The General Synod

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 497.

Spiritual leaders of the Church of England

The Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr Rowan Williams) fills a unique position in the world-wide Anglican Communion. As primus inter pares (first among equals), of the Bishops, he serves the Anglican Church as spiritual leader.

The Archbishop of York (Dr John Sentamu) is Archbishop of the Province of York – the whole northern half of England with pastoral oversight of the bishops in that Province and responsibility for clergy discipline.

The national assembly of the Church of England is the General Synod. It came into being in 1970, replacing an earlier body known as the Church Assembly. It continues a tradition of synodical government which, in England, has its origins in the medieval period. It has powers in the following areas: legislation, relation with other churches, approving and amending liturgy, church finance. The legislation passed by the general Synod comes in two types: Measures, dealing with the government of the Church and its institutions;which, if approved by resolution of each House of Parliament, receive Royal Assent and thereby become part of the law of England;andCanons,determining doctrine and the form of worship; which are part of the church law, not the state law.