Synod to discuss social policy

George Connor
George Connor
Six Otago and Southland representatives are attending the Anglican General Synod in Wellington this week, where members of Parliament will speak about jobs, health, housing, education and poverty.

Church representatives from New Zealand and Polynesia will attend the biennial meeting, which began on Sunday and will finish on Thursday.

The Anglican Bishop of Dunedin, the Right Rev George Connor, and five clergy and lay representatives from the Otago-Southland Anglican Diocese are attending.

"At the synod, we will be testing the politicians, whether they feel they have been able to achieve any of the issues that were raised as part of the Hikoi of Hope," Bishop Connor said.

The 58th Anglican General Synod will also mark 10 years since the church asked Christians to join their Hikoi of Hope to Parliament, which called for changes in social policy.

National's Judith Collins, Labour's Ruth Dyson, Jeanette Fitzsimmons and Russel Norman of the Green Party, the Maori Party's Tariana Turia and Barbara Stewart from New Zealand First are expected to attend.

The MPs will be asked where their parties stand on the five hikoi platforms: jobs, health, housing, education and poverty.

Church members will also discuss progress towards an Anglican covenant, which covers mainly doctrinal issue.

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