Web viewBut, in a way, there is nothing whatsoever remarkable or special about any of that. Death...

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DRAFT MINUTE OF DIOCESAN SYNODheld at Holy Trinity and St. Barnabas, Paisley on Saturday 7th March 2015

Constitution - Synod was constituted by the Bishop during a celebration of Eucharist.

The Bishop’s Charge given during the Eucharist:

December 2014 was a very challenging time for me. My brother-in-law, roughly the same age as me, was dying of a fairly aggressive cancer of the liver and then the George Square disaster took place, more or less adjacent to our Diocesan Centre. It is not a time I will readily forget.

But, in a way, there is nothing whatsoever remarkable or special about any of that. Death and dying happen all the time until it is one’s own turn, and terrible accidents, and much much worse than that or than anything that is likely to happen to any or most of us, happen all the time too, and people have to live with the aftermath of them all the time. No way around that or out of that. And no escape from one’s own death, even if it seems that for some people in this bizarre age of ours escaping taxes is increasingly possible, but not death.

This means, I think, that, one way or another, we all know what it is like to feel surrounded by death and the aftermath of death. There are times in our lives when that is a very intense experience indeed. And for many people in the world today it is, terribly and tragically, perhaps their overwhelming experience of life – if any of you saw the exhibition of Syrian refugee children’s art at the cathedral last year you would have experienced one very powerful and very terrible instance of that. But you don’t need me to list many other examples – we all know of many in the world today, from Ebola to Isis and much in between, and not only in countries other than our own.

The humanist funeral that was arranged for Peter, my brother-in-law, while entirely in accord with his and my sister’s wishes and done very well, did not help me with that sense of being surrounded by death. No help at all. So, what does help - after all, I’m not standing before you sunk in gloom and I don’t want this Charge to leave you gloomy either. Well, I suppose the basic answer to what helps, what has helped me now for a very long time, is being part of a community that is all about the giving of life. A community that lives by what we are doing just now, the Liturgy, a community that is formed and sustained by the Eucharist, rooted in the life-giving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, a community drawn into the energies of the kingdom of heaven to better serve that coming kingdom now, in the kingdom of this world. This I deeply believe, because it is my experience, intensified no doubt by my immediate context.

But at this point, let me stop and ask a question of myself. Are you merely parading your individual experience here, and expressing it in pretty idealized terms at that, and then making the mistake of universalizing that experience, as if it is the same for everyone, as if everyone finds the church to be a place of new life, life that in the end is not extinguished by death? After all, according to this year’s rather disappointing statistics, fewer people than we had last year are finding their way to our church, far less finding it life-giving in the way I happen to do and always have, since I became part of it. Isn’t what I’ve said, then, flying in the face of the facts? Moreover, there are people who, at this juncture, and indeed at any juncture I could think of, whatever I may find and believe, deeply believe, experience the church to be quite the contrary of life-giving – you can hear some of one group’s distress and frustration in Beth’s explanatory paper for the motion she is to propose later in Synod. The question facing our church on the matters addressed by that motion might be put like this – what does being made a place of new life mean for our understanding and practice of marriage, change in the matter of gender or no change; it has obviously meant change in other areas in the past. That question will be for General Synod to resolve. And a process to enable it to do that will be offered for its consideration by the Faith and Order Board at General Synod this year. So, it isn’t enough, in this Charge, for me just to share personal experience, however heartfelt it may be.



So, I want to come back not to my own perceptions and experiences, but to the heart of the liturgy, the heart of our life as the church and to what for us all is a key moment with key words in the Liturgy. Send your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and this wine, that overshadowed by his life-giving power, they may be the Body and Blood of your Son, and we may be kindled with the fire of your love and renewed for the service of your Kingdom. The Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life: Creed and Liturgy are at one, lex orandi and lex credenda, the law of prayer and the law of belief, are at one. The Liturgy makes us to be God-bearing, God-serving, maybe even God-disclosing and God-discovering and so life-giving in the world.

There are very many examples all over this Diocese of how that character given to us and sustained in us by the celebration of the Liturgy is expressed in practice in the world both by individual disciples and by whole congregations, in small ways and in bigger ways. I hear about them all the time as I go around the diocese, not least as I review Mission Action Plans, and I am much encouraged and inspired. I think about the dynamic role played by our church in Bishopbriggs in energizing church engagement with Low Moss prison, not least for the well-being of prisoners’ families and children. I think of the people I will baptize and confirm at Easter at the cathedral and Castle Douglas, people who have found new life and been nurtured in it to this point. I think, I think ….. At today’s Synod we will hear of just three other expressions of this life-giving character – the Development Plans for our Cathedral, exciting, ambitious, aiming to enhance and to make plain the life-giving ministry and mission of St. Mary’s in Glasgow and across the whole Diocese. John Riches will be speaking about his passion, shared by many people in the Diocese, for life-giving initiatives in which we are sharing and can share in overseas engagement. And we will have a presentation too about the St. Mary’s for All project at Hamilton – also a bold, life-giving and life-enhancing initiative expressing our Spirit-given character.

So, if this Charge has any theme it is to recall us to the kind of people and the kind of church we are being forged to become and to be in the celebration of the Liturgy. Words of a Russian Orthodox theologian about the Eucharist I read the other day on the train back from meetings in Edinburgh sum much of this up for me:

It is the very essence of the Christian faith that we live in a kind of rhythm – leaving, abandoning, denying the world, and yet at the same time always returning to it; living in time by that which is beyond time; living by that which is not yet come, but which we already know and possess1.

If these words are anywhere near true of us, then we will be and ever more deeply become sources of new life and blessing wherever we are and whatever we enterprise, things small and big. It is my thanksgiving that it is so and my prayer that it will become ever more so.

Amen.

The Bishop in the Chair

Welcome

The Bishop welcomed everyone to the Diocesan Synod 2015, and then invited Revd. Tom Wilson from Holy Trinity and St. Barnabas to speak to Synod. Revd. Tom Wilson also welcomed Synod to Holy Trinity and St. Barnabas, and commented how glad that they were to be hosting Synod. He also gave some housekeeping notes, pointing out that the layout was different from 2010 when they had last hosted Synod.

1 T. Fisch, ed., Liturgy and Tradition: Theological Reflections of Alexander Schmemann (New York, 1990), p.95



The Bishop then welcomed ecumenical guests including representatives from other Christian denominations; Alan Anderson, Methodist Church, Revd. Craig Richmond, United Free Church, Revd. Mitchell Bunting, United Reformed Church, Revd. Karen Hendry, Church of Scotland, Major David Wing, Salvation Army, and Father Dennis Carlin from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Paisley, representing the Roman Catholic Church. He also welcomed Mr Holgar Sandelin, Secretary to the Bishop of the Diocese of Gothenburg.

The Bishop then extended a warm welcome to other invited guests; Mr. John Stuart, Secretary General, from the General Synod Office and Mrs. Helen Gray from SRG LLP, the Diocesan Auditors.

The Bishop welcomed one new member of the clergy in the Diocese, the Revd. David Gifford, Rector of St. Mary’s Port Glasgow, St. Fillan’s, Kilmalcolm, and St. Mary’s, Bridge of Weir. All other new members of Synod were asked to stand and receive the acclaim of Synod.

Apologies for Absence

The Diocesan Secretary announced that the following clergy were absent with permission from the Bishop; Revd. Professor David Jasper, Revd. Andrew Baldock, Revd. David Cook, Revd. Ian Boffey, Revd. Kenny Macaulay, and Revd. Christian Okeke. A further 13 other clergy had sent their apologies.

Apologies had also been received from 9 Lay Representatives, 2 of whom are represented by Alternates leaving 7 charges without a Lay Representative vote, St. Kentigern, Dennistoun, St. Ninian’s Portpatrick, St. John’s, Eastriggs, St. John the Evangelist, Annan, St. Augustine, Dumbarton, St. Margaret’s, Renfrew, and St. Matthew’s Possilpark.

Apologies had also been received from other invited guests;The Hon. Lord McEwan, Assessor, Mr John Park of SRG LLP, Auditors.

Finally, the Bishop asked Synod to stand and keep a term of silence to remember the following, Revd. Joyce Pow, and Revd. Colum McGranahan, who died this year.

Appointments for Synod

The following appointments were made by the Bishop for this meeting and approved by Synod:

Bishop’s Assessor: Mr. Rory AndersonMinute Secretaries: Mr. Chris Zochowski, Mrs. Jean GrahamTellers: Mrs. Christine Hughes, Mrs. Gill Young

The Bishop obtained Synod’s approval for guests and non-voting members to speak at Synod. The following appointments were then approved by Synod;

Appointments Diocesan Secretary (Canon 61 Res 1): Mr. Chris Zochowski Diocesan Treasurer (Canon 61 Res 2): Mr. Bob Burgon.

Diocesan Property Committee (Canon 50.8): Convenor - The Dean, Diocesan Architect, Diocesan Surveyor, Diocesan Treasurer, Mrs A. Sage, Revd D. Orr, Mr R. Webster and Mr. A. Jamieson.



Boundaries Committee (Canon 50.9): (nominations from Regional Councils) Ms. Jennifer Whelan, Revd. David Cook, Revd. Gordon Fyfe, Mr. Alfred Thorp, Mr. Martin Axford, Revd. Alan Wylie, and Mr. Paul Hindle.

Diocesan Auditors: (Canon 61 Res 9): Steele Robertson Goddard (SRG LLP) were appointed for a further year. The Bishop explained that the Auditors had already presented their report, (included in the agenda papers) to the Diocesan Council as Trustees of the Diocese, and were represented by Mrs. Helen Gray at Synod. He offered his thanks to the Auditors for the professional job that they do for us.

All the above appointments were approved by general acclaim.

Approval of Minutes

The Bishop requested that Synod agree the Minute of the Diocesan Synod held at the Barony on 1st March 2014. The Bishop then asked for Synod’s approval to sign the Minute as a correct record of events and this was duly proposed by Canon David Bayne and seconded by Mr. Graeme Hely.

Matters arising: There were no matters arising from the Minute of 2014.AOCB: No items had been notified for the meeting.

The Secretary invited Mr. Kennedy Fraser to address Synod about housekeeping issues regarding the use of microphones during the day, and he also requested speakers to give their name and charge before speaking for the recording of proceedings.

Change to Agenda - The Secretary announced that there were some small changes to the agenda. If there was time, some of the ‘five minute slots’ would be heard before lunch. A fifth slot had been added to the agenda, to allow Mr. Holgar Sandelin from the Diocese of Gothenburg to address Synod, and a sixth slot would be added on The Mother’s Union. A change to the order of Development team presentations was also announced.

Election announcement

The Secretary advised that there were separate coloured voting papers, yellow for Lay Representatives and blue for Clergy.

Some changes were announced by the Secretary, firstly with the candidates for Clergy Members of General Synod. These changes resulted in the following;

Candidate Proposer SeconderRevd. Tom Wilson Revd. Drew Sheridan Mr Colin WrightVery Revd. Ian Barcroft Revd. Alan Wylie Revd. Martin Callaghan

Secondly, in the election of four Alternate Clergy members of General Synod, there were so far no nominations from Clergy and the Secretary asked for nominations from the floor. The resulting clergy were nominated, proposed and seconded as follows:

Candidate Proposer SeconderRevd. Liz O’Ryan Revd. Pat Smith Very Revd. Ian Barcroft



Revd. Moira Jamieson Revd. Canon Shelley Marsh Revd. Jane RossRevd. Canon Tom Montgomery Revd. Dr. James Currall Revd. Sandy MontgomerieRevd. Canon Shelley Marsh Revd. Cedric Blakey Revd. Kirstin Freeman

In other elections, there were 4 candidates for the 4 places as Alternate Lay Members of General Synod, no additional candidates were noted. These were Mrs. Susi Cormack Brown, Miss Trudy Hill, Mrs. Anne Jones and Mr. John Mitchell. The Secretary added that there were three Diocesan representatives required for Provincial Committee positions, and announced the following positions and nominations;

Diocesan Lay Representative for the Provincial Panel for Episcopal Elections:

Candidate Proposer SeconderMrs. Anne Jones Dr. Beth Routledge Mr. Kennedy Fraser

Diocesan Representative for the new Mission Board:

Candidate Proposer SeconderMrs. Lorraine Darlow Revd. Tom Wilson Mr. Simon Johnson

Diocesan Representative for the Provincial Administration Board:

Candidate Proposer SeconderMr. Geoff Sage Revd. Canon Shelley Marsh Mr. Bob Burgon

Each of these positions had only one candidate, and as no further nominations had been received, the Secretary would be announcing later in the day that these candidates were elected unopposed.

The Secretary asked for Synod’s approval to allow the Bishop’s Staff Group the authority to appoint representatives for both the Mission and Ministry Board and Home Mission Committee should proposals to create the new Mission Board be rejected at General Synod in June. This was agreed by Synod.

The Secretary then asked the Dean, Very Revd. Ian Barcroft, to introduce the election for a new Canon. The Dean announced the three candidates for the position of Canon as Revd. Drew Sheridan, Revd Gordon Fyfe and Revd. Professor David Jasper, and instructed clergy to find their voting papers in green. The Dean then explained the voting process to the clergy.

Submission of Synod Returns

The Bishop asked the Secretary to introduce the Summary of Congregational Returns contained in the agenda papers. The Secretary drew Synod’s attention to the graphs showing the summaries of congregational roll numbers and numbers of those communicants as recorded on the Sunday next before Advent. He then asked for comments from the floor.

In discussion on the figures, Jim Gibson, Lay Representative, St. Margaret’s, Newlands asked how the congregational figures were derived. The Bishop responded that two rolls were kept by charges, the congregational roll covered those people connected to the charge, and the communicants roll recorded those who had communicated at least once in the year. Kennedy Fraser, Lay Representative, St. James the Less, Bishopriggs, thought that the statistics were not reflective of current attendances and commented that General Synod had asked the College of



Bishops to reflect on the collection and meaning of the statistics. He also asked that the Diocese collect other statistics, including information on the payment of the Living Wage to all of its employees. He asked that this be recorded next year on the Summary of Congregational Returns. Revd. Alan Wylie, Motherwell and Wishaw questioned the gender breakdown figures and noted that they did not add up in 2013. The Secretary responded that the 2014 figures for the first time had been correctly broken down by gender. In previous year’s, some charges had only provided total numbers which meant that the statistics appeared to not add up.

Dr Beth Routledge, Lay Representative, St. Mary’s Cathedral, asked for clarity on what was meant by children admitted to communion. She noted that at the Cathedral, all were welcome to take communion. She suspected that the number was inaccurate, and this point was noted.

The Bishop commented that the College of Bishops had begun discussion on the topic of statistics, what was captured in them, what was not recorded, and how we might record them in future. He felt that the points made were very helpful.

Protection of Vulnerable Groups Report (Canon 65 Res 2)

Mrs Anne Jones, Diocesan Protection Officer presented the Vulnerable Groups Report. She noted that she now had data from 53 charges, leaving 9 to still report before she forwards the data to the Provincial Safeguarding Committee. The Bishop noted that he and Anne met regularly, and he thanked Anne on Synod’s behalf for the excellent job she is doing, and the advice she provided to the Diocese. Synod expressed their appreciation through applause.

Revd. Canon Scott Robertson in the Chair.

Adoption of Accounts, Approval of Diocesan Treasurer’s Report

Revd. Canon Scott Robertson (Chair) invited the Diocesan Treasurer, Mr Bob Burgon to address Synod regarding the finances of the Diocese. The Treasurer began his presentation by asking Synod to refer to his report for the year just ended. He also asked that Synod had to hand their copies of the official audited report and accounts. The Treasurer reported that he had managed along with the Auditor Mrs Helen Gray, to refine some of the documentation and was pleased to announce that they had managed to reduce the report by ten pages this year.

The Treasurer reported a strong and healthy financial picture of the accounts, including a surplus of £373,000 brought about mainly due to the internal transfer of the value of property and land from closed congregations at Knightswood and Girvan. This is not hard cash, but is classed as heritable assets. Last year’s forecast deficit of £215,000 has been reduced to an actual operational deficit of £114,581 which is a big improvement, simply explained by the slow uptake of some of the budgeted figures.

Main factors that have saved money are the later than planned start of the St. Mary’s for All project at Hamilton, the uptake of regional Growth Strategy funds, and the vacancy for a Canon Missioner. On the income side, Knightswood properties are now bringing in new rental money. The Treasurer indicated his intention to continue to present material in this format and to look at moving to three year budgeting. He also thanked Mrs. Gray from the auditors, and the Office Manager and Bishop’s Secretary and Diocesan Secretary for assisting him before and during the time that he has been in post. Questions were then invited. Mr Jim Gibson, Lay Representative, St. Margaret’s



Newlands, thanked the Treasurer for the improvements made in the presentation of the accounts and checked that a reference on page 14 to pension provision should read 2014 rather than 2013. This was agreed by the treasurer. Mr. Gibson then asked about the restricted funds reference on page eleven and the difference between restricted and general funds, which he thought were unrestricted. The treasurer asked that he take this away and along with the auditor, provide a full answer to Mr Gibson.

The Chair then requested that if Synod was content with the accounts and report they should be formally adopted. Agreement was proposed by Kirsty Buchan, St. Mary’s Hamilton and seconded by Kennedy Fraser, Bishopriggs. The Chair then added his thanks to the Treasurer and to the auditor and office staff.

Canon for Second Reading

Revd. Paul Romano, Rector of St. Ninian’s, Pollokshields and Chair of the Committee on Canons, introduced the terms of changes to Canon 52, coming to General Synod for its second reading. The changes are technical and involve deleting references to the Mission and Ministry Board, replacing them with The Mission Board, and adding in the words new Scottish Episcopal Institute.

The Chair then requested any questions or comments and there being none, moved to ask Synod to vote for support of these amendments for the second reading of Canon 63 at General Synod. This was passed by a show of hands with no-one against.

Mission in Action Presentations.

The Chair introduced George Smart from St. Mary’s, Hamilton to present on the St. Mary’s for All project, assisted by the Lay Representative Kirsty Buchan, and Catriona Paterson from the congregation. The presentation started with a short video starring the Dean, and giving the background to the history and heritage of the area, the key aims of the project, and explaining the planned expansion of the facilities of the church to allow community groups to meet and be part of an inclusive Christian family.

Mr. Smart then explained that the project had been seven years in its planning and development, and would allow a balance of the Victorian heritage of the building with the new informal spaces required to support the vision. The long list of community organisations using and hoping to use the facilities was presented along with information on the cost of the project, and the fund raising required to allow the project to take off. Mr. Smart also talked about the process followed to affirm the needs of the community and provide modern facilities alongside the original building, whilst the congregation could maintain their worship life.

Kirsty Buchan, Lay Representative at St. Mary’s Hamilton talked about the communication of the project both to the congregation and to interested external parties, providing pictures and details of the development. The links to the Mission Action Plan were clear, and so the use of social media technology allowed the communication of the project and its progress.

The Chair thanked the group for their presentation and the information provided which would be of interest to other charges in the Diocese.



The second presentation was given by St. Mary’s Cathedral through Professor Jim McKillop, Vestry Secretary at the Cathedral, and Wolfgang Schenkel, Convenor of the Releasing the Mission core group at the Cathedral. Professor McKillop explained that the project had grown out of the Mission Action Plan for the Cathedral. He began by thanking Synod for the opportunity to talk briefly about the plans that the Cathedral is developing to enable them to better serve their own congregation, the needs of the Diocese and the wider community. He explained that the Cathedral had begun by thinking about their mission and the resources that they had to deliver that mission.

They listed the lack of resources and issues that were holding back their mission, including space, poor toilets, poor heating, poor storage etc. It was also decided that they needed to address the importance of music facilities to the Cathedral. Following these consultations they came up with a plan to support and develop the music facilities, including a complete rebuild of the organ. They also enlisted the views of the forty or so groups that used the Cathedral to help with the planning.

Wolfgang added that they then looked at the possibilities to expand and how that expansion could be delivered. It quickly became apparent that they needed a group of skilled professionals to take the plans forward. The project is very large and so it needs to be professionally managed. The current position is that they have invited architects to carry our scoping studies at St. Mary’s, and have started to look at grant aid for the funding of the project.

In terms of the vision, they are very keen to build on the Cathedral’s high profile in the City but not forgetting their own congregation and its outreach to the community, not only through music.

The Chair thanked Professor McKillop and Wolfgang Schenkel for their presentation.

Development Team Updates

After lunch, Synod heard updates from the Development Teams.

1. Worship and Liturgy – Gill Young, St. Mary’s Cathedral and Linda Whitby, St. Andrews Ardrossan and Irvine

Mrs Gill Young talked about the work of the Worship and Liturgy team, and the importance of the welcome, the worship and the website to visitors. She added that congregations value their worship highest, and it is woven into the fabric of episcopal congregations. The team are able to offer help and training to those providing worship. They can also assist with things like music workshops. Stations of the Cross, intercession training, and help with seasonal liturgies. The team are also helping to launch the new Service of The Word.

The team also help with compilation of special events and liturgies for these events, such as the Gatherings or the Commonwealth Games. Mrs Linda Whitby talked about recent problems that had been raised where there were problems with a lack of organists, or music resources. She talked of how the team could assist with low cost solutions using technology to provide hymns and music, and also the licences that were required. The team can also help develop and train lay readers and worship leaders.

2. Prayer and Spirituality – Revd. David Wostenholm, St. Matthews, Possilpark

Revd. David Wostenholm, talked about the work of the Team, attending to the power house, helping individuals, and eucharistic communities to reconnect people to God. They offer friendship on the spiritual journey, and provide some reflection for groups to reflect on what they are about.



He explained the type of events that the Team were offering, and the variety that they covered, from exploring domestic violence to imaginative Advent quiet days and retreats. They also offer to be a catalyst to allow people and congregations to reflect on the spiritual reality behind what they do, what they are called to do, by whom, and who they are, and to allow space for God to act and to help people move forward.Lastly, David reminded Synod that the Team maintained noonday prayer at the Diocesan Centre

3. Learning and Discipleship – Revd. Gordon Fyfe, St. Columba’s Largs

Revd. Gordon Fyfe introduced the work of the Learning and Discipleship Development Team (LADDT) team, formed with people from all across the Diocese. The Team offer lifelong learning and understanding to deepen Christian vocation and discipleship. With their wide remit, the Team is linked up with all other teams and they use them to offer some of the trainings. Members of the Team go to regions and congregations to talk about how training can be offered. Gordon added that some additional on-line resources will be offered in future. The Team provide the Synod Fresher’s meetings, Journey to Faith courses, the Bishop’s Lectures, Lay theological groups, Church and the Academy, and support pastoral team training and materials. The team also produce some publications. He covered the types of courses available and asked that people contact him should they want to attend the training offered or indeed offer ideas for new training and development. 4. Welcome, Integration and Numerical Growth – Revd. Drew Sheridan, St. John’s Greenock

and St. Bartholomew’s, Gourock

Revd. Drew Sheridan presented details of the Team membership, or as he thought of them, his angels, and thanked Synod for allowing him to talk about what the Team had done and would be doing for the rest of the year. The Team, known as WINGS, have made presentations to various Regional Councils and congregations, carrying out analysis on their strengths and weaknesses, and enabling them to improve their welcoming skills. They also assist with resources and training. Drew warned against complacency with Welcome and integration, and offered his Team to support congregations to keep their skills sharp, to look at their websites, the streetscape, their notice boards, but also to look at both what is said and done, and what is not said and done and the effect that this can have. Drew also announced a prestigious speaker for later in the year, Bob Jackson, and asked that anyone who wanted to have him include particular topics, should contact Drew first. 5. Missional leadership – Revd. Jane Ross, St. Ninian’s Prestwick

Revd. Jane Ross shared with Synod something of her Missional Leadership Team and its aims. The team aim to build confidence and encourage leaders in congregations, not only internally but also looking outwards to building God’s kingdom in the community. Practically they offer help to grow and nurture congregations, firstly by developing discipleship and concentrating on leadership. They try to encourage everyone to take responsibility through lay ministry and empowerment, noting that it is not just clergy that are called to minister within our churches.

Those who are in a leadership position need to build in spiritual resilience to help they carry out their jobs. The Team help people to think how best to share their faith and use new ways of being church, looking afresh at ways to reach people. The team members encourage and share their experiences. They also help to organise events and email out good reading material to keep momentum up following speakers such as Bishop Graham Cray. The team are also involved this year in organising the second Gathering celebration of mission planning at St. Silas in Glasgow in



May. Lastly, Jane pointed out that her team are keen to visit all congregations with mission Leadership as one of their growth strands in their MAP.

6. Children and Young People – Lorraine Darlow, St. Silas, Glasgow

Lorraine Darlow, from St. Silas, Woodlands, Glasgow, explained that with their small but enthusiastic team they were trying to support and resource everyone across the Diocese working with children. The team stressed that they will support wherever possible.

She finds that her team are always asking ‘where do the children and young people fit in’? A part of their profile is to keep Children and Young People on the agenda, as it was at the recent Clergy Conference. Other than people, they do offer ideas and resources, Godly Play training. Messy Church and other ways to involve children at church. There is also an ecumenical aspect to the work of the team, and they have formed relationships with the Methodist Church and Lorraine herself sits on a Children in Worship forum. The team hope to launch a course for families this year.

Diocesan Constitution Review

The Bishop addressed Synod. Following consultations held by himself, the Dean and the former Ministry Development Officer, Anne Tomlinson, with Clergy Chapters and Lay Members of Regional Councils last year, the results had been circulated both to the clergy and to the Regional Councils.

The Bishop’s Staff Group had decided it was time to undertake a review of the Diocesan Constitution and of some of the governance structures of the Diocese, not all on which are now in line with the Diocesan Constitution, some references are to bodies that do not exist. The Constitution was last reviewed in 2005 and amended in 2010 and 2012.

The Bishop added that the Staff Group will be looking to reduce bureaucracy and streamline decision making where possible. The idea would be to put any proposals out for consultation following the review. He added that any changes to the Constitution must of course be agreed by Diocesan Synod.

Motion 1 - Glasgow North East Regional Council

The Chair then introduced the first of two motions, from Glasgow North East Regional Council, proposed by Dr. Beth Routledge, Lay Representative, of St. Mary’s Cathedral and seconded by Kennedy Fraser, Lay Representative, St. James the Less, Bishopriggs. In proposing the motion on behalf of the North East regional Council, Dr. Routledge spoke about the official position of the church on marriage that had been made clear by the guidelines from the House of Bishops earlier this year. However, the law of the land had now changed since last year’s Synod to incorporate marriage equality regardless of gender. She spoke about the hurt felt by those in same sex relationships that they could not profess their love before family friends and God. The value of the Cascade Conversations was appreciated by the Regional Council, and she noted that the Regional Council felt that the substance of those conversations now had to be taken forward with some urgency. The Bishop’s comments about the Faith and Order Board’s proposals were well taken, but as the people of the church she felt it was right to put forward their point of view to General Synod. The position was that clergy in this Church cannot marry some couples, and those clergy are struggling with the question of how to respond pastorally and appropriately to couples who are able to marry and want to do that in this Church.



She added that the position of the Church had also changed, and clergy who have been able to offer blessings to couples of the same sex over the past decade, are now restricted in doing so. Clergy and lay readers undergoing training are also having to choose between their vocation and marrying the person they love. They too are having to act outside their conscience. In commending the motion to Synod, Dr. Routledge felt that the motion respected the consciences of those clergy who wished to solemnise marriage of all types, and recognised the views of those who did not wish to conduct same sex marriages, and would allow all who work for and within the church to conduct their personal lives with integrity.

Revd. Sydney Maitland, All Saints, Jordanhill responded that he felt the motion was premature, as there had been no report on the cascade process or discussions at the regional and congregational levels. He also felt that the motion assumed a predisposition of the SEC to change its Canons, but this mind had not yet been formed. Thirdly, the motion assumed, but could not demonstrate, that the mind of the Church was to opt in to the solemnisation of same sex marriages, but this has also not been decided yet.

Revd. Maitland also found the motion vague. It referred to a motion to General Synod, but there was no draft of that motion. What would he be voting on? It was also vague as it is in two parts, assuming a prior disposition of the SEC to supporting same sex marriages, which he felt would be agreed by some and opposed by others, and it also assumed that the mind of the Church will be to allow the opt outs proposed, again which some might support and others oppose. It raised a question of competency in his mind. Finally, there was no evidence that an opt-out is provided in any other Canon in the Church, and if it was, there would be no guarantee that it might be removed in future. His difficulty with the motion was not concern about same sex marriage, but with this motion that he was being asked to vote on.

In response, Dr. Beth Routledge said that it was not open ended and the same motion would go to General Synod with a minor grammatical change. Secondly the issue of opt-outs being changed in future was dependent on any changes being made to Canon Law at the General Synod, however it was the view of North East Regional Council that no one should be obliged to act against their conscience whether to marry same sex couples or not. Regarding it being premature, she represented the views of the North Easy Regional Council in believing that as Cascade was over, it was now time to move forward, so that was the proposal to be put to Synod.

David Brown, Alternate Lay Representative, All Saints, Jordanhill, endorsed what Revd. Sydney Maitland had said, and expressed difficulty in supporting this motion as it stands. Being in two parts he felt it impossible to vote one way or the other.

Kennedy Fraser, Lay Representative, St James the Less, Bishopriggs spoke in support of the motion. He felt that the idea of a conscience clause had precedent within the Church in the treatment of remarriage of divorced persons. He felt that this motion offered a framework to meet the needs of those approaching the Church for marriage.

Jim Gibson, Lay Representative, St. Margaret’s Newlands was puzzled that, as the Faith and Order Board were bringing proposals to General Synod, what was the aim of the motion? Was it to shorten the process or do something in advance of General Synod? Dr. Routledge replied that as no-one was aware of the detail of the proposals that the Faith and Order Board would bring to General Synod, the North East Regional Council was unwilling to assume that this would be taken care of by the motion put to General Synod by the Faith and Order Board.



Provost Kelvin Holdsworth, St. Mary’s Cathedral, congratulated Dr. Routledge on her handling of the debate, and noted that he could support this motion as he was looking for a Church where everyone can thrive. The idea of respecting one another’s consciences seemed a Godly idea to him. He felt that the motion could keep everyone in the Church together. He also felt that the motion was timely and enabled the whole Church to come to a view on the subject.

John Hume, St. Bride’s Hyndland, was worried that the phrasing of the motion was not adequately defined, and it did not seem credible within the wider Church. He thought that the terms of the resolution could be revised and brought to the next Synod, and he opposed the motion.

Bishop Gregor thanked Dr. Routledge for the way she presented the motion. He also wanted to speak as he was the Acting Convenor of the Faith and Order Board. The Board had not finally decided on its proposal to General Synod. He could say that it would propose a process including a debate on the doctrine and theology of marriage and that General Synod would be invited to look at various options for canonical change. He had no problem with the motion from the North East Regional Council, although he did not know if it would add much to what was intended by the Faith and Order Board proposals. The College of Bishops wanted to work through the issue and find a way to hold together as a Church and avoid fracture. In the end that was for General Synod to decide. In terms of competence; if this Synod voted in favour of the motion, Standing Committee would need to take that into consideration for the agenda of General Synod.

Following discussion with the Assessor, The Dean told Synod that it was competent to discuss the motion as it did not intend to change Canon Law, but was to express the mind of Synod.

The Assessor, Mr. Rory Anderson thought that the motion could be redrafted into one motion, which could go forward for consideration and with an amendment to the motion, the mind of Diocesan Synod could be relayed to General Synod.

Alan Rumble, St. Margaret’s, New Galloway, raised the point that a similar motion had been considered last year at General Synod, and following discussion, it had been suggested that the vote should be made in secret. Mr. Rumble suggested the same should apply today.

The Chair thought that this would take some time to decide and that the resolution should be voted on now. Bishop Gregor thought it was a matter of seeing whether the Rules of Order allowed a secret ballot. The Assessor, Mr Rory Anderson, referred to the Rules of Order and thought that Synod could decide if there should be a ballot, by a show of hands. That was put to the vote and was rejected, and so the vote on the motion would take place by show of hands, in one house.

Once counted, the vote was announced. Those for the motion as originally proposed, 55, against 26, with 5 abstentions, meaning that the motion was carried.

Motion 2 – For the elevation of St. Andrew’s, Milngavie to status of Incumbency

The Dean spoke to the motion, firstly thanking the vestries of All Saints, Bearsden and St. Andrew’s Milngavie and their Rector, Revd. Kirsten Freeman, for their diligence over the matter for some three years. He noted that there had been a Dependent Congregation at Milngavie for almost 60 years, under the care of All Saints, Bearsden. Prior to this it was a Mission of the Cathedral. In June 2012, both vestries came together to establish a foundation of trust from which they could



conduct a process to see if it was possible to dissolve that relationship, and if St. Andrew’s Milngavie could become an Independent Congregation or an Incumbency.

The Dean outlined the process of discussion, which had been emotional and had raised many issues for both charges to consider; the process itself, the mutual support and friendships of the congregations etc. Questions included would it be possible to have a dedicated priest for each congregation, to have flexibility on service times and to suit their congregational needs and contexts? Many other issues were discussed, including mission, and the flexibility needed to allow improved pastoral care and to aim for greater community involvement. They wondered if it would allow growth and outreach. They also wanted to create a new interdependency from each congregation.

The possible difficulties also had to be discussed and faced, including finances. Fears had to be faced and risks evaluated. Consideration had to be given to consulting with the Diocese and with their own AGM’s. Different views came out of these discussions. A joint working group was set up for the joint vestries to become fully involved prior to a special meeting in May 2014. At that meeting, a similar split decision came forward, with St. Andrews Milngavie happy to try to become independent and All Saint Bearsden wanting to keep the status quo.

Now, St. Andrews, Milngavie have petitioned the Bishop to be permitted to have their own priest as they strongly believe that it is the best ministerial and pastoral solution for them. Both charges need to enter the Mission Action Planning process. The Boundaries Committee have suggested new boundaries for each congregation, and along with the agreement of the joint vestries and the Rector, the boundaries have been settled.

The canonical process has been followed and the Diocesan Treasurer has given his agreement following rigorous assessment of the situation.

The Chair then asked for a show of hands, voting in one house, and the motion was carried with none against and three abstentions.

Budget 2015

The Diocesan Treasurer then addressed Synod about the Budget for 2015. Mr. Bob Burgon noted first that it had been a challenge to carry out his first budget, and he had attached a resulting commentary that projected a deficit for the year of £166,000, inclusive of the ongoing items of expenditure at St.Mary’s Hamilton and at Holy Trinity Kilmarnock.

On the expenditure side, the budget is increased for Ministry Support and the Diocesan Property Committee, as property plays such a major part in the work of the Diocesan Treasurer and the Diocese in general. He also praised the efforts of the Dean for his task in chairing this major committee on Synod’s behalf.

There is budget provision for the appointment of a Canon Missioner and budget included for the housing of the same post. Mr. Burgon commented that he had tried to improve the layout of the figures and the tables to show the income from Edinburgh, and the way in which we have spent those grants. The only certainty, in the Treasurer’s opinion, was that at the end of November there will be changes to this budget, but he counselled that Synod should not be fearful of deficit. He felt we had a strong financial base, and we are able to support our expenditure and our development teams. He therefore had no worries about expenditure or a deficit.



Speaking as the Chair of the Investment Committee, Mr Burgon also thanked his fellow members on that committee for their work in managing the investment portfolio that helps us to raise income. The Committee do try very hard to follow guidance on ethical investment and good judgements. The Chair asked if there were any comments or questions for the Treasurer.

Dr. Beth Routledge asked a technical question about there being two references to TISEC in the budget and was it the case that they should read Scottish Episcopal Institute (SEI)? Mr. Burgon confirmed that this was the case.

As there were no further questions, the Chair asked for agreement for the Budget to be given by general acclaim, which was received.

Bishop’s Lent Appeal – Scottish Episcopal Institute (SEI)

The Bishop spoke to Synod about the Lent Appeal that had been launched this year with the aim of supporting the formation and training of those entering Ministerial training in the SEC. The new SEI was now up and running, with a growing number of students coming forward both for ordained ministry and lay readership. He quoted from the recent item in the Inspires newsletter by Bishop Kevin Pearson of Argyll and the Isles, and Convenor of the transitional SEI Council, focussing on the points made about the ethos of the SEI and its emphasis on formation and of investing in those who wished to come forward. To help equip them for the challenges ahead, he hoped to be able to offer full time training for some in the future.

Bishop Gregor stated he was happy to support the appeal along with all of the College of Bishops, and asked the Diocese again to support the Appeal and confirmed that any funds raised across the Province would go toward meeting that aspiration of offering full time training to students.

The Bishop also thanked those who had contributed to last year’s appeal, and spoke of the pleasure he got from passing over the large sum of money collected for the Yorkhill Children’s Charity.

Five Minute Slots

Revd. Canon John Riches, St. Mary’s Cathedral – Overseas DayJohn wanted to bring an Overseas Day at St. Margaret’s Newlands on May 9th, to Synod’s attention as the subject did not always get good publicity. He informed Synod that there was much good work going on, citing a project at St. John’s Dumfries which is changing the lives of farmers in Malawi by sending them 19th century pedal driven threshing machines from this country that we no longer had any use for in this country.

John Stuart, Secretary General of the SEC gave greetings from the General Synod Office, and brought a couple of things to Synod’s attention, firstly the Unity Statement from the 10th Assembly of the World Council of Churches and the work of the ecumenical group here in Scotland, who had prepared a study guide which he commended to Synod. John also gave Synod information about a postcard campaign which the Stop Climate Chaos Scotland coalition had set up called, ’For the love of…’ This results of this campaign will then be used to petition the First Minister attending the Climate Change conference in Paris later this year.



The Dean, Very Revd. Ian Barcroft spoke about the Notes and Guidelines for Vestries and Property Convenors which had been circulated to all present. He explained that the updated guidance is meant for property convenors, but also made a plea that congregations and vestries get in touch with himself or any member of the Diocesan Property Committee who are willing to help about any building related issues. He also had a Good Maintenance Guide to offer to congregations as a reference document.

Canon Revd. Jeanette Jenkins then spoke to Synod about Ministry Development Review, or MDR. She passed some information to Clergy and Lay Readers which was useful to read prior to the actual MDR taking place. It has been updated and now offers a reference for staff prior to meeting with their supporter. Secondly she added that the MDR scheme relied on supporters and made a plea for such companions to come forward.

Holgar Sandelin, Secretary to the Bishop of Gothenburg in Sweden then brought the greetings of Bishop Per in Sweden, and commended the strong links made since 2007. As it was soon to come to an end, he emphasised that the Diocesan link may end, but that the parish links would remain. He offered his thanks to both Bishop Gregor and to Revd. Sandy Montgomerie for their support.

Finally, Ann Glenesk gave an update on the work of the Mother’s Union, she spoke of the 200 members across the Diocese serving God through many various works, e.g. prison work, supporting the fight against domestic abuse, and knitting for premature babies. Ann reported on the success of the Commonwealth Games and the contacts Mother’s Union members had made. The work raising the issue of human trafficking had also been started and more is planned.

Election Results

The Dean in the Chair announced that following the clergy election, the new Canon is Revd. Drew Sheridan, and he then asked the Secretary to announce the Election Results as follows:

Members of General Synod – House of Clergy:Revd. Dr. Tom WilsonVery Revd. Ian Barcroft

Alternate Members of General Synod – House of Clergy; in order of votes cast:Revd. Canon Tom MontgomeryRevd. Moira JamiesonRevd. Liz O’RyanRevd. Canon Shelley Marsh Alternate Members of General Synod – House of Laity: in order of votes cast:Mrs Susi Cormack BrownMiss Trudy HillMs Anne JonesJohn Mitchell

Diocesan Lay Representative for the Provincial Panel for Episcopal Elections:Mrs Anne Jones

Diocesan Representative for the new Mission Board:Mrs Lorraine Darlow



Diocesan Representative for the Provincial Administration Board:Mr Geoff Sage

The following Members of General Synod elected by Regional Councils were homologated by Diocesan Synod:

Revd Kirsten Freeman – Glasgow North West RegionVery Revd. Kelvin Holdsworth - Glasgow North East RegionRevd Jane Ross – Ayrshire RegionMr Kennedy Fraser – Glasgow North East RegionRevd John McLeod – Galloway RegionRevd. Canon Scott Robertson – Glasgow South Region.

The Bishop in the Chair.

AOCB as agreed with the Bishop prior to the meeting - none

The Bishop then expressed his thanks to his new Chaplain, Drew Sheridan and the worship team, and to all who shared in the liturgy, to the two chairs for the day, Rev Canon Scott Robertson and Very Rev Ian Barcroft; to his Assessor, Mr Rory Anderson; Mrs Helen Gray from the Auditors; Mrs Anne Jones for her PVG work; the development team convenors and their team members for their effort, care and work put into their presentations; for all who spoke to Synod or contributed to the proceedings; Messrs Kennedy & David Fraser for providing and operating the Audio and Visual equipment; the Diocesan Centre team – Mrs Jean Graham and Mrs Christine Hughes; and finally, the rector, vestry and congregation of Holy Trinity and St. Barnabas for making us welcome and letting us use their facilities. The Bishop also paid tribute to the Dean for his support and work over the years, without whose help he simply could not be Bishop.

Confirmation of Acts of Synod

The Bishop concluded by confirming the Acts of this Synod, followed by the Blessing in conclusion of the Eucharist.

Next meetings: General Synod, Edinburgh 11th – 13th June 2015Diocesan Synod (TBC) March 2016

Chris Zochowski Approved by SynodDiocesan Secretary Gregor

Bishop of Glasgow & Galloway

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