The Unofficial British Royal Family Pages

14 Nov 2000 - Speech given by The Queen at the Inauguration of the Seventh General Synod at Church House

Your Graces, The Convocations of Canterbury and York, duly called together in obedience to Our Royal Writs, are on this day joined together in accordance with the Synodical Government Measure 1969 and the House of Laity is added to them in accordance with that Measure, so as to constitute the seventh General Synod of the Church of
England.

Thank you for the warmth of the welcome. I am delighted to be with you and to inaugurate this seventh General Synod of the Church of England.

Together we have just experienced the power and beauty of a celebration of Holy Communion at Westminster Abbey. The Worship of God is at the heart of our faith, as it must be at the heart of the life of this Synod. The form of this worship is something special for each and every one of us. I therefore recognise the importance of your predecessors' revision of the contemporary liturgy, culminating in the production of Common Worship.

The aim of this revision is to provide for the diversity of worship in the Church of England's parishes within a common
framework. I am pleased that Common Worship contains services from the Book of Common Prayer in its main volume. Both the Prayer Book and modern services have a valued place in the Church of England today and are part of its future. I have appreciated the opportunity to meet this morning some of those who have been involved in the
design and production of Common Worship. Their work holds to a long tradition in the Church of England to worship God in ways, both old and new, which reflect the deepest strivings of our faith.

The Christian Gospel expresses itself in action as well as in worship. There will be many opportunities for this Synod to
demonstrate the love of God in action in the five years ahead.

One of your earliest tasks will be to consider the future of the Church Urban Fund of which I am proud to be Patron. Over the last thirteen years the Fund has spent over #37 million in our most needy communities. This major achievement - with which the late Lord Runcie was so closely associated - reminds us that the Church of England's
mission is to the nation and to a needy world, not simply to its regular worshippers.

It is, of course, a mission which is shared with partners in other Christian churches. I especially welcome so many representatives of those churches, and of the ecumenical bodies which bring us together, here today.

The continuing search for full visible unity between the churches is vital for the effectiveness of their shared mission. My own recent visit to His Holiness the Pope underlined both the progress that has been made and the shared determination to continue with the task. Members of the Synod, you will have an early opportunity to carry this forward when you receive the report of the Formal Conversations between the Church of England and the Methodist Church
next year. I pray that God's wisdom will guide you as you reflect on the next steps.

You will also have in mind the need to build unity both within the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion. I pay tribute to the tireless efforts of your two Archbishops to this end. The increasing diversity within the world-wide Communion inevitably introduces strains within it. Nonetheless the future will be one of hope if all involved commit themselves to ensuring continued dialogue and partnership.

Archbishops and members of the Synod, the five years ahead will undoubtedly offer you considerable challenges. I am confident that, working together, these can be overcome. Sustained by prayer, encouraged by the Gospel, certain of God's love, the Church looks to you for leadership and service. May God's blessing be with you as you respond to that call.