General Synod affirms work as a spiritual activity
 2008: The Bishop of St. Albans spoke powerfully in support of a motion on Faith, Work and Economic Life at the recently held General Synod of the Anglican Church. The motion sought recognition and affirmation that daily work and economic life are essentially spirituual activities which contain Christian values.
In speaking to the motion the Bishop point out that 90% of the General Synod's business was devoted to inward-looking matters and only 10%, including this motion was outward-looking.
The debate of some hour and three-quarters was subject to several amendments, most of which were agreed. The resulting amended motion received overwhelming support in the final vote. The agreed motion says: This Synod:-
- Affirms daily work, be it paid or unpaid, as essentially a spiritual activity;
recognises the importance of Christian values in economic life;
- Encourages bishops and clergy to give greater priority to equipping and resourcing church members through teaching, prayer, affirmation and celebration, to fulfil their vocations, ministries and mission in their places of work;
- Requests the Mission and Public Affairs Council to: (a) convene a symposium on a theological understanding of work for today as outlined in sections 5.3 - 5.4 of GS Misc 890B; (b) compile a collection of supportive resource materials for church members as outlined in section 5.5 of GS Misc 890B.
This motion comes after a lot of hard work, discussion and debate bring the issues through St. Albans Diocesan Synod in June 2007 after its initiation by Rev.Randell Moll, (then Team Leader of Workplace Ministry in Herts & Beds), following a presentation of the work of Workplace Ministry in Herts and Beds, given by Mr.Alan Harpham, Rev.Tony Ruffell, Rev.Michael Banfield and Randell Moll himself. The motion was passed with a large majority in St.Albans Synod and duly sent forward to General Synod.
At the General Synod there was a continuous flow of members wishing to speak, and the tone of speeches was broadly sympathetic to the need for the Church to address matters relating to Faith, Work and Economic Life. Work consequent upon it has been set in motion. Members of churches should hear more of it through reports back.
It is disappointing that the debate ended with no deadline for even an interim report, but this can be addressed by questions to the MPA Dept at future General Synods. Action requested by the General Synod is now in the remit of the MPA Dept., who will be in contact with the St.Albans Diocese. More thought needs to be put into the next steps, by those sympathetic to the motion, and to the way the current work of church agencies in the economic sector can best be brought to the attention of church members, in cooperation with the MPA Dept.'s work.
Meanwhile, all concerned with bringing the motion successfully through General Synod are grateful for all the support which has been received. |
