Throughout the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church, we’ll offer images and short reflections or comments on each day from members of the Synod. Please pray for those representing the Diocese and others as they discuss, debate and vote on matters important to the Scottish Episcopal Church and the world. Friday at General Synod was a very full day, covering matters related to the whole breadth of the church, from Canons to Mission Board to the 1700th anniversary of the Council at Nicaea.
General Synod days begin and end with worship, so Friday began with Morning Prayer. The first session was chaired by Bishop Anne and was a Faith and Order Board session on the 1700th Anniversary of the Council of Nicaea. The Chair of the Inter-Church Relations Committee, the Rev Canon Prof Charlotte Methuen led an interactive session on the Nicene Creed. At tables we talked about what the Nicene Creed rejected and Revd Prof Methuen spoke abotu the place of the Nicene Creed in Episcopalian/Anglican practice historically and today. In Aberdeen and Orkney, the Credo 1700 activities are taking place across the Diocese with the next week in August on Jesus and a week in November on the Holy Spirit and the Church.
After a break, the General Synod heard from Dr Samuel White, the new Convenor of the Committee of Canons. Dr White took over from Graham Robertson, of the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney. The amendments to Canon 4 – the Canon on how the Church elects her Bishops, were explained, but voting was postponed until after lunch so people could see the same version in the electronic as the printed copy of the papers. The retiring Chair of the Standing Committee Bridget Campbell presented a short summary of the activities of that Committee, including acknowledging those stepping down from posts. Developments at the General Synod Office and in the development of Provincial Strategy were outlined. The Annual Report and Accounts of the Scottish Episcopal Church (2024) were voted for, followed by a session reflecting on the achievements of the Mission Board. This took the form of a presentation by the Convener of the Mission Board, the Very Rev Sarah Murray, who is comes to the end of her term of office this year. The Mission Board had asked itself questions about the good news stories of Mission around the Province – youth work, warm spaces, and community offerings featured. The Board asked itself, ‘What does successful Mission look like to you?’ – perhaps a question for each of our congregations to consider… The Very Reverend Murray asked the question what would the Scottish Episcopal Church look like if we looked at the investment in the Provincial Environment Group and replicated that for Mission?
This was followed by two presentations related to Standing Committee business. The first was on Charity Governance and Trusteeship by the Assessor: Mr Gavin McEwan and covered the responsibilities of trustees. Mr McEwan outlined the responsibilities of Charity Trustees, the relationship between Congregational Constitutions (and Canon Law) and Charity Law, in particular the 2005 Act that led to the creation of OSCR. Upcoming changes to the publication of full accounts of charities, names of trustees and automatic disqualification criteria expansion. The latter was said to be coming into force in ‘Summer 2025’, Mr McEwan told Synod in the afternoon that whilst we were talking about this issue the Scottish Governmnet account an implementation date of 31 August 2025. This was followed by the Primus giving an update on the Legacy of Slavery Working Group. This group is looking at the history of the Scottish Episcopal Church and slavery (directly and indirectly), looking at how to understand and acknowledge the role of the SEC, work towards apologising and looking how to repair relationships, moving forward together.
General Synod broke for lunch, with ecumenical guests having lunch with the College of Bishops. Revd Roger Dyer of Aberdeen and Orkney has been hosting the Society of Friends Visitor: Derek McLean. Roger says “It is a great joy to host one of our ecumenical visitors for the days of Synod. Derek McLean is with us from Kirkwall as the national representative of the Society of Friends. Derek is well known to the people of Orkney Episcopalians where he worships regularly.” They are pictured together below (with Gillian Rose, a lay representative from the Diocese in the background).
Faith and Order Board matters continued after lunch, voting on the amended text for Canon 4 – this will now go to special ‘one item’ Diocesan Synods and a special online ‘one item’ General Synod meeting so that the amended Canon is in place for the upcoming Edinburgh Episcopal Vacancy (due to the retirment of Bishop John).
The Net Zero Team and the Provincial Environment Group presented on current work, with Paul Wiliams – the Net Zero Team lead speaking about changes and developments throught history, along with the work of the Net Zero team’s work and acheivements over the past year. Martin Auld (Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkeny) spoke of a website that tells you the sources of energy in the national grid in real-time and recommended a book by Katharine Hayhoe to convince people of faith of the importance of Net Zero work. Stephen Goodyear (another lay representative from Aberdeen and Orkney) asked about progress on matched funding and updates on progress related to the plan presented to Synod when Synod approved the funding be released.
Business from the Faith and Order Board continued with the Liturgy Committee. The Removal of the Scottish Liturgy 1982 was approved (having been replaced by the 2022 version), as this was a second reading this now comes into effect on the Sunday next before Advent this year. There was the first reading for the inclusion of the Liturgy for the Blessing of a Marriage (2025), which passed and will come to Diocesan Synod in 2026 for comment. In debate, Revd Godwin Chimara of the Diocese spoke of how he had used the liturgy in blessing couples who for various reasons had only had a civil marriage previously. General Synod heard from Revd Nick Bowry to introduce the motion for the inclusion of Eric Lidell in the Scottish Calendar of heroes of our faith, which passed.
Following tea, the Saint Ninian Declaration was proposed. Bishop Hugh, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Aberdeen had been in the small group of Episcopal and Roman Catholic Bishops who had drafted the statement of friendship (which was further amended by the SEC’s Inter-Church Relations Committee and Faith and Order Board). All contributions to the debate were for the agreement. Contributions from the Diocese included Revd Ferdinand von Prondzynski speaking of building sharing and hoping the agreement would mean that in local contexts it was clear what was permissible and endorsed by church hierarchies. Revd Andy Eliott spoke of individual, personal relationships and how these are key to good ecumenical relationships – he encouraged everyone to ‘grab a local Roman Catholic Priest’. Very Revd Dr Emsley Nimmo spoke in favour of the motion, again highlighting the possibility of church building sharing, of offering hospitality to other congregations so they could continue, as well as advertising the upcoming Gregorian Chant day at St Margaret of Scotland, Aberdeen. Following the vote to approve the Saint Ninian declaration, the General Synod heard from Archbishop Leo Cushley who spoke of the importance of friendship and how relationships have developed and deepened over the years. The day concluded with Evening Prayer, including Synod singing ‘Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing’ unaccompanied.
Please pray for the members of Synod from Aberdeen and Orkney and across the Province. A prayer for Synod (adapted from A Prayer Book for Australia): Almighty and everliving God, give wisdom and understanding, to the members of the General Synod of this Province. Teach them in all things to seek first your honour and glory. May they perceive what is right, have courage to pursue it and grace to accomplish it, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
For more details on the Agenda and Papers at General Synod, including the livestream, there is a mini-site for General Synod on the Scottish Episcopal Church’s website.