Diocesan Synod met on Saturday 29th March in the Lady Chapel of Liverpool Cathedral. Members welcomed Bishop Ruth and Sharon Parr our new Diocesan Secretary as well as hearing updates and debating a range of matters including circumstances surrounding the retirement of the Bishop of Liverpool; our approach to the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB) and discussed launching a review of the Parish Share system.
Today we publish an account of the proceedings but in the coming weeks we are hoping to publish some personal reflections from some of Synod so we can gain different perspectives on proceedings.
Synod was opened in prayer led by the Tsedaqah Community before hearing an account from Archdeacon Miranda Threlfall Holmes on the circumstances that led up to the retirement of Bishop John and subsequent events. Members raised concerns over who knew what during the processes being run by the National Safeguarding Team. Members also voiced their concern over the aspects of “trial by media” during this case as well as the level of consultation with bodies such as Bishops’ Council during the ensuing media crisis. There was also concern over the welfare and well being of Bishop Bev and Bishop John. Miranda assured Synod both were being looked after and stated that at this point Bishop Bev has not decided her future and was being given space for that. Miranda also acknowledged those concerns and stated that, like other bodies in the Church of England, we don’t have a crisis management plan. Sharon also confirmed we will look at the management of meetings such as Synod.
In other business Richard Denno tabled a report on the proceedings of February Synod which you can read here. Archdeacon Pete Spiers updated members on the timetable for LLF following the recent meeting of the House of Bishops.
Archdeacon Simon Fisher presented an update on our conversations with the national church over our funding bid. He confirmed that the representatives SMMIB met with Bishop Ruth and Sharon Parr to be reassured about the leadership and support for the bid in the Diocese of Liverpool. Simon confirmed that we have continued to work with the Board to answer their questions and while SMMIB remain committed to their in-principle decision to invest £30m to support change in the Diocese, they are still to finally agree the detail. Simon confirmed that SMMIB has already released £1.5m to support development in specific areas which we believe shows ongoing commitment to invest in transformational change in the Diocese. . Members asked a range of questions about how the detail of the investment would work
Our final substantial item was led by Maggie Swinson, Chair of the Board of Finance who proposed a motion to establish a working group to review our Parish System. Stating that the system was last reviewed in 2012, the proposal was to enable the working group to have a thorough look at the system to ensure it is fit for purpose for the future. You can read the paper here. After some discussion around principles of Parish Share the motion was unanimously agreed.
The meeting was closed with a short address from Bishop Ruth, Interim Bishop of Liverpool who expressed thanks for the welcome she has received and offered reflections on her ministry with us.
