INDUCTION SESSIONDIOCESE OF EXETERDIOCESAN SYNOD2015 - 2018

Casting off…

• Approximately a third of the elected membership laity and nearly half of the elected clergy are first timers or returning after a break • Some vacancies• Venues for Diocesan Synod meetings•Mastering the microphones

Induction information

• Standing Orders of Diocesan Synod• The Exeter Diocesan Board of Finance

Memorandum & Articles of Association• List of members• Disclosure of interests paper• Copy of this presentation

The role of Diocesan Synod is to..• Consider matters concerning the Church of

England and make provision for these matters in relation to the Diocese• Consider and express an opinion on matters of

religious or public interest• Advise the Bishop on matters on which he may

consult the Synod• Consider and express an opinion on matters

referred to it by General Synod

The role of Diocesan Synod is to..• Keep Deanery Synods informed on policies

and problems of the Diocese and Diocesan Synod business• Keep itself informed through Deanery

Synods of opinions and issues in parishes• Discuss matters raised by Deanery Synods

and PCCs

Composition of Diocesan Synod• 3 Houses (Laity, Clergy and Bishops)• Diocesan Bishop is the President of Synod• The Chair of the House of Clergy and the

Chair of the House of Laity are Vice-Presidents of Synod. •Meetings of the full Synod (all 3 Houses

meeting together) are normally chaired by the President in conjunction with the Vice Presidents.

Composition of Diocesan Synod• All members of Synod are members of one

of the Houses. The Houses of Clergy and Laity have approximately the same number of members.• The Houses meet separately on a variety

of occasions • Synod meetings are always held in public• Observers

Members

• Four different categories of membership• Ex officio (approximately 18)• Elected deanery representatives (up to

130)• Bishop’s nominees (a maximum of 10)• Co-options by Houses of Clergy and Laity

(a maximum of 10 each)• Elected members are in the majority by a

considerable margin.

Principal officers

• Registrar: Martin Follett• Secretary of Synod and Diocesan

Secretary: Mark Beedell• Assistant Diocesan Secretary: Ed Moffatt• Director of Finance: Neil Williams• Director of Education: Philip Mantell• Director of Church and Society: Martyn

Goss

Principal officers

• Director of Communications: Rebecca Paveley• Pastoral Secretary: Alastair Sutherland

Structure of the Diocese

Bishop

Suffragan BishopArchdeacons

Rural DeanPriest

Churchwardens People

Diocese

Archdeaconry

Deanery

Parish

Deanery Synod

PCC

Diocesan Synod

Structure of the Diocese

Diocesan SynodExeter Diocesan

Board of Finance Ltd

The Bishop’s Diocesan Council incorporating Diocesan

Mission and Pastoral Committee

Diocesan Advisory CommitteeDiocesan Board of Education

Board of Directors Bishops’ Council and Standing Committee

Assets Committee

Exeter Diocesan Board of Finance Limited

To advance the religious and other charitable work of the Church of England in the Diocese of Exeter

Exeter Diocesan Board of Finance Limited

• Receives income – Common Fund, investments, fees•Manages investments – glebe, reserves,

education trusts, parochial funds•Manages property – parsonages,

corporate• Supports parishes• Statutory functions

Exeter Diocesan Board of Finance Limited

• Company limited by guarantee• Charity•Members are the members of Synod• Directors are the members of the Bishop’s

Council and Standing Committee• Approve budget• Approve annual report and accounts

Rules of Engagement

• Standing Orders of Diocesan Synod• Informality where possible• Agenda and minutes• Rules of debate, amendments, procedural

motions, voting• Asking questions

Effective Membership

• Get to know other members!• Preparation, listening and speaking and

courteous disagreement• Responsibility for decisions• Communication to and from Deanery

Synods• Enjoy!

Miscellaneous• Church Representation Rules

http://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/structure/churchlawlegis/church-representation-rules/church-representation-rules-online.aspx•Mailings (Agendas, Papers and Minutes):

web-based and e-mail formats. Hard copies will always be available on request. • Diocesan Synod contact details: •Martin Follett

martin.follett@michelmores.com • Ed Moffatt ed.moffatt@exeter.anglican.org