Scottish Episcopal Church Diocese of Brechin Diocesan Synod Saturday 11th March 2017 Diocesan Centre St John Baptist Church Dundee Membership of Synod Rules of Order of Synod Constitution of Synod Can be found at the end of the book Scottish Episcopal Church DIOCESE OF BRECHIN Scottish Charity No SC 016813 Agenda for Diocesan Synod – Saturday, 11th March 2017 9.30am Synod Eucharist followed by coffee 10.45am Commencement of business. During the morning our Guest Speaker is Jenny Marra MSP for North East Scotland “Keeping Faith in Politics” Lunch will be at 12.45pm, business resumes at 13.30pm 1. Roll call of members – by attendance slips and apologies for absence. 2. Minutes of previous Diocesan Synod March 2016 Paper A 3. Diocesan Statistics for 2016 Paper B 4. Diocesan Personnel Paper C 5. Report of the Election of Lay and Alternate Representatives for 2017 Paper D 6. Report of the Standing Committee Paper E 7. Report of the Diocesan Council Paper F 8. Report from Diocesan Mission Officer Paper G 9. Report from Diocesan Ministry Officer Paper H 10. Diocesan Buildings Committee Report for 2016 Paper I 11. Report from Information and Communications Officer Paper J 12. Protection of Vulnerable Groups Report Paper K 13. Companion Dioceses Officer Report Paper L 14. Diocesan Youth Report Paper M 15. Diocesan Elections and Appointments Paper N 16. Provincial Elections and Appointments Paper O 17. Canonical Changes – Canons 63,22,31 Paper P 18. Dissolution of the Charge of St John the Baptist, Dundee (Canon 36) Paper Q 19. Cathedral Motion – Review of Canon 54 Paper R 20. Call to Action – Mobilising for the Future Presentation 21. Bishop’s Charge 22. Annual Report and Accounts 2016: Budget and Quota 2017 Paper S (to follow) 23. Any Other Competent Business 24. Vote of Thanks: The Dean 25. Date of Next Meetings of Synod: Saturday 10 March 2018 26. Confirmation of the Acts of Synod, Final Prayers, the Blessing and Dismissal Item 2 Paper A Minutes of the Meeting of the Brechin Diocesan Synod Held on Saturday, 5 March 2016 at Chalmers Ardler Church, Turnberry Avenue, Dundee Synod Eucharist The Eucharist was celebrated at 9.30am. Bishop Nigel presided and preached, assisted by The Very Reverend Jeremy Auld and Mrs Linda Walls, Lay Reader. Bishop Nigel announced the opening of the Diocesan Synod. Refreshments followed. Welcome and Opening Remarks Bishop Nigel welcomed everyone to Synod and in particular Donald Urquhart from General Synod Office and The Reverend Peter Mead whose Institution as Rector of St Mary the Virgin, Arbroath and St Peter’s, Auchmithie will take place on Saturday, 12 March 2016. Thanks were given to St Luke’s and the Centre of Mission for providing the refreshments. 1. Roll Call of Members The roll call of those present is represented by the completed attendance slips. Apologies had been received. 59 were in attendance with 20 apologies. Bishop Nigel took the Chair 2. Minutes of Previous Meeting Paper A Minutes of Synod dated 7th March 2015 were presented. A number of changes had already been noted. Minutes were accepted. Proposed: The Reverend Ashley Cummins Seconded: The Reverend Canon Fay Lamont All agreed. 3. Diocesan Statistics Paper B The Dean drew attention to the line relating to St Martin’s, Dundee. Mrs Mary Bowker, Inverbervie, commented on the smallness of the print. This was noted and it was hoped that a solution would be found for 2017. Bishop Nigel reported that an exercise was being carried out in the Province to capture other statistics. Proposed: The Very Reverend Jeremy Auld Seconded: The Reverend Canon Kirrilee Reid All agreed. 4. Diocesan Personnel Paper C Bishop Nigel thanked all who contributed to ministry within the Diocese and reported that there had been real challenges this year. However, with the arrival of The Reverend Peter Mead and the Ordination of The Reverend William Neill and the return of The Reverend John Lyon from India, three additional Priests would be available by Easter. 5. Report of the Election of Lay and Alternate Representatives for 2016 Paper D Noted and accepted. 6. Report of Standing Committee Paper E No meeting was held in 2015. Members comprise: The Bishop The Dean Diocesan Secretary The Very Reverend Jeremy Auld Mrs Patricia Millar 7. Report from the Diocesan Council Paper F Bishop Nigel reported that it had met 6 times since its inauguration. Strategy was a priority item in the Agenda of each meeting. Proposed: Bishop Nigel Seconded: The Very Reverend Jeremy Auld Accepted by Synod. 8. Report from the Diocesan Mission Officer Paper G Proposed: The Reverend Canon Fay Lamont Seconded: The Reverend Professor Annalu Waller Accepted by Synod Bishop Nigel thanked Canon Lamont and her colleagues. 9. Diocesan Buildings Committee Report for 2015 Paper H Proposed: The Very Reverend Dr Francis Bridger Seconded: Dr Aileen Black Accepted by Synod. Thanks were given to Professor Peter Sharp for his commitment and hard work. Bishop Nigel invited Dr David Bertie, Diocesan Archivist, to update Synod on the work he is undertaking on Church Registers. A survey of archives in each Charge is being undertaken, the first since the 1980s. Dr Bertie and the Bishop recommend that older material be transferred to the University of Dundee for safe keeping. Ownership remains with each Charge. Charges not yet visited will be contacted over the next two to three years in what is a three to four year project. Dr Aileen Black questioned access to the archive. Dr Bertie listed when access for visitors was available and commented that the University is keen to emphasise accessibility. Dr Bertie was thanked by Bishop Nigel for the work he undertakes on behalf of the Diocese. 10. Report from Information and Communications Paper I Proposed: The Reverend Canon Michael Turner Seconded: The Reverend Kerry Dixon Accepted by Synod. Thanks were expressed to all involved and in particular, The Reverend Canon Turner as Editor of Grapevine. 11. PVG Report for 2015 Paper J Mrs Judy Robinson, St Mary Magdalene’s, queried to whom the Regulated Workforce List was given. Donald Urquhart, General Synod Office, was uncertain who keeps the Register but would seek clarification. Proposed: Mrs Cheryl Birse Seconded: Mrs Vina Strachan All agreed and accepted. Mrs Birse was thanked for her work. The Dean took the Chair. 12. Provincial Elections and Appointments Paper K Category 1 – Members of General Synod House of Clergy (6) Reverend Canon Fay Lamont 2013-2017 Elected by Diocese Very Reverend Jeremy Auld 2013-2017 Elected by Diocese Reverend Canon Kirrilee Reid Invergowrie/Glencarse Very Reverend Dr Francis Bridger Broughty Ferry/St Salvador’s Reverend Peter Mead Arbroath Reverend Canon Michael Turner Laurencekirk Group There were no additional nominations and those continuting were affirmed by the House of Clergy. House of Clergy Alternates for 2016 Reverend Samantha Ferguson was the sole nominee and duly elected. Proposed: Reverend Professor Annalu Waller Seconded: Reverend Canon Kirrilee Reid Accepted and agreed by Synod. House of Laity (6) Mrs Judith Robinson 2013-2017 Elected by Diocese Mrs Vina Strachan 2013-2017 Elected by Diocese Mrs Karen Willey 2013-2017 Elected by Diocese Dr Aileen Black Catherdral Mr Michael McKnight Brechin/Tarfside Robert Law St John the Baptist, St Margaret’s & St Martin’s Mr George Masson St Philips, Catterline & St Ternan’s, Muchalls Mrs Judy Robinson indicated that she was willing to act as a Laity Alternate Lay Rep in order to reduce Diocesan representation to 6. The formula for election from charges to General Synod will need revised at Diocesan Synod 2018. House of Laity Alternates 1. Judy Robinson Two nominations were received 2. Bernie Brophy-Arnott 3. Gordon Aitken Accepted and agreed by Synod. Category 2 - Members of Board and Committees of General Synod 2.1 Mission Board The Reverend Canon Fay Lamont 2015-2019 The Very Reverend Dr Francis Bridger Alternate 2015-2019 2.2 Administration Board Professor Peter Sharp 2016-2017 Mr Allan Duffus (alternate) 2016-2017 2.3 Finance Committee Allan Duffus 2015-2019 No Alternate as Committee being abandoned during 2016 2.4 Information and Communication Board Mrs Karen Willey 2016-2020 No alternate 2.5 Faith and Order Board The Very Reverend Dr Francis Bridger (Clergy) No nominations were received from Laity. Members accepted by Synod. Donald Urquhart, General Synod Office, advised that there were vacancies on the Provincial Investment Committee and Housing Committee. Category 3 - Members of Provincial Panel for Episcopal Elections (3 year term) The Reverend Canon Fay Lamont (2015-2017) Clerical Member Mrs Judith Robinson (2014-2016) Lay Member Accepted and agreed by Synod. 13. Diocesan Elections and Appointments Paper L There were no changes to the Diocesan Officials, Diocesan Council and Standing Committee. Diocesan Buildings Committee. Professor Peter Sharp was nominated Proposed: Mrs Evelyn Fordyce Seconded: The Very Reverend Dr Francis Bridger Accepted and agreed by Synod. The three remaining vacancies on the committee were not filled. Provincial Youth Network - This vacancy was taken to Diocesan Council. Accepted and agreed by Synod. 14. Canon 52, 57, 60 and 63 – Second Reading Paper M Gregor Mitchell, Chancellor, explained the rationale behind the changes in the Canons. The purpose was to bring them in line with the law of Scotland by reducing the age for eligibility from 18 to 16. The other change was the removal of Confirmation as a requirement for certain offices. The Very Reverend Jeremy Auld, Provost, St Paul’s Cathedral, advised that in terms of Canonical amendments even at Diocesan level, Synod had to vote in separate Houses. Canon 52 was approved unanimously by the House of Laity and the House of Bishops. In the House of Clergy, 1 vote was cast against acceptance.