Easter attendance = GS representation

Issue divides urban and rural, and north from south

By Sue Careless

The formula for determining representation at General Synod could change even though the size of the church’s governing national body would remain steady at about 350 members.

A resolution passed on first reading guaranteed a minimum of two clergy and two lay representatives from each diocese, in addition to its bishop or bishops and youth member. The remaining number of clergy and lay members would be determined by “attendance at Easter communion services in a particular diocese [compared] to the total attendance in the 30 dioceses.”

Currently the remaining clergy and lay representation is based on the number of clergy licensed in the diocese. But licensing practices vary widely across the country so this was “no longer an appropriate unit” for determining diocesan membership, according to David Jones, chair of the Governance Working Group.

“Weekly church attendance” had been proposed but failed to receive the required two-thirds vote in all three houses of bishops, clergy and laity voting separately.   

The resolution will receive second reading in three years at GS2013 when it could be amended or tossed out.