9. The Rev Ross Nicholson asked -
(a) How many meetings did the Special Session of Synod of June 2001 sit for the Archbishop’s Election?
(b) How many hours did each of those sittings run for?
(c) How many members of Synod attended each of those sittings?
(d) Was there a call by Standing Committee, the regional councils or regional bishops before this Synod for the diocese and parishes to pray for the decisions of that Special Synod?
(e) Did the movers of motion 17.3 on the Synod papers call their regions to pray for the decision to be made by the Standing Committee which extended the retirement age of the Archbishop?
(f) Did any bishops call their regions to pray for the decision to be made by the Standing Committee?
(g) Was a motion moved at that Standing Committee that requested debate on the extension of the retirement age of the Archbishop be adjourned until the parishes of the Diocese could be called together to pray for those deliberations?
To which the President replied -
By the "Special Session" for the "Archbishop’s Election" I take it you mean the special session held on 4 and 5 June 2001 in which I was elected Archbishop. On that basis I am informed the answers are as follows –
(a) and (b) The Special Session commenced at 4.30pm on Monday 4 June 2001, adjourned for dinner at 5.45pm, resumed at 7.15pm and adjourned for the night at 10.28pm. The second day of the session on Tuesday 5 June 2001 commenced at 6.30pm and ended at 10.50pm.
(c) On the first day of the session a count during the pre-dinner session indicated there were 624 members present. At the count during the evening session there were 698 members present. On the second day of the session, a count taken during the session showed there were 703 members present.
(d) Yes. A call to pray was issued to Synod members by the Administrator, Bishop Paul Barnett on 20 March 2001.
(e) Not specifically. However the movers have been calling for prayer for the Mission of which they consider the Archbishop to form an integral part.
(f) No.
(g) No.