They are :-
To consider matters concerning the Church of England and to make provision for such matters in relation to the Deanery and to consider and express opinions on any other matters of religious or public interest but not to declare the doctrine of the Church on any question.
To bring together the views of the parishes of the Deanery on common problems and to discuss and formulate common policies on these problems, to foster a sense of community and interdependence among those parishes and generally to promote in the Deanery the whole mission of the Church, pastoral, evangelistic, social and ecumenical.
To make known and so far as appropriate put into effect any provision made by the Diocesan Synod.
To consider the business of the Diocesan Synod, particularly any matters referred to that Synod by the General Synod, and to sound out parochial opinion whenever it is required or consider it appropriate to do so.
To raise such matters as the Deanery Synod considers appropriate with the Diocesan Synod.
If the Diocesan Synod delegates to Deanery Synods functions in relation to the parishes of its Deaneries, in particular the determination of parochial shares in quotas allocated to the Deaneries, the Deanery Synod must exercise those functions.
Various people from the Deanery Synod are elected to sit on Boards and Councils of the Diocese. They will report back the business of those Councils to the Deanery Synod. There will often be matters reported by these representatives, which need to be referred back to the parish.
Although some discussions by General Synod are reported in the media, the Deanery will hear, more comprehensively, what Synod discusses and decides from its elected members.
The Diocesan Synod is where the Diocese decides things. There are resources and initiatives here that get reported back to Deanery synod including items such as the Diocesan budgets and matters such as Kairos.
The Deanery Synod has two committees in addition to the Standing Committee.
Membership is the parish Treasurer, plus one other representative, from each parish in the deanery. Their remit is to decide whether the Diocese has allocated the Parish Share (Quota) fairly or whether there are special local reasons for giving one parish a greater burden in order to help another. It monitors Parish Share payments and is a channel for advice and assistance to parishes in financial matters.
This is made up of the incumbent/priest in charge and one layperson of each parish in the deanery. With its local knowledge it recommends to the Diocesan Pastoral Committee how the clergy should be shared out in the deanery and other issues relating to the parish system. In this deanery it has produced the Deanery Covenant and continues to develop closer understanding and partnership between parishes. The Deanery Covenant is a signed agreement by all parishes of this deanery to grow closer in working together.
Deanery Synod members are parish ‘representatives’ rather than ‘delegates’. This means that they are there to represent their own views and opinions rather than having been delegated to represent the views of others. Synod members do not carry some sort of ‘block vote’ or ‘parish’ voice, but have been selected by those who respect them in matters of faith and church practice.
If you would like the Synod to discuss something first raise the matter through the PCC. The PCC can then pass a motion or refer the problem to the Deanery Standing Committee to consider for the synod agenda. They will be able to see that your concerns are dealt with in the most appropriate way.
Apart from the clergy team the lay members of Deanery Synod are John Westbrook, Sylvia Coghlan, Judy Jacobs and David Easton.
The mission of the Diocese covers a number of aspects, its evangelism, its ecumenical relations, the links with the world church through IDWAL and the mission agencies, the work of the Diocesan Spirituality Adviser, and (in a separate Social Responsibility sub group) the relation of the Diocese to society, its needs and the experience of people in our area. The Board, which oversees all of this, meets four times a year. Included in the membership of this Board is one representative (clergy or lay) elected by the Deanery Synod who reports back on the Board’s activities.
The finances of the Diocese are organized here. Recommendations are made to the Diocesan Synod about the amount of money required from parishes and deaneries in Parish Share (Quota) and draft budgets are produced for consultation.
This Board receives information concerning ministerial matters of both stipendiary and non-stipendiary clergy such as training, placement and housing. It also receives up to date information on matters relating to Readers and their training.
It is an effective link in disseminating information to members of the Deanery Synod from those responsible for decision-making in these areas. The Board meets four times a year and Synod has two representatives, one clergy and one lay member.