Church Times - General Synod resources and reports from Monday's sessions

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General Synod resources and reports from Monday's sessions

08/02/2010 19:05:00

The February General Synod of the Church of England is taking place this week at Church House in London. I'm planning to be there for the next few days (today was a washout for technology-related reasons) commenting on this blog and posting on Twitter at @churchtimesblog.

In the meantime here are my recommendations, first of all for Synod-related resources:

The official Synod updates should be available via this page: General Synod. I'm not sure whether they will appear under 'reports of proceedings' or 'business done'. Perhaps it will depend upon whether any business does get done.
If you're lucky you can listen to the live audio feed via the same page (It possibly doesn't work on all Macs - I couldn't make it work on mine, but it could well just be me). Update: Today's audio is here.
Enthusiasts can download the agenda here: February agenda - today's 'Questions' are one exception - they are filed under 'Questions' (link on left of page).
For up to the second updates (of variable quality) you can follow the Twitter hashtag #synod
Church Times reports on some specific motions: Accuracy of briefing paper on ACNA challenged and Motion seeks to limit games violence
Some Synod members will no doubt be reporting on the The General Synod Blog, and you can expect plenty of posts on Thinking Anglicans
Bishop Alan Wilson: How the General Synod works is more important than anything it decides
The Church Mouse had two introductory articles by Synod member Justin Brett: 1, 2.

Secondly, some specific reports relating to today's business:

The audion from today's sessions: Summary of Business Conducted on Monday 8th February 2010 PM
Ruth Gledhill has the Bishop of Manchester's statement on women bishops in full, Trads left in cold by plans for women bishops, Bishop to disclose, and two news reports: Church of England to push ahead with plan for women bishops and Evangelicals warn: women bishops will 'put men off ordination'
Stephen Bates in the Guardian: New split in Church of England over women bishops
Andrew Brown on his Guardian blog: Anglo-Catholics on the brink, again
From the Independent: Evangelicals in warning over women bishops

I was able to listen to the live stream on my Mac just fine. It played in QuickTime. I'm glad General Synod allowed the audio feed and didn't seem to mind Tweeting from members of Synod.

Scott Gunn | 08/02/2010 19:24:09

Scott - it must just be me then. Perhaps it's to stop me drawing diagrams on the subject.

Dave Walker | 08/02/2010 19:30:46

Maybe the C of E should give you a tent right outside Church House with a direct audio feed. The tent really livened up the Lambeth Conference. Synod could use a bit of levity too, it seems.

Scott Gunn | 08/02/2010 19:40:22

Unfortunately it is winter, so not a good time for tents. There are some special rooms for exhibitors, but I've never really seen anyone looking at the exhibits (perhaps I go off-peak).

I think the Mac thing must just be me. I've had 5 significant tech malfunctions today - I'm just problem-prone.

Dave Walker | 08/02/2010 19:48:27