In his play, ‘Lady Windermere’s Fan’, Oscar Wilde puts one of his wonderful epigrammatic lines into the mouth of Lord Darlington when discussing what a cynic is.
‘A man who knows the price of everything, and the value of nothing.’
The price to be paid
Price and value came into the debate that opened this morning’s Session of the General Synod. Birmingham Diocese had put forward a Motion borne out of concern at the cost of applying for citizenship in this country. The figures are eye-watering! £1282 for an adult, £973 for a child. If you make a mistake in the completing of the application for citizenship then you lose the fee and have to pay all over again when you resubmit your application. As was pointed out, those applying have the right to stay; these are not fees designed to control the levels of immigration, to put people off. After all, surely it is in the interests of the nation that the people living here are fully engaged with the whole of the community and society by being full citizens. It all makes sense. That is where the values come in, the value of having a truly integrated nation, of not having parts of society excluded from the democratic processes, not having that deep sense of belonging that we want for true community cohesion.
I’ve just tried out a version of the Citizenship Test I found online and scored 17/24. I’m not sure that that means I can be a citizen, or could be if I wasn’t. But some of the questions are fiendish. Yet people want to be citizens, despite the fees and despite the questions, the hoops and hurdles we put in place.
There is a wonderful exchange about citizenship in the Acts of the Apostles. Paul has been arrested in Jerusalem and is before the Tribune who is trying to find out the truth of the accusations being brought against him.
The tribune came and asked Paul, ‘Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?’ And he said, ‘Yes.’ The tribune answered, ‘It cost me a large sum of money to get my citizenship.’ Paul said, ‘But I was born a citizen.’ (Acts 22.27-28)
So, as someone born a citizen of the UK my question to myself has been do I value what that means and the responsibilities that flow from it? And as far as my friends for whom it costs ‘a large sum of money’ what am I doing to support them? The debate in Synod and the unanimous vote in favour of the Motion was a wonderful example of the way in which, at our best, we can give strong messages to the nation and live out the role that we have as the Established Church for the people of England, citizens and not yet citizens alike.
Two other debates were very significant. These were about two Amending Canons. These are important pieces of legislation. The Canons of the Church of England are part of the law of the land (now there’s a question for the citizenship test! Only joking!) and for that reason are taken very carefully through the Synod. Any changes must secure a 2/3rds majority in each of the houses.
The first of the amendments was to Canon B8 (Of the vesture of ordained and authorized ministers during the time of divine service) which means what we wear to take services. To be honest the Canon was being flouted in many situations, not least in some Fresh Expressions. Some clergy think that robes and vestments get in the way of mission. I don’t necessarily agree but I do think that we need Canons that work and are not brought into disrepute by simply being ignored. I’ve also experienced in the last few months two instances in the Diocese of Southwark where I was asked not to bring robes and to speak in a service just in suit or clerical shirt. In both instances that was exactly right.
When it came to the vote the amendments to this Canon received the necessary 2/3rds and more.
The second Canon for amendment was Canon B38 (Of the burial of the dead) dealt with the way in which the church in the past dealt with the burial of the unbaptised, the excommunicated and those who committed suicide. The practice of the pre-reformation church was brought across to the Church of England and each of these groups was denied a Christian burial. It was only later in the 19th century that this was changed but differences still applied. These changes will mean that all those who die and who seek a Church of England funeral will be treated in the same way. In fact pastoral practice left the Canons behind a long time ago. So this has tidied that up as well and makes the Canon reflect contemporary practice and understanding.
A good mornings work.
Jesus, my Lord and King,
my saviour,
may my true citizenship be of your kingdom,
for you paid the price to set me free.
Amen.
Andrew Nunn's reflections from General Synod 
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