Synodical Government in the Diocese - A Brief Introduction

ORIGINS
Synodical Government was introduced by the Church of England in 1970 with a view to increasing lay participation in the decision-making processes of the Church. A "Synod" is "a council for debates or government". The word itself means "coming to a common mind". Government by Synod is government by common consent – bishops, clergy and laity together - and should reflect the belief that the Spirit is given to all God's people.

LICHFIELD
In the Church of England, Synodical Government operates at four levels – the Parochial Church Council, the Deanery Synod, the Diocesan Synod and the General Synod. Parishes at their Annual General Meeting elect representatives to the Deanery Synods of which there are twenty-eight in Lichfield Diocese: four in the Lichfield Archdeaconry, eight in the Salop Archdeaconry, eleven in the Stoke Archdeaconry and five in the Walsall Archdeaconry.

The members of the Deanery Synods elect members to the Diocesan Synod: 103 laity and 103 clergy. These members together with the Diocesan Bishop, the ex-officio, co-opted and nominated members make up the Diocesan Synod.

THE DIOCESAN SYNOD
There are three constituent parts to a Synod: the House of Bishops, the House of Laity and the House of Clergy.

The Houses of Laity and Clergy elect their own Chair who not only then takes part in the chairing of the full Synod but also has specific responsibilities in relation to calling a separate meeting of his or her particular House and, in addition, sits ex-officio on the Bishop's Council, the Agenda Planning Sub-Committee and the Vacancy-in-See Committee.

Usually all three Houses meet together and vote as one Synod but occasionally, for special purposes they may meet and/or vote separately.

THE BOARD OF FINANCE
Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance passed a special resolution in 2003 to extend its membership to include the Diocesan Synod. The two bodies therefore now have a common membership and the Board’s business is transacted as part of the Diocesan Synod’s meeting.

PURPOSE
The Synod works in six different ways:

a)  it makes provision for matters concerning the Church of England in the diocese
b)  it advises the Diocesan Bishop on any matter about which the Bishop wishes to consult it
c)  it gives an opinion on matters about which General Synod consults it
d)  it communicates diocesan policies and concerns to the parishes through Deanery Synods
e)  it listens and responds to the views and concerns expressed by parishes at Deanery Synods
f)  it debates and may express an opinion upon any matter of religious or public interest it so wishes 

PROCEDURE
At meetings of Synod each member may:

a)  speak once to any motion if called by the Chair
b)  move amendments to motions
c)  move procedural motions
d)  call for a count by Houses
e)  ask questions and receive an answer to each (with the possibility of a supplementary)
f)  move motions on behalf of his or her Deanery Synod or as a Private Member (if Bishop's Council so determines)

ELECTIONS
It is a principle of Synodical Government that being elected to a Synod implies automatic ex-officio membership at the lower levels. Other ex-officio membership stems from a post or status held. Members of the General Synod and Diocesan Synod are therefore ex-officio members of the Deanery Synod and their PCC & DCC. Co-options and nominations may also be made.

While the parish has an annual meeting to determine its officers and PCC membership, Deanery and Diocesan Synods operate on a three-year cycle and the General Synod is re-elected every 5 years. Thus the next Deanery Synod Elections are due in 2008 with elections to Diocesan Synod following in 2009. Elections to General Synod will take place in 2010 and 2015.

The Church Representation Rules provide detailed guidance for elections and the conduct of PCCs.