Governance and Synods

Diocesan Synod is our primary elected, representative body and brings people together from across the Diocese. It considers resources, holds vision, drives mission, sets strategy and shapes priorities. It may respond to questions put to it by the General Synod. It is an advisory and deliberative body. It is not an executive body.

If the Diocesan Synod is carrying out its primary purpose, it debates the vision and sets the strategy and priorities, which the Diocesan Council of Trustees will take further. Diocesan Synod considers the Diocesan budget, which does not become the budget without Synod’s acceptance; it receives and adopts the Diocesan accounts.

The Diocesan Synod is made up from elected and ex-officio representatives of clergy, and lay people in the Diocese, which meets together with the Bishops, Archdeacons and other senior post holders in the Diocese to discuss matters of concern to the Diocese.

The formal rules governing the Diocesan Synod and other church structures can be in the Church Representation Rules & Synodical Government Measure.

Dates for upcoming Diocesan Synods are:

2022

• 12 March (10am-3pm)
• 13 July (6pm-9pm)
• 19 November (10am-3pm)

2023

• 11 March (10am-3pm)
• 12 July (6pm-9pm)
• 18 November (10am-3pm)

2024

• 16 March (10am-3pm)
• 17 July (6pm-9pm)
• 16 November (10am-3pm)

A full list of membership of the Diocesan Synod can be obtained from the Assistant Secretary (and here).

President:

The Bishop of the Diocese
(Presidential Addresses from previous Diocesan Synods can be found here)

Vice-Presidents:

The Venerable Dr Rosemarie Mallett (Chair of the House of Clergy)
Mr Adrian Greenwood (Chair of the House of Laity)

Secretary:

The Diocesan Secretary from whom information and a full list of members may be obtained.

Assistant Secretary:

The Assistant Secretary is the day-to-day contact on all governance matters.

Papers from previous meetings can be found here

The General Synod is the national assembly of the Church of England. It came into being in 1970 under the Synodical Government Measure 1969, replacing an earlier body known as the Church Assembly.

The General Synod considers and approves legislation affecting the whole of the Church of England, formulates new forms of worship, debates matters of national and international importance, and approves the annual budget for the work of the Church at national level.

https://www.churchofengland.org/about/leadership-and-governance/about-general-synod

Bishops

Bishop Christopher
Bishop Karowei

Deans

Very Revd Andrew Nunn

Clergy

Revd Carol Bates
Revd Canon Simon Butler
Revd Mae Christie
Venerable Alastair Cutting
Revd Canon Timothy Goode
Revd Andrew Moughtin-Mumby
Revd Jago Wynne

Laity

Mrs Helen Ainsworth
Mrs Rebecca Chapman
Mr Adrian Greenwood
Mr Carl Hughes
Mr Matthew Parkes
Mr Paul Waddell
Miss Rosemary Wilson

Purpose

The Diocesan Council of Trustees holds, through its four constituent bodies, responsibility for the policy, financial and pastoral decisions necessary to implement the vision and strategy of Diocesan Synod.

The four constituent bodies of the Diocesan Council of Trustees are:

• the Bishop’s Council
• the Diocesan Board of Finance 
• the Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee
• the Diocesan Parsonages Board.

The Handbook of Governance sets out the Terms of Reference and constitutions for many of the Diocese’s governing bodies and committees, including the Diocesan Council of Trustees and its sub-committees.

These remain legally distinct bodies with identical membership. Their meetings are normally distinct but not separate.

All members, whether elected or nominated, of the Diocesan Council of Trustees are full voting members of all its constituent bodies. They engage in debate and decision from the perspective of all these bodies.

As members of the Diocesan Board of Finance, members are also Directors and Trustees. Members of the Diocesan Council of Trustees therefore have all the usual responsibilities of trustees.

As Trustees, members take responsibility for timely, accurate and local communication. They are expected to consult with and to report to deaneries and parishes by means of whose election they become members.

The Diocesan Council of Trustees normally meets five times per year. The dates for the current Triennium are:

2022

• 21-22 February
• 19 May
• 19 July
• 22 October
• 7 December

2023

• 23 February
• 17 May
• 19 July
• 22 October
• 6 December

2024

• 5 March
• 16 May
• 23 July
• 12 October
• 4 December

• The Bishop of Southwark
• The Bishops of Croydon, Kingston, and Woolwich
• The Archdeacons
• Chair of the House of Laity
• Chair of the House of Clergy
• Chair and Vice Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance

Elected members:

Croydon Area

• The Revd Justine Middlemiss
• The Revd Fiona Weaver
• Mr Alex Helliwell
• Mrs April Alexander
• Mr Joseph Goswell

Kingston Area

• The Revd Greg Prior
• The Revd Michael John
• Mrs Rebecca Chapman
• Miss Rosemary Wilson
• Miss Vasantha Gnanadoss

Woolwich Area

• The Revd Dr Eddie Scrase-Field
• The Revd Jonathan Macy
• Miss Solabomi Ogun
• Mrs Despina Francois
• (Lay Vacancy)

Elected members from across the Diocese

• Miss Sola Oyeleye
• (Lay Vacancy)
• (Lay Vacancy)

Elected members with particular experience

• Mr Nick Stansbury (Member of the Investment Committee)
• Miss Gill Reynolds (Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee)
• Dr Nicholas Burt (Chair of the Policy and Finance Committee)
• Mr Philip Fletcher (Chair of the Diocesan Advisory Committee)
• Mr Michael Hartley
• (Vacancy)

Bishop’s Nominees:

• The Revd Lotwina Faradoye
• The Revd Canon Jonathan Sedgwick
• (Lay Vacancy)
• (Lay Vacancy)

Chair: Miss Gill Reynolds
Secretary: The Diocesan Secretary

The Audit Committee has a wide remit. It has authority from the Diocesan Council of Trustees (Diocesan Board of Finance) to:

1. investigate any activity
2. seek any information that it requires from any employee of the Board; all employees are directed to co-operate with any request made
3. inquire as to the numbers of committee meetings, cancellations of meetings and additional meetings of Diocesan governance bodies throughout the year, as well as to note the number of non-governance meetings
4. obtain outside professional advice as deemed necessary; such advisors may attend meetings as invited
5. support the Diocesan Council of Trustees (Diocesan Board of Finance) in overseeing all issues of financial probity
6. support the Diocesan Council of Trustees (Bishop’s Council, Diocesan Board of Finance) in scrutinising the ongoing suitability of governance.

Frequency of meetings

The Audit and Risk Committee shall meet least four times a year but the chair may determine that there should be more meetings in any one year.

Membership

At least two members of the Diocesan Council of Trustees but not the Chair or Vice-Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance.

Chair: Dr Nicholas Burt
Secretary: The Diocesan Secretary

The Policy and Finance Committee is the standing committee of the Diocesan Trustee Body (which receives its minutes) and is responsible for its agenda.

The Policy and Finance Committee makes recommendations for policy in line with strategy. It resources the Diocesan Council of Trustees for good decision-making. It supports the Diocesan Council of Trustees (Bishop’s Council) in its work as the standing committee of the Diocesan Synod. It advises the Diocesan Council of Trustees on how proposals for the use of Synod’s resources can make effective progress. It advises and guides management in the work of Diocesan administration, scrutinising the draft budget and acting as the stipends committee.

The committee holds the work of the Diocesan Secretary and, through the Diocesan Secretary, Diocesan officers to account. Heads of Department and Executive Officers may be asked to attend by the Chair for the purpose of scrutiny and accountability. [1]

It may appoint working groups to support its work. These shall be limited to one year but after review and on the approval of the Audit and Risk Committee may be extended for up to three years with a review also at the end of the second year.  Its secretary is the Diocesan Secretary who attends all meetings.

Frequency of meetings

The Committee normally meets six times a year.

(1) Including the Deputy Diocesan Secretary, Diocesan Surveyor, Directors of Communications, Training, Vocations, Mission, Head of Office Support Services; Archdeacons and others with line management responsibilities.

This is a sub-committee of the Policy and Finance Committee

 Chair: Mr Alan Saunders
Secretary: The Diocesan Secretary

Purpose

1. To advise the Diocesan Council of Trustees (Diocesan Board of Finance,) directly or through the Policy and Finance Committee, on investment policies, management of the Glebe, and alternative investment proposals
2. To implement such policies on behalf of the Policy and Finance Committee and actively monitor their effectiveness
3. To determine the optimal means of realising such incomes as are required by the agreed Diocesan budget, and advise the Budget Committee as appropriate
4. To review the performance of investment managers, comparing performance achieved with relevant indices and make appropriate decisions concerning appointing and removing managers in line with Diocesan policy and committee purpose
5. To review asset allocation and make recommendations to the Policy and Finance Committee concerning any changes to the statement of investment principles
6. To recommend the selection of relevant and current professional advisers, notably in relation to the Glebe and Investment management
7. To initiate proposals, within the sphere of this committee, aimed at optimising the financial effectiveness of the Diocese, including the investment of any surplus funds available for investment
8. To undertake, on behalf of the Policy and Finance Committee, other appropriate functions as required by the Glebe and Endowments Measure 1976 and successor legislation.

Frequency of meetings

The Committee will meet at least once a quarter.

Membership

The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Finance Committee (although not as Chair), one Archdeacon, and up to six further members with relevant experience.

This is a sub-committee of the Policy and Finance Committee

Chair: The Diocesan Bishop
Secretary: The Diocesan Secretary

Purpose
The sub-committee shall, on receipt of appropriate recommendations from the Diocesan Secretary:

1. review and agree the remuneration for Diocesan Secretary, and other senior employees
2. agree any changes carrying a material financial implication to employment policies
3. scrutinise and approve the Diocesan expenses policy prepared by the Diocesan Secretary.

Frequency of meetings

The Remuneration Committee shall meet annually.