Synod Bogging -9 Friday Morning

In the surreal film version of General Synod, everyone arrives this morning wearing name budges, each of which says “I am Lexie Plumtree”.

In reality, the day begins with the presentation of the Golf Cup. There is a rumour in the benches around me to the effect that next year it is going to be darts.

We also start by being admonished by the Primus. Apparently the members of the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney felt “traduced” during yesterday’s debate on the marriage liturgy. He seems to suggest that people’s comments, were hurtful. I’m surprised by this and wonder whether this is an ironic reference to the goings on in the Big Brother house. Is someone about to get thrown out from synod for being rude to Aberdeen?

I don’t think that Aberdeen & Orkney made their case very persuasively, but had better not say so, or else there will be an instant eviction.

First up this morning is the Admin Board. My handwriting recognition system interprets this as “Admin Beard” which is another happy surreal image to begin the day with. I imagine the Admin Board meeting members passing the Admin Beard amongst them. Whoever has the beard has the power.

Seems that the Dunderdale Fund is under subscribed. It gives money for small building projects.

I speak in a debate about retirement housing. I speak against a motion that will top slice legacies for this purpose. I also suggest that if the problem is too many people living in tied housing, then the answer is to get people out of tied housing. l am accused by the next speaker in the debate of living in fairy land. I murmur, barely audibly, “Oh yes, I live in fairy-land.”

Seem that you cannot be rude to Aberdeen in debate, but I can be called a fairy.

The motion falls. Fairy-land wins!

We move onto stuff about how clergy are paid. We are told once again that clergy are not employed, but are office holders. I don’t think that will stand up in court. I don’t think that being an office holder automatically excludes someone from being employed. The muttering I hear in the body of the synod indicates to me that others agree with me.