As I write the love match not quite made in heaven is playing out centre stage and the unmatched couple are learning to live together. It is fascinating to watch and also to listen to the fear in the commentary that our radio phone-ins engender. It is as though some of the electorate feel they have a hardwired affinity to a Blue, Red, Yellow or Green (other colours are available) party where their values are totally consonant – they seemed scared that the fabric of their universe was being irreparably torn apart. I am not convinced that any two people genuinely think and believe identically, let alone a whole political movement.

When I lived in a former house I found that a spider lived in our porch. Every day it spun its web across our doorway. Every day I had to break it to get to my car to go to work. Relentlessly, it was respun. Each day with some parts still the same as the day before but with many patterns changed – continually adapting to new circumstances.

Politics must learn to adapt and because it hasn't had the challenge for a while it had arrogantly assumed that it could stay the way it was, for ever; first past the post with a ping pong swing between two old parties. The electorate decided that it wanted a change but it has not yet realised the consequences of asking. We, too, must recognise that it might just be possible for liberals and conservatives to unite over a common policy in the interests of the nation.

It is noticeable that the majority party in the coalition has taken the principal positions in the new cabinet and that the minority party has relied on being given slightly more junior roles with delegated authority. Their authority comes from the Prime Minister through that delegation.

We have an ideal opportunity to demonstrate that ours is an incarnational church which is continually adapting to new circumstances. We are called to proclaim afresh the gospel to each new generation and to them where they are – not where we would like them to be.

We have an ideal opportunity to demonstrate that liberals and conservatives can unite over a common policy in the interests of the church and the furtherance of God‟s kingdom.

We have an ideal opportunity to demonstrate that Episcopal delegation of authority (or acceptance of such delegation) is actually a grace. I wouldn‟t dare suggest that it is a sacrament but in an Article 26 sort of way I believe that the effectiveness of the delegation of authority is unhindered by the gender of the delegating authority, as actually the authority comes from God.

There has been a lot of weird reporting over the week since the General Election. One suggestion was that a Rainbow Coalition could never work. The Church of England can prove those speculators wrong.

As we head for our own General Election in a few months time I wish you well. Some of us will return and others through choice or electoral difficulty will not. The Open Synod Group is open to all regardless of whether or not you are a General Synod member. If you find yourself detached, keep in touch and please keep praying for those who will have to make the difficult decisions over the next quinquennium.

Tim Hind: chair OSG