Members of the General Council, at their meeting on 9th October at The Hayes, Swanwick, were encouraged by news of new initiatives taking place in both UK dioceses. Bishop Hunt reported on the new congregations in the Southern Diocese and Bishop Fenwick on the training in church planting that had taken place in the North. Both bishops reported new applications for the ministry from clergy ordained in the Church of England. Bishop Rossello reported on recent developments in the South American Diocese and asked in particular for prayers for our congregations in Venezuela where the situation remains very bad.
Reports were also given of the recent ReNew conference in Leeds and the Churches Together in England Enabling Group.
The previous evening the Constitution and Canons committee had continued its overhaul of the terms of tenure for clergy.
