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 at the choice of dates likely to clash with half-term holidays.
In February 2019, the Synod had agreed that dates for future February groups of sessions should include both weekends and weekday options. The Business Committee had decided to leave this option open, so that members elected next year for the new quinquennium could make the choice. The final dates will be set at the committee’s November/December meeting the year before, once the requests for business have been received and the agenda planned.
Introducing the debate, 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 had 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 meet in the school 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 likely to have school-age children, she said. “Precious time with your kids is lost. In future, please, please consider.”
Helen Lamb (Oxford) said that the impression could be given of a Synod “oblivious and out of touch”. She asked: “Could we consider weekends and not midweek? Please consider Monday to Friday half-term week an absolute last resort for all of us.” Perhaps the Synod “ought to look 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 active 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 end of the school term. “I’m gutted to be missing the end-of-term play. . . [Should we look at] more fallow times of the year? 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 if 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 could be considered for the July group of sessions.
Responding, Canon Cartwright acknowledged that the questions of weekends versus weekdays was “not just about the clergy but about all of us working together, looking at the needs of Synod. We want every voice to be heard in every debate. Help us to get good legislation.”
The motion was carried on a show of hands.
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