THE Synod came next to the approval of the Draft Scheme Amending
the Diocese in Europe Constitution 1995.
The Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe, the Rt Revd
Robert Innes, said that it was often "not necessary to detain the
Synod with such matters" contained within the draft scheme, but
"the nature of the proposed changes in this case is such that an
affirmative vote is required in the General Synod be- fore they can
take effect."
He said that the scheme would give effect to "two important
items of legislation" that had already been given final approval:
the Church Representation (Amendment) Resolution, and Draft
Amending Canon No. 32.
The scheme would "bring the diocese's constitution into line
with the law as it now stands", he said, "to ensure that it
accurately reflects the current position as it exists in other
dioceses of the Church of England".
It would remove the current limit on the number of Proctors in
the House of Clergy from the diocese, currently set at two; and
regularise the position so that clergy with permission to officiate
could become eligible for membership of archdeaconry synods or,
where they existed, deanery synods.
The diocese was, he said, "committed to fulfilling our
responsibilities to the wider Church, just as we are committed to
making our significant and distinctive contribution to the life of
the Church of England from the unique perspective and experiences
of the diocese".
Dr Jamie Harrison (Durham) said that the draft
scheme "brings back proper participation and en- gagement" to those
with permission to officiate in the diocese and contained "some
degree of fairness and common sense".
The draft scheme was clearly carried.