Following a lot of passion regarding the possible removal of funding to Cathedrals and Bishops the Synod voted to adjourn the debate on the Commissioners' Funds. The idea appearing to be that there will be opportunity for vested interests to twist arms.

Next in the day was the Doctrine Commission report 'Being Human'. This is a helpful resource looking at a range of issues to do with being human today but as with the later report on sexuality its handling of scripture is incompatible with the Anglican formularies and therefore the reports opens the way to erroneous conclusions. Synod took note of 'Being Human' but there was no substantive motion.

In the afternoon with a fairly full house and gallery the Synod began debate on 'Some Issues in Human Sexuality'. This report from a sub-group of the House of Bishops aims to give a guide to the debate on homosexuality. This appears to be part of the strategy to keep discussion of this issue until the church changes its position. An analysis of the report is available from the Church Society website.

The Bishop of Oxford gave a good summary of the report and stated that it attempts to set out all the different views within the church and to critique it. The take note motion went through without opposition and three amendments that would have skewed this in a pro-homosexual conduct direction were rejected. The substantive motion making the report available as a resource for debate was passed.

There was a brief foray into some wide ranging changes to the Synod's own standing orders but they are otherwise unworthy of note.

In the late afternoon the Synod voted on a York Diocesan Synod motion on 'cohabitation'. Whether deliberately or not this motion is badly worded and if it goes through will be understood by people at large as an acceptance of sex outside marriage. On behalf of the Mission and Public Affairs Committee the Bishop of Southwark moved an amendment which spelt out what the motion was trying to achieve whilst affirming marriage.

There is a good amendment from the Bishop of Southwark (on behalf of the Mission and Public Affairs Committee) that raises the concern behind the motion whilst affirming marriage and not appearing to endorse immorality. Two further amendments that would have made strong statements about the importance and centrality of marriage were rejected ostensibly on the basis that this distracted from the original focus of the York motion, that is social justice. However, it is clear that there are many on the Synod who do not want to do anything to support the exclusivity of marriage. The Synod voted to accept the motion from the MPAC which affirms marriage but recognises that there are issues of hardship and vulnerability for people whose relationships are not based on marriage.

David Phillips is General Secretary, Church Society General and Synod Representative for St. Albans Diocese