Your Majesty; it is a pleasure to echo my friend and new colleague in thanking you once again on behalf of all of the members of Synod, not only for the formal encouragement which your presence and that of the Duke of Edinburgh gives us today, but for all the countless ways in which your prayer and example nourishes us. Your wisdom and understanding, your concern and humanity and your manifest and visible devotion to our church mean a very great deal to us.

In the face of all that we now confront, the unchanging truth of God's revelation in Christ is a rock that must remain the foundation and inspiration of all that we do. We are therefore grateful for all those, and in particular for Your Majesty, who by their steadfastness give us orientation in challenging times.

And now on behalf of the Archbishop of York and myself, I direct the members of the General Synod to assemble this afternoon at 2.30 pm to begin consideration of the business before you.

© Rowan Williams 2005