By the grace of God, we are here at the last session of General Synod!

Just before we start I thought I’d share a delegates perspective that, in terms of respect and fairness, this synod has been miles ahead of St. Catharines in 2004. Give Archbishop Andrew his due, he’s kept this one level and let all folk have their say. So kudos all round for that.

Request has been received from member for order of resolutions

A222
A212
A240
C002
C003
C004
C005
No debate list as time permits

A222 Ecumenical Participation in Ordinations
Canon Paul ? Dio ? Urging defeeat of this motion, (not sure enough re motion to know what the concern is yet). Not arguing against guidelines on general principle. No theological discussion on this. Think this is step backwards. Should leave to discussion of diocesan bishop.

Richard Leggett speaking in defence. Need to be clear on relationships.

Voting……carried.

A212 Support for Partners in the Middle East
(I notice the resolution uses the word ‘Palestine’ a number of times….I thought that word was viewed as very prejudicial by one side??)

Bp Coffin moved.

Dio Montreal strongly supported. However don’t see anything here about Pakistan and misuse of blasphemy laws against Christians, can’t build new Churches, much persecution. Friendly amendmen? Nation of Pakistan would be one of the nations we engage with to challenge blaspemy laws.

Peter Coffin understands issue…do not think it is friendly amendment.

New speaker still speaking to the motion perhaps – not clear – shouldn’t we be speaking to and voting on the amendment now??

New speaker – think it privileges Palestinian cause. Friendly amendment to bring balance.

Richard Leggett – will confer and get back to you.

Dio Edmonton Joseph Walker. We as Canadians should have our own policy, not TEC policy – addressed the synod in Arabic (what he said in Arabic was another thing….. )

Amendment is from this ‘Solidarity with Anglicans and other Christians in Palestine in their struggle for justice and peace ‘ to this ‘Solidarity with Anglicans and other Christians in the province of the Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East in their struggle for Justice and Peace’

Voting….Motion as amended carried in both orders.

A240 Duties and Functions of the Primate
Don’t have any details online.

Mover speaking – need discussion about what the primate does. Reviewing office of primate.

Bp Howe Huron. What does it mean for our primate to have jurisiction?

Voting……carried.

C002 Ban the use of tobacco products
(Did we just become the local government?)

Mover just answered my question – thinks it is in our juristiction. To do mission we need to be healthy.

Dio ? If not in breach of secular law we have no juristiction on this. Assessors – this is not a point of order.

Dio Huron Joe Wood. Very ambivalent in dealing with matters like this. This could get silly.

Dio Keewatin Hugh Matherson. Speak against motion.

Speaker ? Will support but concerned.

Dio Edmonton Steve London. Church speaking on moral issue.

Dio Edmonton Joe Walker is coming to speak – will he be mentioning Hashish? (In joke, heh). He just picked up on my comment above on local government, this is getting a little circular, lol. Speaking against motion.

Speaker ? We have better things to do here.

Recognising seconder, close debate.

Voting…..

C/L Fails
B Fails

Motion defeated.

Bp Anderson Point of order – disrespect to mover and seconder, not good. Courtesy is important.

Abp Andrew introducing Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. Canada has found fast friend (hmm).

PB: Great joy and delight to be with you. Account relationship with Canada to be my fondest. Look forward to continued and growning parnership. Passion with ministry for marginalised, for mission, for those not well represented. Pray your work continues to be fruitful. We share long history on this continient. May our friendship continue to prosper.

C003 Study of Human Sexuality
In light of the statement of the House of Bishops to members of General Synod dated April 30th 2007 that his General Synod 2007:
1. Ask the Primate to request the Primate’s Theological Commission to report in advance of General Synod 2010 on:
• The theological question whether the blessing of same-sex unions is a faithful, Spirit-led development of Christian doctrine;
• Scripture’s witness to the integrity of every human person and the question of the sanctity of human relationships.
2. Ask the Primate to request the Anglican Communion Task Force to report in advance of General Synod 2010 on the implications of the blessing of same-sex unions and/or marriage for our church and the Anglican Communion;
3. Support and encourage dioceses to offer the most generous pastoral provision possible within the current teaching of the church to gays and Lesbians and their families.

John Oakes Dio NW. Theological conservative, urge member to GS urge further study and deliberation on SSB etc. Need further study and dialogue. Need a report ahead of 2010. HoB have requested this – should take this seriously.

Canon Jennings Dio Montreal. Oppose motion, primates theological commission have already committed to address this. This motion regulates the timeline. Going to speak harshly now. Have heard speaker after speaker for more time and more time. Would like to beleive that this is sincere and not tactical ploy, but do not beleive it. Think this is stonewalling. Don’t delegate to primate theo commission, do it as whole chuch. GBL need deeds not more words.

Bp Cowan BC. Encourage to supprt, but want amendment. Point 4: Request Faith Worship and Ministry to develop a process engage diocese and parishes of the ACC…….human sexuality……. Do not have full text. Think original motion is fixated on one behaviour. Speaking now about things that cannot be named – adultery I think – unclear. Motion shjould look at whole behaviour.

Bp Ingham will speak against motion and amendment. We do not need another study on human sexiuality. There are libraries writter on this. Another study is not needed. We could have brought truckloads of books on this….but they are not being read.

Dio Toronto. Did use Church resources, resources are there Bp Ingham is right. Good faith in question.

Dio Ottawa Garth Bulmer. Speaking against motion and amendment. Studies are done in absense of G/Ls

Steve Matherson. Not all studies are created equal. Speak for motion and amendment.

Dio Fredricton Speaking for.

Dio Ruperts Land. Nobody can make us do what we do not want to do. There are those who do not want to know more., Will vote against all.

Sister Constance? Agree with intent of motion, will vote against amendment. Do not need study, do need to talk

Dio BC speaking in favour. Heard yesterday ‘no’, ‘not yet’, and ‘no but soon’. Need to engage in a process.

Dio Huron Richard. Pleased amendment has been made, address other issues. Think study is necessary, nobody talked about doctrine yesterday.

Moved q be put – proculator agrees.

Voting on amendment.

B 19/11
C/L 129/99

Amendment Carries

Another Amendment Steve Hopkins Dio Niagara. Section 1. after ‘primates theological commission ‘to consult with dioceses and parishes and to report in advance of 2010′. We need a process of engagement (are we having fun yet?). Do work in dialogical way – some of us are better than others at it.

Friendly amendment – yes……amendment is friendly.

Have had brief conversation with committe of Faith, Worship Ministry etc etc….problem with staff and budget, duplicate effort with both Faith Worship Ministry and primates theological commission consulting with diocese.

Assessors – consulatation can be interpreted in very broad way. We can make this very simple – i.e. website info. Opinion, before any motion regarding money before vote needs to go to financial committee. However the amendment is still in order.

Dio Huron – amendment clause 3 – get rid of phase ‘within the current teaching of the church’. Not regarded as friendly (neuters the point).

Speaking now to the unfriendly amendment.

Question called….amendment fails.

Back to debating the amended motion (amended in points 1 and 4 as indicated above).

Bp Ingham. We don’t need this. Primates Theological Commission never intended to be theological watchdog of the church, but was meant to stimulate create debate. Last 3 years we have been referring thorny q’s to them. Does not think it is useful. Work is alredy out there…. Since failure of A187, I do not see how we could ask theologians whether this is a spirit lead development – that’s for us all to discern, not just intellectuals. This Church needs more will.

Speaker Bp? Issuing plea – we need it is language we can understand.

Speaker ? Further study not alternative to action, but in parallel with action.

Speaker ? Vote against motion – too complex. Not primates theological commissions job to decide.

Dio Calgary Sheila Vanderputten. We have given good hard look at SSB. We do need to consider this further. We are a very divided house. Show me the scripture on this please.

Dio Montreal. Support motion.

Dio Eastern Newfoundland. John Paul Westin. Support motion, glad it is wide ranging.

Dio Ruperts Land. There is a season for everything. Will vote for motion to begin conversation.

Speaker ? Started with HoB statement after much struggle requires some deference. Should support.

Voting on amended motion….done by counting:

C/L 127/117
B 19/17

Motion carried.

Motion to send the rest of the motions to CoGS….carried

We are, I think, at very long last……done.