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. As delegates return home and share the outcomes and experiences of General Synod in Aberdeen and Orkney and the other six dioceses of the Scottish Episcopal Church, please keep them all in your prayers.
Morning Prayer on Saturday of General Synod included a short time of Lectio Divina as we reflected on Hebrews 9:1-14 together. The intercessions in Morning Prayer were led by Gillian Rose, a House of Laity delegate from the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney.
The agenda for Saturday morning at Synod included an information and discussion session, a motion from General Synod members, elections and a motion about co-opting Board and Committee members.
Revd Dr Hamilton Indabas, a Priest in the Diocese of Moray, Ross and Caithness with a particular interest in spiritual care and palliative care introduced Synod to the history of dying, some of the issues in the current assisted dying legal debates and proposals. This was followed by table discussions.
Motions at General Synod are put on the Agenda via Standing Committee, Faith and Order Board, Mission Board, Dioceses or Members of the General Synod. When elected to the General Synod, delegates are asked to vote in accordance with their conscience, knowing that have been elected as representatives, not to vote as to reflect their whole constituency. Motion 17 on the agenda on Saturday morning was a motion proposed by Revd Amy Jo Philip (Diocese of Edinburgh).
Revd Canon Dr Jenny Holden (Aberdeen and Orkney Clergy Delegate) seconded the motion. In her speech she spoke of the importance of explicit welcome and the importance of being known by name. Dr Holden spoke of God’s love and grace being immeasurable and infinite, that if others are included, it does not diminish or lessen others.
During the debate, on the motion and two amendments, three other members from the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney spoke. Revd Roger Dyer spoke of the importance of growing in holiness, for each of us as individuals and as a church as we’re all called to be the best unique versions of ourselves modelled on Jesus Christ. Margaret Hodder spoke of the experience of welcome and community in various churches and welcome expreinced by all at churches in the Diocese. Revd Andy Elliott, responding to a (failed) amendment spoke about the personal cost to individuals and that naming groups is not to the exclusion of others but highlights the inequality that exists in the world. The debate as a whole was generous and kind-hearted and the motion passed.
Voting at General Synod is by electronic devices and as the elections to Convenors of Boards and Committees occured it was rapid fingers on buttons. Cathy Johnston of the Diocese of St Andrew’s, Dunblane and Dunkeld was elected Chair of the Provincial Standing Committee as Bridget Campbell completed her term of office. The last task of the outgoing Chair of Standing Committee was to propose a motion allowing Boards and Committees to co-opt qualified people onto their number, to enable specialist knowledge and skills to be incoporated.
Following a Collect, the Primus constituted the Acts of Synod, General Synod sang ‘Lord of All Hopefulness’, was blessed and dismissed. Delegates began their journeys home, excited to be with their congregations for Pentecost Sunday.
The General Synod delegates from Aberdeen and Orkney thank you for your prayers as they’ve journeyed through the full and productive two and a half days of Synod. Individual reflections of General Synod will follow over the next few days and weeks, being published on this website.
For more details on the Agenda and Papers at General Synod, there is a mini-site for General Synod on the Scottish Episcopal Church’s website.