The Diocese of Brechin
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The Diocese of Brechin Diocesan Synod Saturday 7 March 2015 Membership of Synod pp 42-45 Rules of Order of Synod pp 46-49 SCOTTISH EPISCOPAL CHURCH DIOCESE OF BRECHIN Scottish Charity No SC 016813 AGENDA FOR DIOCESAN SYNOD – 7 March 2015 9.30am Synod Eucharist (no sermon) Coffee time hosted by All Souls Invergowrie 10.30am The Bishop takes the Chair 1 Roll Call of Members - By attendance slips and apologies for absence. 2 Bishop’s appointment of a new Diocesan Chancellor – Mr Gregor Mitchell Synod’s appointment of a new Diocesan Secretary – Mr Michael Duncan The Dean takes the Chair 3 Changes to the Diocesan Constitution Paper A Proposing a Diocesan Council introduced by the Bishop Motion: “That this Synod adopts with immediate effect the Diocesan Constitution as here amended, creating a Diocesan Council and making other amendments as indicated”. Confirmation of Appointed Members of Diocesan Council. Synod Election of 2 Clergy Members by House of Clergy and 2 Lay Members by House of Laity of Diocesan Council. Nominations to be received by 12noon, Wednesday, 25 February 2015. Nominations should be submitted on the enclosed nomination form. The Bishop resumes the Chair 4 Minutes of previous Diocesan Synod Paper B 5 Diocesan Statistics for 2014 Paper C 6 Diocesan Personnel Paper D 7 Report of the Election of Lay and Alternate Representatives for 2015 Paper E 8 Dean’s Report on the Inspection of Registers 9 Report of the Standing Committee Paper F 10 Companion Dioceses Report Paper G Canon Fay Lamont interviews Pat Millar and Fiona McDade about their Swaziland visit in December 2014. The Dean takes the Chair 1 | P a g e 11 Election by Clergy Members of a Synod Clerk (under Canon 44) Nominations to be received from House of Clergy by 12noon, Wednesday, 25 February 2015. Nominations should be submitted on the enclosed nomination form. 12 Provincial Elections and Appointments Paper H Members and Alternate Members of General Synod 2015 Members of Provincial Boards and Committees The Bishop resumes the Chair 13 Diocesan Elections and Appointments Paper I Diocesan Buildings Committee Convener and membership Ex officio and additional Clergy and Lay Members of Diocesan Synod 14 Provincial Presentation: Dr Michael Hull Director of Studies, Scottish Episcopal Institute Synod will adjourn for Lunch 12.45-1.30pm 15 Presentation: 21st Century Care of the Elderly The Work of St Margaret’s Residential Home in Dundee - Mrs Elaine Kerr, Manager 16 Administration Board Paper J Report for 2014 Appointment of Auditor/Independent Examiner Annual Accounts and Treasurer’s Report to follow Budget and Quota for 2015 to follow 17 Mission & Ministry Board Paper K Report for 2014 Grants for 2015 18 Diocesan Buildings Committee Report for 2014 Paper L 19 Bishop’s Presentation: Towards a Diocesan 2020 Vision Bishop Nigel will be interviewed by The Dean on the vision for the future of the Diocese. Members of Synod will have an opportunity to comment and ask questions. 20 Any Other Competent Business 22 Vote of Thanks: The Dean 22 Date of Next Meetings of Synod Tuesday, 6 October 2015 (provisional) Saturday 5 March 2016 23 Confirmation of the Acts of Synod, Final Prayers, the Blessing and Dismissal 2 | P a g e Item 3 - Proposing a Diocesan Council Paper A Motion: “That this Synod adopts with immediate effect the Diocesan Constitution as here amended, creating a Diocesan Council, and making other amendments as indicated” Rationale Following discussions over recent months, the Diocesan Administration Board is proposing at the Diocesan Synod on 7 March 2015 changes to our Diocesan Constitution to create a Diocesan Council, reporting to Diocesan Synod, and replacing the current Administration Board and the Mission & Ministry Board. Rethinking our infrastructure to ensure it is fit for purpose in 2015 has been stimulated by two factors. Firstly, we recognise that our two board structure has served us well for some years, largely because of the knowledge and commitment of members. However a degree of bureaucracy and duplication of discussion and membership exists, with probably too much reporting back on past events, rather than strategic envisioning and decision making for the future. Secondly, the end of the Provincial Mission & Ministry Board in its present form invites dioceses to make changes. We believe that our diocesan officers and activities need to be re-thought so that we make the best use of finite personnel. The new Council structure would allow us to reduce the number of meetings to 6-8 per year. It is hoped that Synod members will appreciate the need and rationale for this change, and also agree that the size and proposed membership of the Diocesan Council provides a creative mixture of people who can strategically move the diocese forward with the right checks and balances. 3 | P a g e Membership of Diocesan Council DIOCESAN COUNCIL Number Person Method Term years Clergy/Lay 1 Bishop Chair Rt Rev Dr Nigel Duration of Peyton episcopate 2 Dean Appointed by Duration of Very Rev Dr Francis Bishop appointment Bridger 3 Treasurer Elected by 1 Mr Allan Duffus Diocesan Synod 4 Convener Diocesan Elected by 1 Professor Peter Buildings Diocesan Sharp Committee Synod 5 Mission Officer Appointed by Duration of Rev Canon Fay Bishop appointment Lamont 6 Ministry Officer Appointed by Duration of Rev Kirrilee Reid Bishop appointment 7 Clergy member Elected by 4 Clergy House of to be elected Clergy 8 Clergy member Elected by 4 Clergy House of to be elected Clergy 9 Lay member Elected by 4 Lay to be elected House of Laity 10 Lay member Elected by 4 Lay to be elected House of Laity 11 Diocesan Elected by 1 Mr Michael Duncan Secretary; Diocesan Secretary to Council Synod VOTING Each member of Council shall have one vote Invitations for nominations and appointments to the new Diocesan Council have been sought on the basis that Diocesan Synod approves the new Diocesan Council which would become effective immediately. 4 | P a g e Consequential matters First, the Diocesan Standing Committee - for use only in emergencies - is amended to link into the Diocesan Council. Second, the Diocesan Buildings Committee remains as it is statutory, but reporting now to the Diocesan Council. Third, we have taken the opportunity to amend (3(b)) of the Constitution to allow Synod participants to include Church Army officers working in the diocese. Various adjustments to numbering and wording and layout have been made. The Registrar agrees that the Diocesan Constitution should be reviewed periodically and it is now suggested that this should happen every five years i.e. next Review in 2020. Approval All these constitutional changes are possible under our Constitution and have been reviewed by the Diocesan Registrar. The following copy of the Constitution details the actual changes. They would take immediate effect which is why this proposal comes early on our agenda. Should Synod decide not to accept the proposal, the fall-back position is that the present Administration Board and Mission & Ministry Boards amalgamate their current membership, until the next Diocesan Synod and an amended proposal is brought forward. This scenario would be disappointing but questions and discussion at Synod on 7 March are of course encouraged. 5 | P a g e CURRENT CONSTITUTION FOR THE DIOCESAN SYNOD OF THE DIOCESE OF BRECHIN (Scottish Charity No SC016813) Diocesan Synod 1(a) There shall be a Diocesan Synod in which is vested the functions, powers and duties set out in Canon 50 – Of Diocesan Synods – and in Sections 6.6.1 and 7 of the Digest of Resolutions of the General Synod 1997 and such other relevant Resolutions that General Synod may pass. 1(b) The Diocesan Synod’s Boards and Committees shall comprise those listed in Articles 7 to 9 10 inclusive, hereof. Membership 2. The Diocesan Synod shall consist of the Bishop, all constituted, licensed and commissioned clergy of the diocese, the diocesan officials as specified in Canon 61, and the lay members specified in Section 3 below. 3(a) The lay members of the Synod shall consist of a Lay Representative for each congregation within the diocese, the lay members of General Synod elected by the Diocesan Synod under Canon 52 Section 5, the alternate members of General Synod elected under Canon 52 Section 7, a lay member of the Diocesan Standing Committee ex officio and such additional lay members as elected by the Diocesan Synod. 3(b) Alternate Lay Representatives, Readers, Church Army Evangelists, members of Religious Orders working in the diocese shall be invited to participate fully in the proceedings of the Diocesan Synod, save in the matter of voting. Meetings 4. At meetings of the Synod, the Bishop shall preside. In the absence of the Bishop, the Dean of the diocese shall preside, but should the Dean also be absent the meeting shall appoint one of its own members. Officials 5. The Synod shall appoint a Treasurer, a Secretary and an Auditor whose appointments shall not be for a longer period than until the next annual meeting. Trustees 6. The Diocesan Trustees shall be the Bishop, the Dean, the Chancellor and the Registrar ex officio. Boards and Committees 7(a) The Diocesan Standing Committee shall be responsible for acting in an emergency on behalf of the Diocesan Synod or the Diocesan Council when they are not sitting. 7(b) The Diocesan Standing Committee shall consist of the Bishop, the Dean, the Diocesan Secretary and two members of the Diocesan Council, one clerical, one lay, elected annually by Diocesan Council. 7(c) The Bishop shall chair meetings of the Standing Committee, or in the absence of the Bishop the Dean shall chair; if neither are present the Standing Committee shall appoint one of its members to chair the meeting.