Diocesan Synod

 = latest updates 

 Meeting dates for 2022 

• February 12th
• June 21st
• September 24th 

Our Diocesan Synod meets three times a year to discuss everything to do with the church. They share experiences and talk about everything from money to the Diocesan vision. A synod is a gathering of the clergy, and sometimes the laity, in a diocese.

The Church of England model is the 'Bishop in Synod’; the Bishop has a duty to consult the Diocesan Synod on matters of general importance and concern to the Diocese and, in turn, the Diocesan Synod provides a connection to Deanery Synods and PCCs. This means that decisions about everything are taken by the Bishop of (for this example) Salisbury, acting with the advice and consent of representatives of the clergy and laity of our Diocese that make up our Diocesan Synod.  

Synod members are elected to serve for three years - a “triennium”. The new triennium for Salisbury began in September 2021.

Post-Synod resources

See box on the right for the latest, and a link to the archive.

What Diocesan Synod does

• Considers matters concerning the Church of England
• Makes provision for these matters in relation to the Diocese
• Considers and expresses an opinion on matters of religious or public interest
• Advises the Bishop on matters on which he may consult Synod
• Considers and expresses an opinion on any matters referred to it by the General Synod
• Is also the Diocesan Board of Finance

In addition, Diocesan Synod is responsible for:

• Keeping Deanery Synods informed on policies, problems and Synod business
• Delegating some executive functions to Deanery Synods
• Keeping itself informed through Deanery Synods of opinions and events in the parishes
• Discussing matters raised by Deanery Synods and Parochial Church Councils
  
  

Membership

The Diocesan Synod is made up of three Houses:

• House of Bishops
• House of Clergy
• House of Laity

The President of the Synod is the Bishop. The Chairmen of the House of Clergy and the House of Laity are the vice-presidents of the Synod and, in that role, vice-chairs of Bishop’s Council. They share in shaping the agenda of the Diocesan Synod and chairing its meetings. They also ensure that the opinions of their respective Houses and the Deaneries are canvassed and heard.

Profile: Chair of House of Clergy 
Profile: Chair of House of Laity (Gillian Clarke) 

The Salisbury Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF)
In this diocese, members of Diocesan Synod are also members of the DBF. This requires members to find a balance between financial resources and constraints on the one hand with policies that the Synod wishes to see implemented on the other. 

Salisbury DBF is is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales, no. 17442, Registered charity no. 240833. The Executive Directors and Trustees of the DBF Company and Charity are also the members of Bishop’s Council.

The DBF Chairman is a member of Diocesan Synod and Bishop’s Council and chairs the part of the Synod agenda concerned with financial aspects of the governance of the Diocese. There is also a strong representational element to this role in visiting parishes and deaneries, explaining policy and responding to comments. The Vice Chairman of the DBF is also a member of Bishop’s Council.

Standing Orders of Diocesan Synod as revised Feb 2021
Memorandum & Articles of Association of the Diocesan Board of Finance 

ELECTION OF DBF CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR MAY 2022

Nominations to be returned by noon on 31 May 2022 c/o miriam.longfoot@salisbury.anglican.org

PDF forms:

Nomination for DBF Chair

Nomination for DBF Vice Chair

MS Word forms:

Nomination for DBF Chair

Nomination for DBF Vice Chair

Secretary to the Diocesan Synod, Bishop's Council and Diocesan Board of Finance

The Diocesan Secretary:

• Assists Bishop’s Council in the creation and implementation of policy
• Oversees financial administration of the diocese
• Ensures the efficient and effective management of the diocese as its chief executive.
• Secretary to Diocesan Synod and Bishop’s Council
• Company Secretary and Treasurer of the Diocesan Board of Finance

The Bishop’s Council, the standing committee of the Diocesan Synod, is a statutory body. Its purpose is to gather views from, and consult with, the Deaneries and parishes on concerns of the people of the Diocese; make recommendations on policy to the Diocesan Synod; scrutinise and review the action plans that are put in place to implement the policy decisions made by the Diocesan Synod. The Council also acts as the Diocesan Pastoral Committee and the directors and trustees of the DBF. Bishop’s Council membership for the current triennium, 2018-2021, can be seen here.

Saving the Earth

We're trying to cut down on costs and materials by projecting the liturgy on a screen instead of printing orders of service. If you have a projector, could you do the same?