tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4846380584667288537.post5341635438491090372..comments2023-03-26T13:57:23.263+01:00Comments on Always Hope: Another reason to reform the Synod systemCharliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08102799923678550905noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4846380584667288537.post-73974928787628976532010-10-23T17:28:55.366+01:002010-10-23T17:28:55.366+01:00AND you're on Church Mouse! Congrats:)AND you're on Church Mouse! Congrats:)Suemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03128736092253293640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4846380584667288537.post-44055909943266668792010-10-22T17:06:26.420+01:002010-10-22T17:06:26.420+01:00Dear readers and commentors, due to the interest i...Dear readers and commentors, due to the interest in this post I have now added a few more reflections <a href="http://charliepeer.blogspot.com/2010/10/more-thoughts-on-synod-controversy-and.html" rel="nofollow">here.</a>Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08102799923678550905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4846380584667288537.post-1176564056310185862010-10-22T10:44:06.814+01:002010-10-22T10:44:06.814+01:00Charlie, I was once (literally) a member of Genera...Charlie, I was once (literally) a member of General Synod. One thing that struck me was that when it came to a vote, the House of Bishops regularly voted en masse the same way.<br /><br />Clearly, therefore, they had decided somehow in advance what their 'party line' would be. I didn't like it, and felt it was subversive of the supposed process of debate intended to persuade, but it showed that 'playing the political game' was built into the system.<br /><br />However, if you imagine Synod could not be political - especially given the current state of the Church of England - you are indeed 'an Israelite without guile'.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03590979027426082714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4846380584667288537.post-50093532219168741062010-10-21T13:32:35.353+01:002010-10-21T13:32:35.353+01:00Some comments of mine on all this. Cheers.Some <a href="http://heathen-hub.com/blog.php?b=684" rel="nofollow">comments of mine on all this</a>. Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4846380584667288537.post-55177411370025432752010-10-21T12:10:59.628+01:002010-10-21T12:10:59.628+01:00Thanks for your comment, atpresent blogger is not ...Thanks for your comment, atpresent blogger is not allowing me to publish it, I will when it doesFr Ivan D Aquilinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14270373758808070200noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4846380584667288537.post-90505409218958566172010-10-20T20:06:22.092+01:002010-10-20T20:06:22.092+01:00Not necessarily, but I am suggesting that it might...Not necessarily, but I am suggesting that it might be quite good if it was.Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08102799923678550905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4846380584667288537.post-36438476712329473802010-10-20T19:59:05.424+01:002010-10-20T19:59:05.424+01:00You thought Synod was about prayer and discernment...You thought Synod was about prayer and discernment and not politics, factions, plots and schemes, more politics... Oh dear!:)<br /><br />I think there is some prayer and discernment...<br /><br />A taxi driver also said to me, " members of the Church of England Synod come for the weekend and they drink the place dry. It's like having the students back."Suemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03128736092253293640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4846380584667288537.post-53558532553330062812010-10-20T11:56:57.815+01:002010-10-20T11:56:57.815+01:00Whoops, I mean Damien Thompson of course.Whoops, I mean Damien Thompson of course.Pam Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03952001402591649389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4846380584667288537.post-41416445034790278892010-10-20T10:39:07.570+01:002010-10-20T10:39:07.570+01:00The only results Google shows for the Christian Ne...The only results Google shows for the Christian News Release Service are the mention by Damien Thomas and then people quoting him on their blogs. They certainly don't have any web presence and as there are no names attached to the statement they can't be questioned about their methodology.<br /><br />I think the statement is more likely to be an attempt to manipulate the news agenda than a reflection of the reality because anyone with any sense who can't live with women being Bishops n the C of E will not be hanging around for another few years trying to temper what is, for them, an intolerable situation regardless of what 'safeguards' can be negotiated. The only rationale for being elected to Synod and fighting for legisliation would be that we all know Parliament is unlikely to pass another act based on gender discrimiation, so voting for statutory 'protection' will mean nothing at all happens. <br /><br />There may be a few people who think the prospect of holding up women becoming bishops for another cycle of Synod is worth giving up time and energy to being a GS member, but in practice I question whether this will be a significant number of those who have been elected who are opposed.<br /><br />I would like to believe that the majority of those new GS members who don't believe women can exercise an episcopal ministry are genuinely seeking a way forward and so will listen and engage with the process.<br /><br />I think the most destructive aspect of this statement is, as you have indicated, that it undermines our faith in those who have been elected to GS to listen to each other and to the Spirit.<br /><br />They all need our prayers.Pam Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03952001402591649389noreply@blogger.com