Content about Synods

December 1, 2012

General Synod receives a vote of "no confidence" from the Diocese of Bristol

The Synod the Diocese of Bristol has endorsed a motion of no confidence in the General Synod of the Church of England, stating the failure of Synod last month to endorse legislation opening the episcopate to women clergy frustrated the “clear will” of the church.

On 1 Dec 2012, delegates to the synod adopted a three part motion of no confidence by a vote of 51 to 3. It stated:

November 28, 2012

Evangelicals/Catholics lay out conditions for women bishops

Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals will not block new attempts by the General Synod of the Church of England to introduced legislation permitting the consecration of women clergy to the episcopate, provided adequate safeguards are introduced to protect liberty of conscience, freedom of worship and association for the members of the Church of England opposed to the innovation.

November 20, 2012

Church of England rejects women bishops

The General Synod of the Church of England has rejected legislation allowing women priest to be appointed to the episcopate.

Following 12 years of legislative progress and several hours of debate during the 20 Nov 2012 afternoon session of synod, the Consecration and Ordination of Women Measure failed to pass in all three houses of the Church of England's legislative body.

The General Synod of the Church of England has rejected legislation allowing women priest to be appointed to the episcopate.

Following 12 years of legislative progress and several hours of debate during the 20 Nov 2012 afternoon session of synod, the Consecration and Ordination of Women Measure failed to pass in all three houses of the Church of England's legislative body.

November 6, 2012

Patriarch Maxim of Bulgaria dead at 98

Patriarch Maxim of Bulgaria, the metropolitan archbishop of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and alleged communist-era spy, has died after 40 years in office. He was 98.

The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church announced on 6 November 2012 the patriarch had died earlier that day of heart failure in a Sofia hospital where he had been receiving treatment for the past month.

Patriarch Maxim of Bulgaria, the metropolitan archbishop of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and alleged communist-era spy, has died after 40 years in office. He was 98.

The Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church announced on 6 November 2012 the patriarch had died earlier that day of heart failure in a Sofia hospital where he had been receiving treatment for the past month.

July 17, 2012

Jonah dismissed for incompetence, Synod reports

The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of America has released a statement explaining its reasons for asking the leader of the Church, Metropolitan Jonah, to step down.

The 17 July 2012 statement accused Jonah of administrative incompetence, but dismissed suggestions he was forced from office due in response to his alleged sympathies in America’s “culture wars.”

The Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of America has released a statement explaining its reasons for asking the leader of the Church, Metropolitan Jonah, to step down.

The 17 July 2012 statement accused Jonah of administrative incompetence, but dismissed suggestions he was forced from office due in response to his alleged sympathies in America’s “culture wars.”

May 25, 2012

Cono Sur rejects election of Bishop of Uruguay

The House of Bishops and provincial executive committee of the Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sur (de América) have declined to ratify the election of the Ven. Michael Pollesel as Bishop of Uruguay.

At the close of their 21 – 25 May 2012 meeting in Montevideo the bishops released a statement saying that “after discussion and prayer and in accord with its canons the Provincial Executive of the Cono Sur together with its College of Bishops did not ratify the election of the Ven. Dr. Michael Pollesel as bishop-coadjutor for Uruguay”

The House of Bishops and provincial executive committee of the Iglesia Anglicana del Cono Sur (de América) have declined to ratify the election of the Ven. Michael Pollesel as Bishop of Uruguay.

At the close of their 21 – 25 May 2012 meeting in Montevideo the bishops released a statement saying that “after discussion and prayer and in accord with its canons the Provincial Executive of the Cono Sur together with its College of Bishops did not ratify the election of the Ven. Dr. Michael Pollesel as bishop-coadjutor for Uruguay”

May 21, 2012

Press Statement: House of Bishops approves Women Bishops legislation

The House of Bishops of the Church of England today concluded its consideration of the draft legislation to enable women to be consecrated as bishops. It agreed that the legislation should be returned to the General Synod for final approval.

The House of Bishops had power to amend the draft legislation in such manner "as it thinks fit". It made two amendments to the draft Measure.

The House of Bishops of the Church of England today concluded its consideration of the draft legislation to enable women to be consecrated as bishops. It agreed that the legislation should be returned to the General Synod for final approval.

May 16, 2012

House of Bishops to take up women bishops Measure

The House of Bishops of the General Synod of the Church of England is scheduled to meet in private session next week to review the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordinartion of Women) Measure debated by General Synod at its February 2012 session.

On May 21 and 22 the bishops will respond to the motion adopted by the February meeting of General Synod that the House of Bishops review the safeguards for those, who for theological reasons, are not able to receive the ministry of women bishops.

The House of Bishops of the General Synod of the Church of England is scheduled to meet in private session next week to review the draft Bishops and Priests (Consecration and Ordinartion of Women) Measure debated by General Synod at its February 2012 session.

On May 21 and 22 the bishops will respond to the motion adopted by the February meeting of General Synod that the House of Bishops review the safeguards for those, who for theological reasons, are not able to receive the ministry of women bishops.

February 14, 2012

11 Bulgarian bishops outed as Communist-era police spies

Eleven of 15 bishops of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church currently in office were spies for the former communist regime’s Committee for State Security — the Darzhavna sigurnost or the DS — according to an inquiry carried out by the government’s Committee on Disclosure of Documents.

On 17 January 2012 the government commission charged with naming those who collaborated with the secret police named the 11 as spies for the 6th Directorate of the DS, which was tasked with combating political dissent under the Communist regime. Along with the Orthodox bishops, the current Roman Catholic Bishop of Sophia and the present and former chief Mufti of Bulgaria were named as collaborators.