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Introduction In recent years the volume of requests for 'the Church's view' on a wide range of issues has increased to such an extent that the Board's small staff is no longer able to give individual responses. Most requests come from GCSE and 'A'-Level candidates but enquiries are also received from primary school children, undergraduates, theological students, student nurses, as well as the interested 'person in the pew'. This booklet has therefore been produced for a very wide audience. It cannot provide all the answers each person is seeking but we hope that it will be helpful to many. Each section is in three parts: first a brief history of the Church of England's debates and publications on the issue in question; second the most recent General Synod motions; and third some recommended reading and where to go for further information if you wish to study the issue in greater depth. The motions carried at the end of General Synod debates are the nearest the Church of England has to official statements. However, they cannot be said to express 'the view' of every member of the Church of England. Reports from the Board for Social Responsibility are offered as a contribution to discussion. The General Synod will sometimes endorse a motion proposed by the Board but it is then left to the individual to make up his/her own mind on particular issues. Full verbatim accounts of all General Synod debates are published in the General Synod Report of Proceedings for the relevant Group of Sessions (ie February, July or November of each year). These may be consulted at some reference libraries. The Board's primary function is to advise the General Synod on social, ethical and moral issues. It is not a grant-making or fund-raising body, nor is it a service-delivery agency and it does not produce education aids in the form of posters or videos. Much of the work and thought of the Board is made available through its publications. All publications are sold through the Church House Bookshop, Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BN. Unfortunately many of the Board's earlier reports are now out of print and may only be found in church or college reference libraries. The Board publishes the magazine Crucible on a quarterly basis. Articles in Crucible do not represent the official view of the Board but they are published as significant contributions to Christian debate on contemporary issues. A survey of Crucible over a number of years therefore provides a valuable insight into the development of thinking on many social and ethical problems. NOTE FOR TEACHING STAFF: - It will be appreciated that most of the Board's publications are written for debates, or as background to debates, in the General Synod. They are not suitable for pupils younger than 18 years of age without first being 'unpacked' by the teacher. It may be helpful to explain to pupils that the General Synod has a very formal atmosphere: like Parliament from which its power is derived. In addition to all the diocesan bishops who make up most of the House of Bishops, the General Synod has representatives of clergy (in the House of Clergy) and of lay people (in the House of Laity). They meet to debate issues of concern to the Church and wider society.
OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION Church of England website: www.cofe.anglican.org The National Society’s Religious Education Centre has information on moral and social issues and other topics which is suitable for classroom use. Contact: The National Society’s Religious Education Centre The Christian Education Movement produces and distributes a resource pack entitled What the Churches Say on moral and social issues in collaboration with seven major Churches. The Churches which have contributed to the pack are: the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the Church of England, the Methodist Church, the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), the Roman Catholic Church, the Salvation Army and the United Reformed Church. The issues covered are: Relationships and Family, Medical Ethics, Law and Order, Prejudice and Discrimination, Environment, World Development, Peace and War. It may be obtained from:
Church House Bookshop Many of the publications mentioned in this booklet (particularly recent General Synod papers with the prefix ‘GS’) are available from Church House Bookshop, 31 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3NZ, 0171 340 0280. E-mail: info@ chb.u-net.com Grove Books produce the Grove Ethical Studies a series of concise explorations of ethical issues from a Christian perspective. A stocklist is available from: Grove books Ltd. Ridley Hall Rd., Cambridge, CB3 9HU. 01223 464748. |