Diocesan Synod – March 2008

The St Albans Diocesan Synod met for a half day session on Saturday 8th March.

Prayers were led by Mr Roger Waygood and Mrs Wendy Waygood on behalf of Buntingford Deanery.

The President, the Rt Revd Christopher Herbert, Bishop of St Albans, delivered his Presidential Address.

Questions

The Bishop of St Albans then answered questions and supplementaries on the Archbishops' Council's research project 'Celebrating Diversity in the Church of England 2007' and on the Anglican Methodist Covenant. The Bishop of Bedford answered a question and supplementaries on the status of the Chaplaincy and spiritual care of those at the Yarls Wood Detention Centre.

Pastoral Committee

The Synod passed a motion agreeing to the re-constitution of the Diocesan Pastoral Committee as the Diocesan Pastoral and Mission Committee, providing for its membership and creating a Diocesan Closed Churches Uses Commmittee as a sub-committee.

Standing Orders

The Synod passed a motion approving revisions to its Standing Orders.

Regional Training Partnership

At the request of the Bishop's Council and the Board for Christian Development, Canon Dr Dennis Stamps and Canon Dr Michael Sansom gave a presentation on 'Regional Training Partnerships'. The Synod then passed Canon Stamps' motion approving the Covenant to establish a Regional Training Partnership for the Eastern Region, agreeing to participate in it and to fund it.

Diocesan Youth Service

Mr Jim Oliver, Vice-Chair of the Board for Christian Development gave a presentation about proposals for developing the Diocesan Youth Service. Synod passed Canon Dr Alan Winton's motion welcoming the proposals and agreeing the principle of the financial commitment in the paper before the Synod.

Gap Year Scheme

Finally,Canon Dr Michael Sansom Synod gave a presentation to the Synod on the proposals for a Gap Year Scheme. Synod then passed the motion approving the establishment of the scheme noting the capped request for a contribution out of Diocesan resources.