Report on the Eastern Archdeaconry Synod, Vienna 16-19 September 2010
This was my third synod as representative from Vienna, and it was certainly convenient to leave the church office at 4pm and arrive at the Palotti house half an hour later, rather than spend a whole day travelling to some far-flung destination in the Eastern Archdeaconry.
New participants this year were Revd Patrick Irwin, Bucharest and Jack Noonan, Prague. Janet Berkovic attended as an observer from Zagreb. Other participants attended from Athens, Corfu, Crete, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kyiv, Warsaw, Prague, Budapest, Izmir, and Vienna.
Belgrade, Istanbul and Ankara were unable to send representatives this year.
The Synod started at 5pm on Thursday with Evening Prayer; after supper meetings were held until 9pm, including a short presentation on the Roman Catholic Church in Austria by Christa Pongratz-Lippitt. The synod continued on Friday and Saturday with two full days of meetings, starting each day at 730am with morning prayer.
The Revd Dr. Walter Moberly led three informative and inspiring sessions on the use of the Old Testament in public worship and preaching on (1) Self-interest, suspicion and the dark night of the soul: the story of Job (Job 1.1-2.10); (2) Whence spiritual blindness? The story of Balaam and his ass (Num.22.1-35) and (3) How can we be honest in worship? The conflict of faith and experience (Psalms 44 and 89).
Ann Turner, Diocesan General Synod representative, led two sessions on the Diocesan Strategic Review, giving a concise presentation of the review with explanations where necessary and concluding with a short discussion on the two questions: What is the view of the Archdeaconry on the DSR as well as its views on the actual cost and financing. A motion was passed (one abstention) as follows:
The 2010 synod of the Eastern Archdeaconry of the Diocese in Europe affirms the recommendations of the Diocesan Strategic Review as presented to and signed off by the 2010 Diocesan Synod (May) and encourages their implementation, aware that funding will need to come from a variety of sources including the churches and congregations of the Eastern Archdeaconry.
Furthermore the 2010 synod requests that the proposal to locate the archdeacon responsible for the Eastern archdeaconry outside the Eastern archdeaconry should only be taken forward after consultation between the respective archdeaconries (Italy and Malta, Eastern) and the diocesan bishop.
The Diocesan laity report from the General Synod in York, July 2010 was also discussed and in particular the draft legislation on women bishops. In conclusion, the participants of the Archdeaconry Synod voted on the question “Would you personally accept the authority of a women bishop?” (14 yes, 7 no, 8 abstentions, 1 spoilt ballot).
David Healey, Communications Manager and General Manager of the Intercontinental Church Society gave a presentation on “The how and why of group bible study”, and suggested suitable material and resources.
Chaplaincy reports were presented from Moscow, Bucharest (including Sofia and Skopje), Kyiv, Budapest, Crete, St. Petersburg, Izmir, Prague, Athens, Corfu, Warsaw and Vienna. Reports had also been received from Belgrade and Ankara. The Revd Denis Moss in presenting the report for Budapest, remarked that this would be his last synod. He expressed his thanks for all the support he had received over the years from these synods and in particular from members of the Vienna congregation, noting that “it was always good to hear about others worse off.”
It was agreed that following the suggestion of one of the representatives from Corfu, a day of fasting would be held in the Archdeaconry, the exact date to be announced.
The synod concluded on Sunday morning with Sung Eucharist at Christ Church and the congregation had the opportunity to meet the participants over coffee.
Miranda Kopetzky, Archdeaconry Synod Representative, Vienna
Vienna, 26 September 2010
