As we start a new General Synod it is good to remind ourselves that what holds us together as Christians is far greater than any of the issues that divide us. It was several years ago, during a debate on Women Bishops that I discovered that it was perfectly easy to be sitting with friends, standing to speak on opposite sides of the debate, voting differently and continuing as friends afterwards. General Synod is a much more comfortable place to disagree than is the cut and thrust of academia where I spent my working life; at Synod we all trust in God the Holy Spirit to guide us into wise decisions, even if reaching those decisions involves vigorous controversy.

Sometimes we are not so good at trusting each other as we are at trusting God. Why, for example, don‘t we trust our House of Bishops to devise and implement a Code of Practice that will provide an honoured place within our church for those people who, in conscience, cannot accept the sacramental ministry or oversight of women as bishops, without having to put gender discriminatory clauses into the primary legislation, where it will offend many and constitute an obstacle to mission?

In the Open Synod Group we seek to address controversial questions gracefully – listening respectfully to both sides of a debate and remaining in warm Christian fellowship with members with whom we disagree. When I was a lonely synod novice, the warm friendship offered by members of the OSG offered me a congenial home; and I was delighted after a while to join the group‘s committee. I am now on the threshold of taking over from Shirley-Ann Williams as editor of the OSG Newsletter. I look forward to publishing courteously drafted articles on all sides of future debates.

Helen Leathard
Newsletter Editor Designate so all future contributions go to

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