Diocese of York; Diocesan Synod Notes Saturday 23rd November 2019

Diocesan Synod met at Manor Academy, York, on a dank Saturday, 23rd November 2019.

COME AND SEE: NORTHERN BISHOPS’ MISSION TO THE 12-15 MARCH 2020 “I call on you all to build the way God builds! To watch The Ven John Day updated the way God watches. To Synod on emerging plans and repent and believe the good resources; 200 people have news of God’s reordered attended training sessions and a world. To give as God has monthly prayer diary is now given in Jesus Christ.” available from website comeandsee.uk. So Archbishop Sentamu Bishop , and ended his Presidential Howard Petch of Cherry Burton Address on Ps127:1 and Mark (by video), spoke of their 1:15, speaking on the theme experience contributing to a of ‘Building for eternity; mission in the Diocese of Humanity’s need for God’s Carlisle, while Ros Brewer of blessing’. Scarborough and the Revd Liz Hassall (pictured) of Easingwold spoke of plans forming MASTER PLAN in their own Deaneries. Synod broke into small groups to share ideas for the remaining three months of planning. York Minster’s Director of Works & Precinct, Alex McCallion, presented the TRANSFORMATION & STRATEGY; GENEROUS Synod with a brief overview CHURCHES MAKING & NURTURING DISCIPLES of the Minster’s plans to introduced a brief develop its welcome to update on some aspects of our programme of visitors and worshippers transformation and strategy. outside the building as well as within. The proposals include opportunities to liaise  Multiply: Reaching those in their 20s to 40s with the City Council in enhancing the Minster’s Director of Making & Nurturing Disciples the Revd surroundings, and in providing a new café/restaurant Richard White reported some of the local initiatives run by the Minster. In reply to questions he assured the about to occur or already under way in the 13 locations Synod that the Minster was working in partnership with where full-time‘ Multiply’ ministers are starting to make existing local businesses and that the Chapter continues plans for new worshipping communities, and in the first to work in partnership with the Deanery of York in three locations where Growth Fund grants are boosting developing the Minster’s Christian mission in the City. work of local parishes.  Mustard Seed: Reaching People in Poverty SETTING GOD’S PEOPLE FREE Bishop of Hull Chair of the House of Laity Dr Nick (pictured) reported the progress Land updated Synod on some of of plans to launch Mustard Seed the latest responses from very shortly, and in particular Deaneries in developing every day the excitement with which she discipleship amongst all church looked forward to announcing members. He showed a video of the appointment of a Director in the , Rachel the very near future. Treweek, commending  Achieving Sustainable Giving discipleship as a week-long Sam Rushton reported the imminent activity and ministry for all launch in our Diocese of the Parish Giving Scheme, a believers, “From Sunday to Church of England project initiated by Gloucester Saturday.” Diocese encouraging local givers to transfer to Direct See youtu.be/RHU4XE7vrrw. Debits, with a centralised system for administering Gift Aid, and enabling people to opt into automatic annual uprating of their giving linked to the Retail Price Index. #ydsynod www.dioceseofyork.org.uk/diocesansynod Diocese of York; Diocesan Synod Notes Saturday 23rd November 2019

FINANCE: DRAFT DIOCESAN BUDGET 2020 Growing Faith, Setting God’s People Free (Everyday Faith) Diocesan Director of Finance and Reach/Grow/Sustain. Kathryn Rose presented the He said the next steps would be draft Diocesan Budget for 2020, to seek agreement of the plan noting a number of factors from Diocesan Synod, to feeding into it including: ascertain from lay and clergy  The final picture for 2019 is deanery representatives what likely to be a near break-even, due to lower income the top three priorities would from parish Free Will Offer and fees being offset by be for each deanery based on lower expenditure on pay and housing costs and some the vision, mission and strategy gains on investments and property sales. plan, to devise the best ways to  The 2020 budget anticipates drawing £1.75 million present the key details of priorities to churches and from finite reserves. schools in a short, easily  While not all Free Will Offers for 2020 have yet been understood format, and to received from parishes (the deadline was the 30 disseminate the plan in various September), those received to date show an overall ways and formats to churches and schools from January decrease of about 2% against the Offers made for 2020. 2019. Invited by Chair of the Diocesan Board of Education,  While many Free Will Offers have been increased, a Bishop of Whitby Paul Ferguson, Synod passed the significant number of parishes previously making following motion: substantial Free Will Offers have made major “This Synod approves the Vision, Mission and Strategic reductions which have erased the benefit of many Plan for Children and Young People as set out in paper modest increases. DS 19/33.”  The majority of parishes’ Free Will Offer remains below the cost of the ministry in that parish. GENERAL SYNOD REPORT  Current projections suggest that the level of Diocesan General Synod Member the reserves will fall below the recommended level by the Revd Jackie Doyle-Brett end of 2022 without significant mitigation. reported on the July sessions of General Synod. The Synod approved the Legislative business had following motion, moved by included adjustments to Chair of the York Diocesan Diocesan Boards of Education, Board of Finance Rodney Cathedrals, Faculties, Church Barton: Representation Rules, the work “This Synod approves the of Crown Nominations Commissions in appointing Budget for 2020 as set out in bishops (and archbishops…) and churchyard regulations. paper DS 19/31B and authorises A Danish bishop spoke on innovative ways of the Diocesan Board of Finance encouraging new disciples, such as ‘drop-in’ baptisms, to expend a sum of £15,211,000 hymn singing with infants, and allowing marriage of with the facility to draw up to divorcees and same-sex couples, while Worldwide £250,000 of contingency in President of the Mothers’ Union, Sheran Harper, addition from reserves.” received a standing ovation for an inspirational address. A motion about Serious Youth Violence included discussion of the part the church might play in VISION, MISSION AND STRATEGIC PLAN FOR CHILDREN countering the seemingly inexorable spread of drug AND YOUNG PEOPLE abuse and trading through so-called ‘county lines’. Diocesan Director of Education Andrew Smith introduced Synod discussed the Clergy Wellbeing Covenant the plan which had been formulated following addressing clergy wellbeing and support, the Mission consultations including at Archbishop’s Council in May and Ministry Covenant which continues the journey of 2019 and Diocesan Synod in June. closer union with the Methodist Church, further It maps the journey ahead for Children and Young People Safeguarding issues and proposals in the wake of IICSA, in schools, churches and homes over the next 3 – 5 years continuing work around the ‘Living in Love and Faith’ in line with all that is currently underway across the report, and the development of ‘Anna Chaplaincy’ Diocese schools, in a way that intentionally builds on amongst those in later life.

 NEXT MEETING: Saturday 21st March 2020 #ydsynod www.dioceseofyork.org.uk/diocesansynod