054A AND GS 2054B)

https://www.churchofengland.org/media/3863446/gs-2054a-fixed-odds-betting-terminals.pdf

https://www.churchofengland.org/media/3863459/gs-2054b-fixed-odds-betting-terminals-a-note-from-the-secretary-general.pdf

Synod passed the motion moved on behalf of the London Diocesan Synod, after having accepted all the amendments to the motion moved by the Bishop of St Albans, the Rt Rev Alan Smith. The motion in its amended form read:

‘That this Synod, mindful of

(a)  the destructive impact which accessible, high-stake machine gambling can have on families and whole communities and

(b)  the widespread public concern about the very large amounts being wagered at fixed odds betting terminals located in high street betting shops,

welcome Her Majesty’s Government’s review of the maximum stake for such terminals and call on Her Majesty’s Government as a matter of urgency to bring forward proposals

(i) for the amendment of existing legislation to reduce from £100 to £2 the maximum amount which may be wagered on a single game at such terminals and

(ii) to grant local authorities the power to make provision about the number and location of such terminals

in order to reduce the risk of harm to large numbers of vulnerable people.’

LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS

DRAFT AMENDING CANON NO.38 (GS 2047)

Synod agreed that the draft Amending Canon be referred for revision in committee

DRAFT AMENDING CANON NO. 36 (GS 2029A)

Synod completed the revision stage for draft Amending Canon No 36.

DRAFT AMENDING CANON NO. 37 (GS 2029AA)

Synod completed the revision stage for draft Amending Canon No 37.

MARRIAGE AND SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS AFTER THE SHARED CONVERSATIONS: INTRODUCTION BY THE CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR OF THE BISHOPS’ REFLECTION GROUP ON SEXUALITY 

Synod received a presentation by the Bishop of Norwich and the Bishop of Willesden.

https://www.churchofengland.org/media-centre/news/2017/02/presentations-from-the-bishop-of-norwich-and-the-bishop-of-willesden.aspx

Group Work took place under the St Michael’s House protocols

MARRIAGE AND SAME SEX RELATIONSHIPS AFTER THE SHARED CONVERSATIONS: A REPORT FROM THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS (GS 2055)

The Bishop of Norwich moved:  ‘That the Synod do take note of this Report.’

https://www.churchofengland.org/media/3863472/gs-2055-marriage-and-same-sex-relationships-after-the-shared-conversations-report-from-the-house-of-bishops.pdf

The motion was lost after a counted vote by Houses. The House of Bishops voted 43 in favour and 1 against, the House of Clergy voted 93 in favour and 100 against with 2 abstentions. The House of Laity voted 106 in favour and 83 against with 4 abstentions.

These brief summaries are offered primarily for reference while the General Synod is in session. The formal record of the Synod’s business at each sitting during the July 2016 group of sessions can be found in the ‘Business Done’ section (available online once published after the Synod concludes its business), which offers a fuller picture of the Synod’s business.

Audio from today’s business is available here:  https://soundcloud.com/the-church-of-england/sets/general-synod-february-2017


Cite this article as: David Pocklington, "Legislative Business II – General Synod" in Law & Religion UK, 16 February 2017, https://lawandreligionuk.com/2017/02/16/legislative-business-ii-general-synod/

3 thoughts on “Legislative Business II – General Synod

    • Synod has only just completed the revision stage for Draft Amending Canon No 36, so fancy dress not yet approved.

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