The team from the Diocese of Leeds made a full contribution to the most recent meeting of General Synod in York.
The meeting, held at York University between Friday, July 10 and Tuesday, July 14, was the last of the current five-year period, with elections to be held this autumn for the next Synod.
Leeds members made the most of their time, speaking in debates, asking questions and even singing in the Synod choir.
A key session during the five-day meeting was on the subject of ‘promoting unity in our nation’.
The Rt Revd Toby Howarth, attending Synod in his capacity as Acting Bishop of Leeds, spoke from the platform, pointing out that the “rise of far-Right nationalism” is being felt by non-Christian neighbours, and warned that interfaith relations were “as fragile as I’ve ever known”, since the latest Gaza war.
Bishop Toby said that the Church had “a duty” to hold “a space for people of different faiths as well as our own in this country”.
Another major debate was on the need to stand alongside the Palestinian church while maintaining good relations with our Jewish neighbours, during which the Revd Canon Rachel Firth was able to example of working together provide insights from her role as vicar of Huddersfield.
An emotional debate on support for looked-after children saw Dr Diana Tremayne offer her perspective as a former Calderdale councillor and an adoptive parent.
Diana said: “We must make clear that the church values and wants to understand better the lives/needs of those who are both currently looked after and those who are care experienced.”
Meanwhile, during an item on research into issues of trust in the Church of England, the Revd Canon Joyce Jones referenced the shared discernment process as an across divisions in the church with a high level of trust.
Two new festivals were added to the church calendar: the Feast of Creation in Christ and the Commemoration of the Twenty-One Martyrs of Libya, a move which was welcomed by the Revd Gary Waddington.
In more technical debates, the Revd Canon Paul Cartwright interceded in the session to complete the Clergy Conduct Measure, while Revd Joyce spoke in favour of the Ecclesiastical Fees Order and Canon Professor Joyce Hill reflected on aspects of her recent experience on our Vacancy in See Committee.
A motion seeking a review of the Church of England’s website and social media presence was defeated by Synod.
Canon Jane Evans observed from her long career in communications that it was not a good idea to ‘create content by committee’.
The environment was high on the agenda at this Synod, with a number of presentations and debates, and several questions around green issues.
Judith Osborne raised two questions to the Church Commissioners regarding responsible investment, seeking information on engagement with Lloyds Banking Group over their continued fossil fuel financing, and querying what percentage of the Church Commissioners’ total portfolio they would like to have invested in climate solutions by 2030.
Canon Jane Evans pressed the Church Commissioners on financial support for struggling cathedrals, especially urban cathedrals such as Wakefield.
The lighter side of the York Synod meeting is the annual quiz, greatly enjoyed by the Leeds team (who titled themselves the ‘Leeders’) despite losing their previous number one position and finishing fourth.
Three Leeds representatives - Revd Joyce, the Revd Catherine Shelley and Catherine Stephenson - contributed their musical gifts to the Synod Choir, who sang the anthem during Eucharist.
Several of the Leeds representatives are standing down this time, including David Ashton who has served 53 years on Synod and was most definitely ‘Father of the House’.
All our outgoing Synod members are happy to talk to anyone considering standing for election to the next General Synod.
Those elections will take place from August - October this year.