Before Synod got down to the business that was before it we gave time to both remember His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and to listen to the Presidential Address. It was good for Synod to be able to record our thanks for the support of Prince Philip over the years and also to assure Her Majesty The Queen of our prayers. What came across however from what was said by the few members I had the time to call to speak was appreciation for what the Duke had achieved in people’s lives, not least through the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. Dr Rachel Jepson, a member of the Archbishops’ Council spoke in particular about the way in which she wouldn’t be the person she is without the opportunities for personal development that the scheme afforded. Synod gave almost unanimous support to the Motion proposed by the Archbishop of Canterbury
‘That this Synod request that the Presidents convey to Her Majesty the heartfelt sympathy of the Archbishops, Bishops, Clergy and Laity of the General Synod of the Church of England on the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, assuring Her Majesty of the honour in which his memory will be held by them and of their prayers for Her Majesty and all the Royal Family.’
We then moved straight on to the Presidential Address. Archbishop Stephen spoke to us from his home in York. As I had rightly assumed he addressed us in response to the Panorama exposé on racism in the Church of England. As ever he spoke powerfully and the story with which he concluded, his experience as a Ward Orderly in St Christopher’s Hospice in south London in the early eighties at the time of the Brixton riots was deeply moving. His call for action, to be the change we need to be, was powerful.
This is the prayer I wrote for the Diocese of Southwark for use yesterday, Stephen Lawrence Day. I offer it to you.
Andrew Nunn's reflections from General Synod 
You must be logged in to post a comment.