I’ve emerged blinking into the daylight after General Synod. Using the simplest measurement of all to decide whether it was a good Synod or not .. the number and quality of contributions from the floor … it was a good Synod.
The visit of the Presiding Bishop was an important event and there was maturity and generosity in the way we managed our diversity at that point.
You may be interested in the Primus’ Charge from the Opening Eucharist and this statement on the Anglican Covenant.
We engaged fully with the outside world, twittering, blogging, audio-streaming, updating our website, etc. Our Synod was widely reported on websites across the world. But the local media seem just to have given up altogether. The Scotsman on the opening day had a brief report on ‘Church to discuss sex and the environment’ below a much larger report on Fiona Bruce’s success as ‘Rear of the Year.’
You wrote:
“… the church is energised when we begin to explore what mission means. Even to talk about it brings to people a feeling that they are handling what faith is about. No longer is the discourse about the church – no longer is it for insiders alone. The church becomes a Pentecost place where everybody can speak in their own language the wonders and the richness of God in their lives”
… and if that’s the vision shared by the SEC at large you’ll be showing the whole world “a more excellent way”. Way to go!
“The visit of the Presiding Bishop was an important event and there was maturity and generosity in the way we managed our diversity at that point.”
My reading of other Episcopal blogs leads me to question if this is a wholly truthful and accurate statement of fact. It also implies that those not in favour of the Presiding Bishop speaking at Synod behaved in an immature and ungenerous manner. I feel that your position requires of you to report events ‘warts n’ all.’
Jimmy – I’m not quite sure how you derive that meaning from what I wrote. Obviously, there were people for whom this wasn’t easy. And indeed nothing is easy for any of us in the present conflicted atmosphere in the Anglican Communion. But diversity and difficulty were handled with grace and generosity and I was grateful for that. I cannot speak for the comments on blogs.
Thank you, for your patient and measured reply.