Evangelicals speak out movingly at CofE’s General Synod

Over five hot and sunny days at the University of York, the Church of England’s General Synod met to debate and discuss issues of national and international concern, as well as internal church business.

The war in Ukraine, assisted dying, and age limits on pornography were among the issues where Synod agreed motions calling Parliament and the nation to act in accordance with Christian morality. Many evangelical members were amongst those who gave moving speeches sharing personal testimony of these evils and also of the transformative power of the gospel in these situations.

A dominant issue on the agenda concerned the role of the Archbishop of Canterbury and, therefore, how future archbishops should be selected. After lengthy debates with multiple amendments, and drafting and redrafting legislation, it was agreed that the representatives from Canterbury diocese should be halved, and the numbers of representatives from the global Anglican Communion increased. This reflects the increasingly international role of the Archbishop, especially with respect to the Anglican Communion.