General Synod
Details of the General Synod Representatives for this diocese can be found here.
Elections are now complete for the 2021-2026 quinquennium and the results can be found here.
Find more about General Synod on the Church of England website including agendas and papers.
Reports from debates as they happen from the Church of England Media Centre
General Synod is the national assembly of the Church of England.
It came into being in 1970 under the Synodical Government Measure 1969, replacing an earlier body known as the Church Assembly.
It has powers in the following areas:
- To pass Measures which, if approved by resolution of each House of Parliament, receive Royal Assent and thereby become part of the law of England.
- To legislate by Canon, subject to Royal Licence and Assent.
- To regulate the Church of England’s relations with other churches and to make provisions for matters relating to worship and doctrine. It can make provision by Act of Synod, regulation or other instrument in cases where legislation by or under a Measure or Canon is not necessary.
- To approve, amend, continue or discontinue liturgies and make provision for any matter (except the publication of banns of marriage) to which rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer relate and to ensure that the forms of service contained in the Book of Common Prayer continue to be available for use in the Church of England. The Synod also decides the form in which ministers and officers of the Church of England are required to assent to the doctrine of the Church of England (the Declaration of Assent).
- To consider any other matters of religious or public interest.
- To approve (or reject) the central Church budget each year.
