Day 1
Bill Seeks to Rectify Diocesan Synod Membership Anomaly
A Bill which seeks to amend the Constitution ensure that those who are elected by a parish, parochial district, union or group of parishes to act as diocesan synod members are part of the parish for which they are elected was proposed at General Synod tod
A Bill which seeks to amend the Constitution ensure that those who are elected by a parish, parochial district, union or group of parishes to act as diocesan synod members are part of the parish for which they are elected was proposed at General Synod today (Friday May 10).
Currently, the Constitution allows for a member of Parish X to be a diocesan synod member for Parish Y. It is suggested that it would be appropriate that a member of diocesan synod be invested in their parish to the extent of at least being a registered vestry member.
Bill No 2 was proposed by Hazel Corrigan explained that while the possibility that a member of one parish could serve as a Diocesan Synod member for another parish might seem like a technicality, it undermined the essence of representation and diluted the voice of the parish.
“Therefore this Bill will rectify this anomaly by enshrining the principle that Diocesan Synod members must have a tangible connection to the parish, parochial district, union or group of parishes they are elected by. Specifically, this bill proposes that individuals elected to serve as Diocesan Synod members must be registered Vestry Members of the respective parish, thereby ensuring a direct and vested interest in the welfare of the parish,” she said.
The Bill was seconded by Canon Gillian Wharton. She said: “It is important that the breadth and width of a diocese is heard at Diocesan Synod and that each parish, parochial district or union or group of parishes which is an integral and important component of the diocese has people present to speak at Diocesan Synod out of the context of that parish”. She said this Bill would ensure that that is the case.
The Bill will go to a third reading when Synod meets online next week.