From Mr Paul Eddy
Sir, — Under “Synodsman scents conspiracy against ‘multifaith’ motion” (News, 6 June), you reported that my General Synod private member’s motion (PMM) would not be debated next month, owing to “pressure on the agenda”.
I was not the only person under a very clear understanding that my motion would be debated next month in York. Roy Thompson, the proposer of the most-supported PMM, on church tourism, and also the Bishops (I was told in phone calls from several of them) were also clear that the Synod would debate and vote on my PMM — and for a very good reason.
At the February sessions in London, both Roy’s PMM and mine went over the 100-member signatures needed for debate. Mid-Synod, however, Roy was invited to a meeting, where he was asked to merge his PMM with a motion/report from the Church Buildings Division, to be presented to the Synod by the Bishop of London. Roy happily agreed to this, and was told that his motion would not be deemed a PMM, and mine would therefore top the list. I was grateful to Roy for informing me of this straight after his meeting.
This was also the understanding of everyone, including the Bishops (hence the amount of correspondence I received from bishops urging me to withdraw my motion). Then, out of the blue, Roy was contacted by Church House and suddenly advised that his PMM was being separated from the Church Buildings Division report, and, therefore, (a) his would now be the PMM with the most number of votes and so debated in July, and (b) could he urgently submit a paper for circulating with the agenda?
The Business Committee then met, faced with masses of legislation to push through, a request for three large slots given over to women bishops, two diocesan-synod motions, an interfaith report, and Roy’s PMM, top of the list.
I, like other members, no doubt, am keen to learn who actually controls the Synod agenda.
PAUL EDDY
General Synod member
38 Farm Road
Nottingham NG9 5BZ
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