THE SECOND SESSION OF THE SIXTEENTH DIOCESAN SYNOD. will be held at The Sir Robert Woodard Academy Upper Boundstone Lane Lancing BN15 9QZ

Transcription

1 THE SECOND SESSION OF THE SIXTEENTH DIOCESAN SYNOD will be held at The Sir Robert Woodard Academy Upper Boundstone Lane Lancing BN15 9QZ On 14 th May 2016

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3 AGENDA 10.00a.m. CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST with Presidential address 11.00a.m. MEETING OF THE DIOCESAN SYNOD 1. WELCOME TO THE DIOCESAN YOUTH OFFICER 2. REPORT ON THE BISHOP S COUNCIL written report (page 9) Canon Mark Gilbert to move That this report be received. 3. REPORT FROM GENERAL SYNOD written reports (pages 10-22) Mr Jacob Vince to move That these reports be received. 4. PROMULGATION OF AMENDING CANON NO a.m. MEETING OF THE CHICHESTER DIOCESAN FUND AND BOARD OF FINANCE (INCORPORATED) 1. PRESENTATION OF THE 2015 ACCOUNTS (see separate booklet) Mr John Booth (Chair) to move That the Annual Accounts and report of the DBF for 2015 be received. 3

4 2. APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS Mr John Booth (Chair) to move: That haysmacintyre, Chartered Accountants, be re-appointed as auditors of the Company to hold office until the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting am MEETING OF THE DIOCESAN SYNOD 5. SAVE A LIFE CAMPAIGN: presentation Mr Tim Fellows, Operating Unit Manager, South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. 6. SHARED CONVERSATIONS: verbal report on the process The Archdeacon of Brighton & Lewes to move That this report be received. 7. PARISH MINISTRY COSTS REVIEW written report Mr Brian Porter to move That this Synod supports the five proposals relating to parish contribution on pages and commends them for wider consultation and, if appropriate, implementation. 8. CHILDREN S SOCIETY: presentation Ms Jessica Meale, Regional Manager for Chichester Diocese, The Children s Society; and The Reverend Mike Todd, Parish Partnerships Manager, The Children s Society. 9. CHRISTIAN AID WEEK: presentation Mr Mark Rodger, Sussex Co-ordinator, Christian Aid. 4

5 1.00p.m. LUNCH 2.00p.m. MEETING OF THE DIOCESAN SYNOD 10. VOICES IN EXILE: presentation and appeal launch The Bishop of Horsham; Mary-Jane Burkett, Director of Voices in Exile; and The Reverend Canon Kieron O Brien, Episcopal Vicar for Sussex. 11. UPDATE ON EDUCATION: verbal report by Diocesan Director of Education, Canon Dr Ann Holt. The Bishop of Horsham to move That this report be received. 12. UPDATE ON THE PASTORAL CARE POLICY: verbal report by The Archdeacon of Horsham and the Director for Apostolic Life, The Reverend Canon Rebecca Swyer. The Archdeacon of Horsham to move That this report be received. 13. DIOCESAN STRATEGY: verbal report The Bishop of Lewes to move That this report be received. 14. AMENDMENT OF STANDING ORDERS Dr Brian Hanson CBE to move the resolutions on pages AUTHORISATION OF VARIATIONS TO CHURCH REPRESENTATION RULES 5

6 Mr John Head to move that the Parochial Church Council of Bishop Hannington Memorial Church, Hove be permitted to amend the General Provisions relating to PCCs set out in Appendix 2 of the Church Representation Rules 2011 by adding additional powers to authorise the business of the PCC to be conducted by electronic means in cases of emergency, as set out on pages and that the Bishop s Council be authorised to approve future amendment applications by PCCs 16. LAY REPRESENTATION FOR BISHOP S MISSION ORDERS ON DEANERY SYNOD The Bishop of Lewes to move the resolutions on pages QUESTIONS UNDER SO69 Under Standing Order 69 all questions received by 7 th May 2016 will be tabled on an order paper. THE MEETING WILL FINISH NO LATER THAN 4.OO P.M 6

7 NOTES: ADMISSION Members will be admitted on production of this agenda. Registration is from 9.30am. LUNCH Members are requested to bring their own packed lunch. Tea and coffee will be available. SPEECHES Speeches to Synod from the floor will be limited to five minutes. A bell will be sounded after four minutes and again after five minutes. NB The length of speeches may be limited still further at the discretion of the chairman. PROXIES Members have the right to appoint a proxy for the meeting of the Diocesan Board of Finance under article 25 of the Board s articles of association but not for the meeting of the Diocesan Synod NEXT DIOCESAN SYNOD There will be a meeting of Diocesan Synod on Saturday 12 th November Details of the venue to be confirmed. In accordance with Standing Order 26, 35 days notice is required for any new business for the agenda. The latest date that such items should be in the hands of the Secretary is Friday 7 th October

8 ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS 1. Coffee and tea will be served throughout the morning after the Eucharist. There will be no designated break for refreshments except at lunchtime. 2. Any member with a disability is invited to contact the Secretary by Friday 29 th April 2016 to make any special arrangements necessary. 3. Any member with visual impairment who requires large print versions of any of the agenda or associated papers please contact the Secretary by Friday 29 th April When rising to speak will all Members please display their Member number cards and give their name and deanery. Gabrielle Higgins Diocesan Secretary Diocesan Church House 211 New Church Road Hove BN3 4ED 8

9 BISHOP S COUNCIL REPORT By Canon Mark Gilbert The Bishop s Council has met on two occasions since the last Synod, on 11 th February and on 7 th April. At its February meeting the Council painstakingly went through the risk register of the Diocese led by a team from Grant Thornton, our internal auditors. Following the November Synod, the Bishop s Council had received a very encouraging number of nominations for the various vacancies on the committees of Synod and the Council spent some time making these appointments. Revd John Eldridge and Mrs Mary Nagel were elected as the Vice-Chairs of the Houses of Clergy and Laity. Various financial matters were considered presented by the Chair of the Finance Committee. The Archdeacon of Brighton and Lewes gave an update on the Shared Conversations. The Bishop of Lewes gave an update on the proposals for lay ministry. At the April meeting much of the time was spent looking at the Annual Report and draft accounts. The Mission and Pastoral Sub-Committees' terms of reference were looked at again and it was agreed that at Rural Deans and Lay Chairs of Deanery Synod should be able to attend and vote at all meetings of the Diocesan Mission and Pastoral subcommittees, regardless of whether their particular Deanery is to be discussed. Various changes to the Standing Orders as well as the Diocesan Synod Agenda were put before the Council. A report from the Energy Stewardship programme was received. Various changes to the Clergy Manual as well as the annual report from the Safeguarding Advisory Panel and a report on Asbestos were also received. Canon Mark Gilbert 9

10 GENERAL SYNOD REPORTS By Mr Jacob Vince Report of General Synod (Westminster November 2015) The November General Synod was the inaugural group of sessions for the Quinquennium, and the 10 th General Synod. It began with a Service in Westminster Abbey attended by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, followed by a gathering in Church House addressed by the Queen and responded to by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Queen has actually attended all 10 openings and was commended for her commitment as the longest reigning Monarch. Monday 23 rd In fact there was an induction day the day before for new members of General Synod. In the Houses of Clergy and Laity there are around 45% new members, with something like 30%, if House of Bishops included. Due to the more ceremonial aspects the first Group of Sessions of a new synod is usually shorter, but nonetheless some important matters were under consideration. Tuesday 24 th The Synod commenced with a further service of worship in the Assembly Hall. Item 1 Introductions. The new members in the Houses of Laity, Clergy and elected suffragan Bishops were welcomed en masse, followed by some new members singled out for welcome, including the new Bishop of Newcastle Christine Hardman who had come out of retirement to accept the position, suffragan Bishops standing in for their Diocesan s in vacancy, Dorchester for Oxford, Brixworth for Leicester and 10

11 Wolverhampton for Lichfield. A new appointment to Archbishop s Council was also introduced, former TearFund CEO Matthew Frost. Item 2 Presidential Address. The Archbishop of Canterbury gave the Presidential Address. With the refurbishment of the Great Hall Lambeth, a plumb line had been found. This was shown to illustrate the plumb line to which we as the new Synod might be held, taking a text from the prophet Haggai, and then from a passage in Acts 15 where it describes the counsel of Jerusalem as they grapple with drawing into the Church Gentiles who had come to faith in Jesus as the Christ where their potential disagreement was resolved. Item 3 Report by the Business Committee. Introduced the subjects and order of the items, with opportunity for questions relating to the report. Particular attention was drawn to the desire to debate topical subjects, and this had been achieved by including a slot to debate the migrant crisis, with the actual text of the motion introduced at a later point. Some questioned the high number of presentations and suggested that we should seek to frame some of these items as debates rather than simply presentations with questions. The Report by the Business Committee was itself a take-note debate and subsequently voted on and carried by the whole synod. Item 4 Presentation of Synod Worship. Synod was introduced to a newly appointed Chaplain to Synod to coordinate and oversee the worship times which commence and close each day. This was a new initiative as this role had formerly been taken by an elected to Synod Clergy member. Item 5 Presentation of Renewal and Reform Programme. This is a comprehensive and most substantial work taking place over the immediate period with significant implications for shaping 11

12 the Church of England toward more intentional spiritual and numerical growth. Building on the Anecdote to Evidence report and later similar work, the urgency for evangelisation was expressed in the quote that there are 8 times more 81 year olds attending the Church of England than 18 year olds. The work had several streams running concurrently. Presentations with opportunity for questions on each stream followed. The streams cover inter alia: Resourcing the Future, moving away from the Darlow formula which arguably supports decline, to a new dioceses funding subsidy 50% weighted to most deprived and 50% to encourage mission, purposeful collaboration of National Church Institutions to support growth, embracing digital media, and Church Building Review. Renewing Discipleship and Ministry headed up by the Bishop of Sheffield, designed to particularly encourage more ordained vocations with weighting to the younger age, to replenish the large number scheduled for retirement and exceed existing numbers in the quest to evangelise and grow disciples. Resourcing Ministerial Education, headed up by the Bishop of Truro. Providing for existing clergy and lay, particularly identifying and training senior clergy, but moving on to encouraging and resourcing all clergy and lay with potential and skills to encourage growth and evangelism. Simplification headed up by the Bishop of Willesden. This aims to remove barriers to growth, encourage Church Planting through creative use of enabling vehicles such as Bishop s Mission Orders and simplifying faculties. It is already working through a number of these phases. 12

13 Lay Leadership work headed up by Matthew Frost formerly CEO of TearFund. In general aspect, more shared understating of terms such as mission, evangelism etc., broad engagement, encourage good practice, identify barriers, integrate with other work streams, practical solutions, implementation, and theology. Item 6 Questions. A whole range which included discussion of the Lord s Prayer CofE advert rejected by UK Cinemas, which, following this, has been viewed over 1 million times, illustrating the power of social media. 42 questions, all answered in writing and also all the supplementaries. Wednesday 25 th Item 7 Loyal Address. The Archbishop of Canterbury moved that the Loyal Address be presented to the Queen and this was enthusiastically endorsed by members. Item 8. Presentation on Global Warming. This was given by the Archbishop of York. Item 9. The Migrant Crisis. This was moved by the Archbishop of Durham and particularly focussed on the Syrian refugee crisis. There were two amendments put down: one not to welcome but simply acknowledge the government s response, as considered too little, which was lost; and the other to call on the government to take a fair and proportionate share of refugees now in the EU, which was carried. It was made clear that although the title for the debate uses migrant in its title, the motion was intended toward humanitarian refugees, the term used throughout the motion itself and not in connection to economic migrants. It was noted how complex this matter is, but with the focus on the humanitarian 13

14 need of refugees, the motion as amended was overwhelmingly carried: For 333, Against 0, and recorded Abstentions 3. Special Agenda 1, Item 500 Legislative Business. (500 presumably reflects the sequence and number of Legislative items the Synod has dealt with since its inception). It concerned paying more realistic fees for Ecclesiastical Judges, Legal Officers and Others (Fees) Order There were no amendments and after debate it was subsequently carried. Item 10. Presentation of the report Public Perceptions of Jesus. The booklet containing response to research carried out by the Evangelical Alliance, the CofE and Hope is entitle Talking Jesus. It examined Perceptions of Jesus, Christians, and Evangelism categorised according to Self-identified Christians, Non- Christians, Practicing Christians, Non-practicing Christians, and Age Groups. In essence, the older the population the better general understanding, though the proportion of those surveyed who accepted the resurrection was higher than might have been expected across the age ranges. There was encouragement in the number of people who had heard the Christian faith shared by a Christian and the number of Christians regularly sharing their faith in Jesus as God s Son and Saviour of the world. Item 11. Report of the Church Buildings Review Group. This was introduced by the Bishop of Worchester. There were amendments to: 1) reinforce the missional aspects of Church buildings; and 2) develop more strategic thinking and integration in the use of Church buildings, both of which were accepted and carried. An amendment seeking to tie the work too closely to the Simplification Group was rejected and lost as was another to extend the listed places of worship scheme to non-listed buildings, on the basis that, despite their ongoing austerity programme, the government had committed to this 14

15 scheme for the full term of this Parliament. The final motion as amended was clearly carried. Item 12 Farewells. As is customary, a humorous farewell speech was given by the Archbishop of Canterbury this time to the outgoing General Secretary of Synod, having served for 11 years. On this occasion there was a right of reply. William Fittall had taken up this role after a distinguished civil service career with the government including holding senior position in the Northern Ireland talks and eventual agreement. His strong Christian faith underpinning his service was recognised, as was his hands-on hard work, clarity, and attention to detail as legendry. One comment which stuck with me was when one of his staff presented a particularly good, complex piece of work to him. Having read it through his comment was, this piece of work is so good that I might even have done it myself! Item 13. Prorogation. The Archbishop of Canterbury prorogued synod to meet again in February However, for the House of Laity a hustings meeting followed at which those standing for the posts of Chair and Vice Chair of the General Synod House of Laity, and those standing for the three elected posts from the House of Laity for the Archbishops Council, gave presentations. There are a number of national committee members to be immediately elected from the General Synod to include: Legislative, Dioceses Commission, Cathedral Fabric Commission, Church of England Pensions Board, Appointments, Business, Finance, Audit, and Church Buildings. So, a lot goes on between the Groups of Sessions including the task groups work of Reform and Renewal which it is intended will cascade down to every area of the Church, Dioceses, Deaneries, Wardens, PCCs, Treasurers, Clergy, Readers, indeed every 15

16 member of the Church lay and ordained, and out into the community, demonstrating discipleship, speaking of our living faith, imaginatively working this out within the Church and for the common good. As previously there was a praying presence throughout the Synod and a printed prayer for the General Synod, acknowledging the need for God s help in all we do. Report of General Synod (Westminster February 2016) by Jacob Vince This was the second group of sessions of the new General Synod quinquennium, so many members were continuing to get used to how things worked. Monday 15 th Item 1. Synod began with the usual introductions including suffragan Bishops standing in for diocesan vacancies. Item 2. This was followed by presentation of the newly elected Prolocutors for Canterbury and York provinces, then the chair and vice-chair of the House of Laity, across the two provinces. Item 3. Election of the chair of the Diocese Commission came next, formerly an elected member of General Synod but now no longer, so required to be appointed. This was passed without contention on this occasion. Item 5. The Business Committee report was due to come next but this was changed to allow the Archbishop of Canterbury s Presidential Address to come first. The full text is available on the Lambeth Palace website, but referred to the Primates meeting where the decision had been taken to withdraw TEC from representing the Anglican communion on its councils for a 16

17 period of three years. The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke about relationship based on discernment of the Spirit rather than any legal process. Amongst the Primates he was one vote out of 28, rather than a Papal authority. He argued it was still possible to walk together even though in disagreement. Such an arrangement was based on the three legs of freedom, order and human flourishing rather than Scripture, tradition and reason. Item 4. The business committee report followed, including advising on an opportunity for synod members to express their view concerning three items in the ordering of business: 1. Length and pattern of Synod meetings; 2. Option for two yearly 3-day Synods and 3. The London session to include part of a weekend, so as to assist Lay members who have to take time off during the working week. The take note motion was carried. Item 500 and 501. After enactment of Canon number 34, which had been approved at York in July 2015, there was a motion to commit the mission and pastoral measure to revision in committee. This was part of the Simplification Task Group s suggested new arrangements, headed up by the Bishop of Willesden, which focused on subsidiarity, diversity, flexibility and simplicity. However, there was concern on the issue of patronage and delay in filling vacancies, where the diocesan bishop or patron may lose their right if taking too long, with the appointment reverting to the archbishop. This concern was noted and the measure committed to revision. The desire was for more trust and working together. There was also clarification on whether there was a requirement to consult or simply to notify concerning sale of Glebe land. Also, the matter of time-limited Bishop s mission orders was addressed, with the view that these could be of varying lengths to assist forward 17

18 planning of longer established fresh expressions and church plants. Item 6. There was then a presentation on shared conversations concerning human sexuality. These had now taken place in some 13 regions at inter-diocesan level, with 2 more to go, and had proved very helpful to participants. The whole Synod would be dividing into groups for this purpose in July for two of the days, with a freeze on holding fringe meetings during this period, presumably so participants are not distracted from the task at hand or influenced by additional informal input. Lessons were gleaned from the regional conversations with regard to their timing, pace and space for reflection, all of which would be incorporated in the General Synod group conversations. The aim was to follow a six session format: 1. Story of faith, 2. Understanding scripture, 3. Reading scripture, 4. Changing culture, 5. Common perspectives and 6. Walking together. Some questions were raised. It was insisted that there was no planned objective, such as to agree. It was possible for there to be no agreement, but hopefully still being able to walk together. If we were to disagree the best was for this to be good disagreement. Item 7. The day ended with Question time. There were 64 questions with written answers, but the opportunity to ask supplementary questions. Time allowed for supplementaries to be answered on approaching sixty of the questions in all. I attended the Evangelical Group of General Synod evening meeting, which discussed various issues down for debate, including any members amendments, learning which members were standing for various Synod committees up for election, and any representing private members motions requiring signatures to enable their debate. 18

19 Tuesday 16 th The next morning began in group work on evangelism. This was a helpful opportunity to get to know some newer members. It began with everyone sharing how they came to faith and I actually found this most encouraging. We then discussed how we found sharing our faith, with examples. We then looked at obstacles to sharing our faith including the prevailing secularised environment. Item 8 and 9. After a break we came together once more as the whole synod for a presentation from the evangelism task force headed by the Bishop of Liverpool, followed by a take note debate. The immediate necessity of evangelism was highlighted and encouragement given to resourcing this. The motion was carried. Item 10. This was a presentation of the Church of Scotland Church of England Joint Study Group introduced by the Bishop of Chester, co-chair of the group. There were two amendments, one [Item 20] which left out the word welcome of the report and replacing it with take note of. The objection was the Episcopal Church of Scotland was not properly consulted and a strain would be placed on this province, which was after all a part of the Anglican Communion. This amendment was narrowly lost on a show of hands. The second amendment [Item 21] by the Bishop of Truro added to the existing motion some qualifying factors and was voted through in an electronic vote of the whole synod, in favour 243, against 50, recorded abstentions 49. The motion as amended was then carried. Item 12. There followed a diocesan synod motion from Worcester requesting discretionary differential fees charged for funerals and weddings to allow for the cost of a verger. Such differential charging had been thoroughly aired in the previous 19

20 quinquennium and after debating the matter once again, the proposed change was voted down. The second diocesan motion from the same diocese [Item 13] was similar but in respect of discretionary differential fees for cost of heating. A point of order to move to next business was voted for, which meant a similar motion cannot now be brought during the rest of the quinquennium, unless express permission is granted by the chair of the business committee. Item 14. This was a proposed enabling measure to bring in alternative means of making changes to some primary legislation in a more rapid manner, should the archbishops council so direct. It was another part of the resourcing the future programme. There were serious concerns expressed over replacing revision committees by a scrutiny committee, and an amendment [Item 20] to insert a check on this through an option to request a reversion to the full revision process upon an agreed number showing support for this, was moved and lost. After further debate, the un-amended motion was carried by a high majority. Wednesday 17 th Item 15. The day began with debating a Leeds Diocesan Synod motion expressing concern as to the impact of sanctions on benefit claimants. There was some discussion as to whether to request further work on this by the Church of England Mission and Public Affairs Council, and after some debate this paragraph was replaced following the moving of an amendment [Item 23] welcoming the extensive work already done on this issue and requesting rather that the focus should on promoting its existing findings. The second paragraph called upon the government to implement relevant recommendations in the all-party parliamentary inquiry report into hunger in the UK Feeding Britain report. There were two additional amendments, the first requesting the government conduct an 20

21 independent review and the second to encourage engagement with the issue in every part of the Church of England, such as in food banks, credit unions and debt advice. These were debated, moved, voted on and carried. The motion as amendment was then carried. Item 16. The final item of the day was a presentation on the overarching renewal and reform agenda with opportunity for questions. There were various strands of work being undertaken all toward making the Church of England better able to meet the demands of growth, including task forces for simplification, removing unnecessary obstacles and speeding up processes, better ministerial education and increased recruitment, and finally restructuring national funding, requiring additional injection from Church Commissioners, according to need and opportunity, but with a specified bias to areas of deprivation. Progress within these strands would be debated at their various stages over course of this group of sessions. Item 17. The final day began with the resourcing ministerial education strand of renewal and reform, introduced by the Bishop of Sheffield. This related to its funding and enhancement of quality at all stages. There was considerable disquiet at the proposals, particularly as to how they might adversely affect theological training colleges and move money away from the rigour of such training to more flexible, but less robust models. The proposals were tested by no less than four amendments. The first, [Item 26] requesting further work, was lost as this was seen as a delaying tactic. The second, [Item 27] giving greater recognition and weighting to the Universities and TEIs (Theological Training Institutes) was carried. The third, [Item 28] requesting further work in conjunction with the TEIs was narrowly lost by a vote of the whole synod, in favour 154, against 202, recorded abstentions 5. This closeness was duly 21

22 noted. The fourth amendment, [Item 29] requesting a report back to General Synod by July 2018 in respect of progress in dioceses toward a step change in increasing both the number and variety of authorised lay minsters, was warmly welcomed and carried. The motion, as twice amended, was carried. Item 18. The penultimate item was a take note debate on the resourcing the future strand of renewal and reform. This was a further opportunity to explore the proposal for the Church Commissioners to distribute additional funds, according to a strict set of criteria, to enable change to happen more quickly in better targeting poorer areas and encouraging church growth across the dioceses, moving from the present grant system using the Darlow formula, which could be argued is rewarding failure. Progress was being made, but the proposition needed to be robust for the Church Commissioner s to break their principle of intergenerational equity. This was described as a one-off opportunity, the money could not be spent twice, but if no action was taken to arrest decline there would be less of the next generation to maintain equity for. Item 19. There being no formal farewells, the General Synod was prorogued to meet next at York from Friday 8 th Tuesday 12 th July As previously there was a praying presence throughout the Synod and a printed prayer for the General Synod, acknowledging the need for God s help in all we do. 22

23 REPORT OF PARISH MINISTRY COSTS REVIEW GROUP The group reported to the last Synod that it did not recommend any fundamental changes to the current system, of informing deaneries of each parish's costs and inviting parishes to make pledges of what they would pay in parish contribution, but it did consider that improvements could be made in communication and division of diocesan costs. Following further discussions, the group makes the following recommendations: 1. That parish contribution be renamed parish share. We all belong to one household of faith, and must all share in supporting that household, each according to their ability. The name parish share is intended to focus attention on the sense of commonality and mutual support: a common purse not a central drain. The money so generously donated by congregations through their parishes is used to resource coal face parish ministry, with the greatest cost being the stipends, pensions and housing of parochial ministers. All are encouraged to strive to meet their costs, but some are better able to do so than others. All therefore share in the overall cost, with some able to give more than the costs attributed to their parish to help support others and some giving their widow's mite. 2. That further information be made available This should include as a minimum talks to deaneries, production of a leaflet explaining the system and its rationale, and information on the diocesan website. Further possibilities should be explored at the group's next meeting in September. 23

24 3. That the Operating Committee should have power to reduce the stipend, national insurance, pension and/or housing costs attributed to a parish in a long interregnum The group considered whether an automatic reduction should be made but concluded that, given the variety of circumstances attending each vacancy, a discretionary power exercised on the basis of recommendations from the deanery treasurer and archdeacon was preferable. At present a credit based on the saving in stipend and pension costs for the average number of vacancies across the diocese is apportioned between deaneries for treasurers to apply as they think best; if targeted reductions are agreed, the general credit is likely to be reduced by an equivalent sum. 4. That the costs attributable to housing should be calculated by reference to all property costs and not only to the costs of clergy housing This will add a only a modest amount, of around 200 per house, to the total costs, since the vast majority of the expenditure is on clergy housing. This modest sum is substantially less than the additional sums being spent on clergy housing, funded from the Pastoral Account. It reflects the fact that parishes as a whole see the benefit of expenditure on Glebe and investment property, which is undertaken to boost income from that property and keep parish share requests down. 5. That parishes with a Non-Stipendiary Minister should be asked to increase their pledge to reflect this At present the benefit of the ministry provided by NSMs (other than house for duty clergy) is not reflected in parish ministry costs at all. Yet there is a cost associated with NSMs, whose 24

25 training has been funded from central resources provided by the parishes of the diocese and who benefit from the ministry support offered, for example, by Archdeacons. At this stage, however, the group wanted to explore the principle of asking for an additional pledge to reflect both the value and cost of licensed non-stipendiary ministry. Even if the financial figures were relatively small, this would represent a quite significant shift in the principles and practise of deploying non-stipendiary clergy and might therefore be controversial. The principle here is to recognise the significant value of NSM priestly ministry, and also to acknowledge the costs. As the pool of stipendiary clergy diminishes, it is likely that non-stipendiary ministry will become increasingly significant. The recognition of this reality and the consequent adoption of the principle that the costs and benefits of NSM priests be reflected in parish share, is about anticipating future trends and future ministry needs. While being a departure from current practice, the intention is to explore a principle and reflect a reality that, in light of current trends, will be wise and timely. The group also discussed whether to make any changes to the treatment of letting income from vacant Parsonages during interregna, but does not recommend any change in this respect. The costs relate to the costs of repair, maintenance and improvement of properties across the diocese, equally apportioned without reference to whether more or less expenditure is required on a particular property in a particular year. In the same way, the income from letting vacant parsonages should be used for the benefit of the whole diocese and not benefit particular parishes in particular years. It is hoped that the discretionary power to reduce costs in appropriate situations will mitigate the disquiet expressed by some parishes on this front. 25

26 If these proposals are approved by Diocesan Synod, the next phase of consultation will be with the Deanery Treasurers in May. If favourable, the Operating Committee will consider detailed calculations in order to make a final recommendation to Bishop's Council at the end of July. If approved then, the proposals will be adopted for

27 AMENDMENT OF STANDING ORDERS Amendments are proposed to the Standing Orders as follows: 1. To adopt gender neutral language throughout, for example Chair instead of Chairman and he/she. 2. To allow more flexibility in the timing of the meeting to elect Chairs of the Houses of Clergy and Laity. General Synod hold the election for the House of Laity at the end of the first Synod, and the proposed wording in SO 5A will allow, but not require, the same practice to be adopted if convenient. 3. To amend SO 16 so that the notice inviting business proposed to be transacted is sent before, rather than after, the deadline, for new business. The deadline in SO 26 is 35 days before the Synod meeting, yet the notice is currently to be sent three weeks before the meeting. It is proposed to increase this to six. Given the proposed earlier date of the notice, it is proposed that this should not specify business to be transacted; that will be set out in the agenda sent three weeks before the meeting as at present. 4. To amend SO 21 to permit delivery of agenda papers electronically to those who expressly consent. Depending on the numbers who elect to receive papers electronically, this may or may not be of practical use. 5. To amend SO 73 to make clearer when elected members of the Bishop s Council retire. For the avoidance of doubt, elected members who continue as members of Diocesan Synod of the relevant House and relevant archdeaconry also continue as members of the Bishop s Council in the period between the election of a new Synod and the end of the calendar year, even if not re-elected to the Bishop s Council. 27

28 6. To amend SO 105 to make clear that deanery synod motions must comply with the same notice requirements as private members motions. 7. To amend SO 108 to alleviate the time pressure in submitting accounts and budgets to the Bishop s Council. The current deadline of 31 March for the accounts is unachievable when Easter is early. A later deadline will not impact on the date for submission to Synod, which should be the driving factor. An equivalent change is proposed for the budget, although this causes fewer problems in practice. 8. To correct typographical errors in SOs 26, 82, 98 and 116A and amend SO 29 to make the meaning clearer. RESOLUTIONS FOR THE DIOCESAN SYNOD THAT the Standing Orders for the Chichester Diocesan Synod be amended with immediate effect by: 1. Adopting gender neutral language throughout; 2. deleting the present Orders 5A, 16, 21, 26, 29, 73, 82, 98, 105, 108 and 116A and replacing them respectively with the following new Orders: 5A Before the end of the first meeting of a new Synod, or, where a casual vacancy occurs, as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, each of the Houses of Clergy and Laity, or in the case of a casual vacancy the House concerned, shall hold a special meeting to elect one of its members to be the Chair of the House and a Vice President of the Synod. 16. The date, time and place of ordinary meetings of the Synod, when fixed, shall be announced to members as soon as possible in such manner as the President shall approve; 28

29 provided that not less than six weeks before each meeting a notice thereof inviting business proposed to be transacted thereat, shall be posted or delivered by electronic means or otherwise to every member and to both Chairs of every deanery synod in the diocese. 21. The Secretary shall post or deliver an agenda paper to every member twenty-one days at least before a meeting or, in the case of a special meeting called at less than twenty-one days' notice, at the same time as the notice. The agenda paper may be delivered by electronic mail to any member who has expressly consented. 26. The following periods of notice shall be required: New business for the agenda 35 days Motions and amendments arising from the agenda 7 days Questions under Standing Order 69 7 days However, the President shall have the power to waive or reduce the periods of notice required for motions or amendments arising from the agenda if he/she determines it to be in the best interests of the Synod. 29. If a quorum is not present, the Chair shall adjourn the Synod until such time as he/she shall determine. Any member may call the attention of the Chair to the absence of a quorum at any time before the question is put on a motion or amendment. After a question is put, a quorum shall be deemed to be present and it shall not be in order to query the presence of a quorum until after the Chair has conclusively announced the result of the vote on that question. 73. The elected members of the Committee shall be elected by the house of which each is a member, as soon as practicable after the election of a new Synod, and shall retire on ceasing to be qualified as members of the relevant House and archdeaconry or on the last day of 29

30 December following the election of a new Synod whichever shall first happen. The procedure for their election shall be as provided in Standing Orders The term of office of new members shall commence on the first day of January following the election. 82. Every nomination shall require a proposer and seconder who shall be qualified electors but the Standing Committee (except in an election to itself) may collectively nominate candidates. Nominations which shall be in writing and accompanied by signed evidence of the candidate's willingness to serve shall be delivered to the Secretary within such period (not being less than fourteen days) as he/she shall specify. If the number of nominations is no more than that of the seats to be filled, all the candidates shall be declared elected. 98. The Diocesan Synod may on the motion of any member invite all or any deanery synods or parochial church councils or parochial church meetings in the Diocesan Synod: (i) to express an opinion or to record approval or disapproval of any matter; or (ii) to supply information within their knowledge; or (iii) to exercise any other functions within their competence; and to report to the Diocesan Synod by a specified date Notice of a motion to be moved in the Diocesan Synod under Standing Order 103 shall be given by the secretary or a member of the deanery synod duly authorised for the purpose to the Secretary of the Diocesan Synod in accordance with Standing Order The Finance Committee shall, not later than 31st May in each year, submit to the Standing Committee a Report and Accounts for the preceding financial year ended on 31st 30

31 December and not later than 31st October in each year present to the Standing Committee a draft Budget for the following year. The Standing Committee may make to the Finance Committee and to the Board of Finance such recommendations thereon as it thinks fit. 116A Subject to the directions regulating the procedure of the Board, financial questions decided by the Board shall not require the further assent of the Synod. In case of doubt any question whether any business or question is financial shall be decided by the President. 31

32 AUTHORISATION OF VARIATIONS TO CHURCH REPRESENTATION RULES Proposed addition to the General Provisions relating to PCCs set out in Appendix 2 of those Rules as they apply to the PCC of Bishop Hannington Memorial Church, Hove to authorise the business of the PCC to be conducted by electronic means: 19 (a). Documents and other writings mentioned in a Notice convening a Meeting of the Council under the General Provisions relating to Parochial Church Councils (Church Representation Rules 2011 Rule 15 Appendix 2) may, if a Council member so consents, be communicated to that member by electronic means - otherwise such documents and other writings shall be posted or delivered to the member. (b). Each member consenting to the use of electronic means of communication shall provide the PCC Secretary with his or her current address. (c). In the case of emergency and at the written direction of the Chairman (or failing him or her the vice-chairman for the time being) the Council may conduct its business (including the passing of any Resolution) through the use of electronic mail save that any member who so desires shall be served with the relevant paperwork by post or hand delivery. (d). The proposed Resolution shall not be capable of amendment but shall be passed or rejected in accordance with the wording of the proposed Resolution and shall require a majority of at least 60 % of the members of the Council to vote in favour to be effective. 32

33 (e). At least seven days Notice shall be given to each member within which to respond to the business or other matter touched on in the Notice. (f). Any Resolution made by the Council in this way shall be recorded in the Minutes of the Council at its next Meeting. 33

34 SCHEME for representation of the laity from Mission Initiatives operating under a Bishop s Mission Order In exercise of the powers conferred by Rule 27A of the Church Representation Rules ( the Rule ) THIS SYNOD resolves to use the following formula for representation from Mission Initiatives to deanery synods: Laity 1. Where a sustained worshipping community has developed in the context of a Mission Initiative operating under a Bishop s Mission Order, the Leaders of the Mission Initiative shall establish and maintain a membership roll of lay habitual worshippers in the worshipping community ( the Membership Roll ). 2. The provisions of the Rules relating to Electoral Rolls shall be followed, with appropriate amendments reflecting the non-parochial nature of the Mission Initiative. 3. All such persons must make a declaration as set out in Rule 1(2)(b) or 1(2)(c) of the Rules (with appropriate amendments reflecting the non-parochial nature of the Mission Initiative) before being admitted to a Membership Roll. 4. The diocesan formula currently in force for the election of lay representatives from parishes to deanery synods shall also apply for the election of lay representatives from Mission Initiatives to the house of laity of the deanery synod of the deanery in which the Mission Initiative has its Primary Base. The current formula ( triennium) is as follows: 34

35 Number on electoral roll: Number of lay representatives: plus Each year on or before 31 May the Leaders of the Mission Initiative shall report to the Diocesan Secretary as to the size of the Membership Roll. 6. Lay representatives shall be elected by and from the members of the Membership Roll at a duly convened meeting on a triennial basis in the same year as the equivalent elections for lay representatives from parishes. 7. Casual vacancies shall be filled by election at a further duly convened meeting of the members of the Membership Roll. 35

36 Clergy 8. A clerk in Holy Orders licensed for the time being to a Mission Initiative shall be a member of the house of clergy of the deanery synod of the deanery in which the Mission Initiative has its Primary Base unless s/he is already a member of that or another deanery synod by virtue of another qualification. General and Interpretation 9. Primary Base means: a. the location where the Mission Initiative meets for its primary weekly act of worship; or b. if the Mission Initiative meets in a number of locations across two or more deaneries, such of those locations as the Diocesan Bishop may determine in writing. 10. duly convened meeting means a meeting called by the Leaders of the Mission Initiative on not less than 14 days written notice (and written notice shall be deemed to include notice in a publication distributed to the congregation at all acts of collective worship undertaken by the Mission Initiative). 11. The Diocesan Bishop has power to determine any disputes or questions of interpretation arising from this Scheme, or to make provision for any related matter not herein provided for. 36

37 Notes 37