[WATCH News] General Synod elections : the latest

WATCH has received several concerned comments regarding Election
Addresses and Hustings meetings for these elections: please would you
pass on the following information to electors (from your parish and
elsewhere) who support women bishops.
Candidates' views

·      Many candidates are being very unclear about whether they
support women bishops at all, and most are not spelling out if they
would support the Draft Legislation approved by General Synod in July.
·      Phrases along the lines of 'I support women bishops but do not
want anyone to leave the church', or 'I would like to see adequate
arrangements for those opposed' need sussing out: they are often a way
of sounding positive but in reality expecting to vote against the
Draft Legislation.
·      It is vital that those electors who want women bishops as soon
as possible, with no additional concessions to those opposed, vote
ONLY for candidates who support the Draft Legislation.
·      Please therefore encourage voters (ie members of Deanery or
Diocesan Synods) to ask candidates directly at (hustings, by email or
by phone) if they support the Draft Legislation.
Provision for those opposed to Women Bishops

·      Some candidates are claiming that the Draft Legislation
contains no adequate provisions for those opposed to women bishops.
·      The Draft Legislation DOES contain considerable concessions,
requiring each Diocesan bishop to set up a scheme for parishes who
don't want a women bishop or priests.   And the forthcoming Code of
Practice will also contain some provision.
·       These two sets of provisions will have statutory (legal)
force. General Synod passed this package of provisions by 373 votes to
14: ie they represent very clearly the will of General Synod.
·      These provisions may of course not be adequate for some
candidates - in which case voters should ask what would be adequate,
as this will often include suggestions that are unpalatable to the
majority of voters.
·      Some candidates are saying that WATCH wants no concessions at
all for those opposed.
·       This is UNTRUE: WATCH has stated publicly that we support the
Draft Legislation, and that "this represents a significant compromise
for WATCH and others who support women's ordained ministry: a
compromise made in a spirit of generosity to make space for those
opposed." (WATCH Press release 11 July 2010)

Membership of  Relevant Organisations

·      The Election Regulations recommended that all candidates state
which groups or organisations they belong to, for example WATCH, GRAS,
Forward in Faith, Reform, Society of Catholic Priests, Affirming
Catholicism; there are many others.
·      Ask candidates, again at hustings, by email or by phone, if
they belong to any relevant organisation. This way you can find out if
they are willing to declare any allegiance: those opposed to women
bishops are often reluctant to identify themselves in this way.
Voting
·      Please also encourage voters to check that their voting paper
has been received by the returning Officer: the post is notoriously
unreliable.

Please let us know if there are any issues of concern where you are,
so that we can warn others.
Hilary Cotton
Head of Campaigns, Vice-Chair, WATCH
Tel: 01483 856827
Email: hilary.cotton@ntlworld.com