Report on business from the General Synod at York University Tuesday 10 July 2007

The final morning of General Synod was fairly uneventful and, indeed, finished early.

Consideration was given to financial matters including the budget and the way in which this will be met from diocesan contributions.

The total budget amounts to nearly £26million.  £10.6m of this is spent on training (theological colleges etc), £10.1m on supporting the national structures, £1.6m on other grants, £0.8m on mission agency pensions, and £2.8m to help with clergy retirement housing.  This is all up by 2.9% on the previous year with the cost of the national structures being up by only 1.4%.  It should be remembered that this does not of course include costs of Diocesan Bishops, the Commissioners, etc, all of which are met by other means.

A Final Approval debate was then held for the Marriage Measure, this was approved with six votes against.  The new arrangements will take some time but should be expected to come into force some time in 2008.

There were then a number of farewells before the Synod was prorogued.