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  • Back from Retreat (all perky and ready to go)

    Just back from a week on retreat in a Jesuit house in sunny Spain. It is a while since I’ve made a retreat and four years since I went to this particular place. Like before, I’ve come back all perky and ready to go. I realise as I look back over the last few weeks…

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  • Synod Review – things you might have missed

    Here’s a quick review of some of the most significant things that took place at the recent General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church beyond the headline grabbing news that we rejected the Anglican Covenant. I was heartened to hear a bishop call for an anti-bullying policy. My first “maiden” speech at General Synod, many…

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  • Scotland Says No!

    The Scottish Episcopal Church has resoundingly rejected the Anglican Covenant as a way forward for the Anglican Communion. At the same time, the Synod passed a motion rejoicing in our commitment to the Communion itself. What we have said is No to the Covenant, but Yes to the Communion. The vote was decisive – 6…

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  • Anglican Covenant Debate

    Bishop Gregor proposes the motion to adopt the covenant Further updates on my twitter stream – twitter.com/thurible

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  • Votes for Nuns

    The synod decides (by an extremely close vote in the house of clergy) to allow a religious community to elect a voting member of Diocesan Synod. I speak against on the grounds that religious communities can be a haven from the politics of the church. I also ask whether religious communities will now be expected…

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  • Discussion Groups

    Two motions are considered to allow Synod to meet in Discussion Groups sometimes. They clarify the position to ensure that we understand that Synod is still in session when groupwork happens.

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  • Annual Accounts

    The annual accounts are being considered by Synod Members. David Palmer proposes the accounts. There will be a lot more later on Pensions. The St Serf’s trust is to be wound up and its finances dispersed to several charities which help older people. Finances – David Palmer notes that income has been slightly higher than…

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  • General Synod Begins

    Synod has begun this morning with a lovely Eucharist organized by the Liturgy Committee. It is good to be celebrating Corpus Christi – we have not always done so when it falls on the first day of Synod. Good too to hear the Primus sing. I always like a singing bishop. Bishop of Moray is…

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  • Trinity Sunday Sermon

    In the name of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Amen. So. I arrived back from my holidays all relaxed and tanned and chilled out. And then I looked at the preaching rota. First I found that I had scheduled myself one weekend to preach at a big diocesan…

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