ODS 18.07

2017 SYNOD REPORTS

ODS 18.07

The Diocese of is the Church of in , , Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes.

Together, we are the Church, called and sent by God as disciples of Jesus Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit. We are a living, growing network of more than a thousand congregations, chaplaincies and schools.

Together, we are called to be more Christ-like, to be the Church of the Beatitudes: contemplative, compassionate and courageous for the sake of God’s world.

Together, we work with God and with others for the common good in every place in one of the great crossroads of the world.

Together, we are called to proclaim the Christian faith afresh in this generation with joy and hope and love.

Together, we are called to dream dreams and see visions of what could be, and see those visions come to birth.

ODS 18.07

CONTENTS Page

The – an overview 2

Foreword by the 3 Bishop’s Council and Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod and Standing Committee of the Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance 4 Bishop’s Council 5 Mission and Pastoral Committee, Oxford Diocesan 6 Board of Finance, Oxford Diocesan 7-12 Advisory Committee, Oxford Diocesan 13 Communications and The Door, Oxford Diocesan 14 Committee for Interfaith Relations, Oxford Diocesan 15 Education, Oxford Diocesan Board of 16 Glebe and Buildings Committees, Oxford Diocesan 17 Mission, Oxford Diocesan Board of 18-19 World Mission, Oxford Diocesan Council for Partnership in 20 Patronage, Oxford Diocesan Board of 21 Diocesan Trustees (Oxford) Ltd 22 Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Oxford Diocesan 23 Mothers’ Union, Oxford Diocesan 24 Parents and Children Together 25 Appendix 1 - Share paid by summary 26 Appendix 2 - Share paid, by 27-33 Appendix 3 - Board and Committee members 34-35 Acronyms 37

This book contains reports to the Diocesan Synod. The Statutory Reports and Accounts of the Oxford DBF, the Diocesan Board of Education and the Diocesan Trustees (Oxford) Ltd are available on request.

1 ODS 18.07 THE DIOCESE OF OXFORD – AN OVERVIEW

The Diocese of Oxford has: • The largest numbers of and churches of any diocese in the •A population of 2,375,000 (2016) The Diocese of Oxford is: • The fifth most populous diocese in the Church of England • The sixth largest diocese in land area in the Church of England • Anticipating over 268,000 additional houses by 2036 – equivalent to 616,400 new people The diocese has: • 285 benefices • 615 parishes • 815 churches, of which more than 650 are listed buildings • Around 51,000 people on church electoral rolls • Approximately 600 parochial clergy, aided by retired and other clergy and around 300 Licensed Lay Ministers • Around 100 Youth/Children/Family workers • More than 58,000 children attending our church schools

2 ODS 18.07

FOREWORD BY THE BISHOP OF OXFORD Early in September last year, I attempted to make bread in public for the first time in the monthly staff coffee morning at Church House. My point was to show the importance of mixing the tiny amount of yeast through a large quantity of flour. Jesus tells a parable in Matthew 13 with exactly this message.

The dough turned out well. I baked the loaves and brought them back into Church House. Apparently not everyone believed that they came from the dough they had seen me mix that morning.

The second attempt was not so good. I tried the same illustration at one of the financial consultation meetings for parish treas