Yesterday was basically a day taken up by legislation. The Archdeacon of Southwark saw through a major piece of work amending various rules and practices. But what gained the attention of Synod was the clause which reduced the time lay people could be a member of their Deanery Synod from forever to two terms of three years. Anyone who has been to a Deanery Synod meeting (and here I’m generalising wildly) might think that once was enough. But there are some people who are deeply committed to this level of Synodical government. And they let their views be heard.
In the Diocese of Southwark an extensive piece of work is being done in breathing new life into deaneries. So it was ironic that this attempt to ensure that new life and new voices and perhaps new and younger people could get into Synod and past the present ‘bed-blockers’, was being resisted. But, unlike with Brexit, a way forward was found and the legislation gained final approval.
With typical Synod serendipity that business was followed by a debate on an Amending Canon which, for the first time in the history of the Church of England, is recognising the place of religious communities and religious life in the life of the church. As my formation for priesthood took place in the shadow of the house of the Community of the Resurrection I had a real interest in this but as I was in the chair I couldn’t express that. The difference with the Deanery Synod debate was that in this part of the church you are looking for stabilitas the commitment to community and place which is not limited by any other consideration. Whether it be for a defined period of time in a form of new monasticism or life-long in a more established order there is always this commitment. In itself that is a great witness to the church and to the world where short-termism can be the name of the game.
So this may all seem contradictory and maybe on the face of it it is.
In Psalm 13 the psalmist calls out four times the refrain ‘How long’. Sometimes we just don’t know and have to wait on the Lord’s time, and sometimes legislation will answer us!
Lord of time and eternity, teach us to value every moment and to use it well in your service. Amen.
Andrew Nunn's reflections from General Synod 
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