THE General Synod approved the eight-day “envelope” of dates for its February sessions in 2027-29, after a debate on the Monday morning. Members, particularly those with school-age children, expressed their unhappiness on the selection of dates prone to clash with half-term holidays.
In February 2019, the Synod had agreed that dates for future February groups of sessions should include each weekends and weekday options. The Business Committee had decided to go away this feature open, in order that members elected next yr for the brand new quinquennium could make the selection. The final dates shall be set on the committee’s November/December meeting the yr before, once the requests for business have been received and the agenda planned.
Introducing the talk, Canon Paul Cartwright (Leeds) acknowledged the challenge of half-term holidays, whose dates varied across the country. The wider church calendar of the House of Bishops’ and Archbishops’ Council also needed to be factored in, and, given the “massive burden on Synod staff” of preparing the advance paperwork in January, he asked whether a wider adjustment of the Synod timetable be considered.
Rebecca Chapman (Southwark) reiterated a plea for the Synod not to satisfy in the college holidays. There were 149 different local authorities setting term dates, she said, reminding members of the Synod’s expressed desire to be younger and more diverse. These members were more prone to have school-age children, she said. “Precious time together with your kids is lost. In future, please, please consider.”
Helen Lamb (Oxford) said that the impression may very well be given of a Synod “oblivious and out of touch”. She asked: “Could we consider weekends and never midweek? Please consider Monday to Friday half-term week an absolute last resort for all of us.” Perhaps the Synod “should search for more radical solutions”.
The Revd Dr Christopher Landau (Lichfield) said that schools’ February half-term dates were the least unpredictable of the considerations. Currently, the dates being suggested were all sitting in likely half-terms. He urged members to vote against this to convey to the Business Committee that this was not helpful.
David Ashton (Leeds), a grandparent, concurred. “Look at taking February off the map: have early March, perhaps.”
Busola Sodeinde (London) said: “Our presence and our energetic participation must reflect our diversity” — and this affected working people, too, she said.
The Revd Dr Catherine Shelley (Leeds) raised the July dates, which fell at the top of the college term. “I’m gutted to be missing the end-of-term play. . . [Should we look at] more fallow times of the yr? It’s a difficult time to be away from the parish.”
Dr Nick Land (York) spoke of the high cost of accommodation in London, “unaffordable in the event you can’t book hotels early, and dioceses are paying out unnecessary expenses”.
Jeanette Appleton (St Edmundsbury & Ipswich) suggested a children’s programme or a crèche may very well be considered for the July group of sessions.
Responding, Canon Cartwright acknowledged that the questions of weekends versus weekdays was “not only concerning the clergy but about all of us working together, taking a look at the needs of Synod. We want every voice to be heard in every debate. Help us to get good laws.”
The motion was carried on a show of hands.
