F in F Consultation

Today

We gather at Holy Trinity, Micklegate, York at 12 noon for Mass and Consultation with Bishop of Beverley and Fr Simon Kilwick (Chairman of Catholic Group on General Synod). When planned it was anticipated that February General Synod would have received draft legislation on Women Bishops but as this has been postponed until the July Sessions today's agenda may have changed. We shall see.

Report

Bishop Martyn presided at a Mass of Our Lady (12-1). Fr Gareth, our Area Dean, preached from John 2.5 "Do whatever he tells you" - Mary's word to us as well as to the apostles at Cana. He said that a word he was hearing in the present confusing situation in the Church of England was "Stay and continue the catholic witness within the C of E". He felt, that for him, the Roman option was a final option.

After a picnic lunch the Consultation Meeting was held (1.45-3). The Area Dean was in the chair; Bishop Martyn and Fr Simon each spoke for 15 minutes and 45 minutes of questions and discussion followed. The Bishop addressed 'principles' and Father 'politics.

Bishop Martyn explained that there were only 3 traditional catholics on the Synod legislation committee so they couldn't defeat, only persuade, the 'code of practise' majority. Their work is due to be published in May in time for the Bishops to consider it before it is presented to the July Synod. It is settled that there will be 'no separate jurisdiction' offered to those of our integrity. He believed that when published the legislation must be judged on 3 unmet fundamental catholic principles;

1. there will be no opportunity for 'canonical obedience with integrity'.

2. there will be 'inadequate sacramental assurance' guaranteeing valid sacraments.

3. there will be 'no secure authenticity' i.e. no lawful existence as for the majority integrity. At present we have 'equal treatment allowing the integrities to live together in creative tension'.

Fr Simon started by pointing out that church politics has always been 'a messy business' and we shouldn't expect it be any different in this situation. The present proposals mean that the legislation will transfer from the committee back to synod in July when further revision in synod will take place, the outcome will then go to the dioceses before returning to synod in 2012/2013 for final approval when a two thirds majority will be required in each house of the synod. This may not be possible unless better arrangements are included for us and conservative evangelicals.

Traditional Catholics and Conservative Evangelicals are worked on a common strategy for the synod. The phrase 'blood bath' in relation to synod proceedings has been used which could work in our favour if it persuaded the bishops the legislation stood no chance of gaining the two third majorities required at final approval and they would have the further option of saving the church from the unnecessary fight by 'kicking the legislation into the long grass'. If it ever returned the whole process would have to begin again. The archbishops who are both in favour of proper provision for us would recommend 'pulling the plug on the process for now'.

What can we do? - Everyone should be willing to stand or to work for the election of the new synod which will be called upon to give 'final approval' - 'you have to be in it to win it'. We have to strengthen the Synod Catholic Group. We need to be careful not to divide our constituency at this time - the Roman offer is, at present, to other parts of Anglicanism than the Church of England.

Question time had the visiting speakers describing the Roman offer as ' a red herring for now' and 'not our first option'. It was acknowledged that there were some tensions in National Forward in Faith on this point, We need to learn from the mistakes of our integrity during the consideration of the North and South India schemes. The Sex Discrimination Act and the Methodist Covenant were affecting the thinking of some synod members. Jurisdiction for Westminster Abbey, the Armed Forces, and Religious Communities were all relevant as suggesting ways of proceeding for our integrity if it were possible to get synodical agreement.

In conclusion, I personally found it an enlightening and encouraging day.