Church of England discusses overhaul of ‘rude and unchristian’ Synod

Church of England’s parliament debates overhaul of how it operates amid claims it has become dominated by parties and factions and "rude" and unchristian arguments
By John Bingham, Religious Affairs Editor
16 Nov 2013

The Church of England is considering overhauling its governing body, the General Synod, because of fears it has created an image of a church constantly at war with itself.

Members of the Synod, which meets next week, say that it has become too much like Parliament, dominated by unofficial “parties” while debates are conducted in a “rude” and even unchristian way.

It follows claims in the wake of the collapse of women bishops legislation last year that the body had been hijacked by single issue factions able to exert influence out of proportion to their numbers in the pews.

Amid the anger over the outcome of that vote last November, there were calls for Parliament to step in or even for the Synod to be dissolved.

The issue of women bishops will be top of the agenda when the Synod is meeting for three days in London next week. the rest