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Acts of Special Synod held on Monday, 18 March 2013 at 7pm at S tMartins House, Leicester
House of Bishops
House of Clergy
House of Laity
Secretariat
Officers
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58
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The Synod opened with prayer.
CHAIRMAN – THE RT REVD TIM STEVENS
01/13
02/13
The Chairman welcomed members to this Special Synod to consider the Diocese’s response to the opportunities and challenges arising from the discovery of the remains of Richard III.
He explained that there would be a series of presentations followed by a debate and a final vote on the proposed resolutions.
He welcomed Guest Speakers : John Nicholls, Chair of the Cathedral
Gardens Working Group and Richard Taylor, Director of Corporate
Affairs, Leicester University to the Synod.
Synod were asked to approve the co-options onto Diocesan Synod for
Ruth Ingman and Revd Paskal Clements. These co-options were approved.
Synod congratulated the Revd Canon David Monteith on his appointment as the new Dean of Leicester.
PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS
The Bishop gave his Presidential Address a copy of which would be available on the Diocesan website.
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03/13 RICHARD III
The Acting Dean of Leicester, Revd Canon Barry Naylor, introduced
LEIC[DS]13/01 (copy attached to the record) outlining the challenges
and opportunities facing the Cathedral arising from the discovery of
the remains of Richard III and the proposal to reinter them in
Leicester Cathedral sometime in the first part of 2014.
Revd Canon David Monteith gave a presentation on the enormous interest and what needs to be done over the next year or so that
Leicester and its Cathedral can rise to the challenge; the opportunities for mission and evangelism etc.
John Nicholls described the Cathedral Gardens project – what it is, how it might happen and at what cost.
Sir Peter Soulsby (City Mayor) spoke on video of his enthusiasm and vision for the site of the Cathedral Gardens.
Richard Taylor of Leicester University spoke of the significance of the discovery from the University’s point of view.
Revd Canon David Monteith summarised and indicated the costs – the
City Mayor contributing 5/6 of the cost of the Cathedral Gardens but added that the Cathedral needed to fund plinth, sound system and the interment etc.
The Chairman described what steps had been taken to get the money together ; approach to major donors, public appeal to be launched, application to trusts etc but added that now the Diocese must make a contribution.
Stephen Barney (Chair of the DBF) spoke to LEIC[DS]13/01 outlining the financial challenges, including the need for an annual subvention to the Cathedral plus a capital fund for the Cathedral for the various necessary works.
The following motion was proposed :
That this Synod :
“1. The Trustees of the DBF be authorised to grant an annual
subvention of up to £30,000 to the Cathedral for a maximum of 5 years from 2013.
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(This will be subject to the satisfaction of the DBF trustees that all possible other options are being pursued by the Cathedral Chapter and an agreed plan for the next 12 months to reduce the need for this funding for the following year.)
(applications for this funding to be submitted to a panel consisting of the Diocesan Bishop, the Chair of the DBF, 2 members of the Finance
Committee, 2 members elected by Bishop’s Council). This fund will not reduce the monies available for the Growth and Capital funds.
3.
4.
That the members of the DBF note the situation concerning the funding of the Cathedral Gardens project and agree to receive further reports as necessary.
That members of the DBF note the situation relating to Cathedral
Clergy Housing.
It was noted that the Revd John McGinley had withdrawn his amendments to the motion which had been circulated to Members.
Those who took part in the debate were - Revd Tony Leighton (Framland);
Revd Alan Hawker (Guthlaston); Mr David Whittington (Akeley East);
Mr Peter Dixon-Smith (Gartree I); Revd Peter Hooper (Bishop’s Co-Option);
Mr Alan Phillips (North West Leicester).
Following the debate the results of the voting were :
Resolution 1 :
Resolution 2 :
Carried with 1 objection.
Carried with 2 objections.
Resolution 3 :
Resolution 4 :
Carried nem con.
Carried nem con.
2. That a “Cathedral Capital Fund” of £500,000 be set up to cover the interment of the remains of King Richard the Third and related costs and other items of a capital nature which would otherwise have been hired by the Diocese from time to time.
The Bishop closed Synod with prayer at 1pm.
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