H  The Synods of the Church

The teaching and discipline of the Church of England is set out in Canons H1 – H3,

the Synodical Government Measure 1969 (No 2), and the CRR as currently in force.

H1  The General Synod

(a)       The Diocese is represented in the General Synod by the diocesan Bishop, two representatives of the clergy (proctors in the Convocation of Canterbury), and two representatives of the laity.

(b)       The representative members of the General Synod are elected every five years (in 2000, 2005, etc). These elections are organised from the Diocesan Office.

H2  The Diocesan Synod

(a)            Clauses 33 to 37 of the Diocesan Constitution set out the membership of  the Diocesan Synod, its officers, and the manner of its election.

(b)       The representative members of the Diocesan Synod are elected every three years (in 2003, 2006 etc). These elections are organised from the Diocesan Office.

(c)       The Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod may, at the request of an archdeaconry synod, make provision for electoral areas in elections to the Diocesan Synod.

(d)       The Diocesan Synod meets regularly once a year (normally for several days in the late spring, at All Saints' Pastoral Centre, London Colney, near Saint Albans).

(e)       The business of the Diocesan Synod is regulated by its standing orders, copies of which are obtainable from the secretary of the Synod at the Diocesan Office.

H3  The Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod, and the Bishop’s Council of the Diocese

(a)             Section 38 of the Diocesan Constitution sets out the membership of the Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod, its functions and the manner of its election.

(b)            Section 39 of the Diocesan Constitution sets out the membership of the Bishop's Council of the Diocese and its functions.

(c)       The Standing Committee and the Bishop's Council normally meet twice each year, during the meeting of the Diocesan Synod and during October.

(d)              Members of the Bishop's Council are also directors of the Diocesan Board of Finance.  See L1.

H4  Archdeaconry and Deanery Synods

(a)            Sections 42 and 43 of the Diocesan Constitution set out the membership of archdeaconry and deanery synods, their officers, and the manner of their election.

(b)       The representative members of archdeaconry and deanery synods are elected every three years (in 2002, 2005 etc.).

(c)       The business of archdeaconry and deanery synods should be regulated by standing orders.  Copies of model standing orders are obtainable from the secretary of the Diocesan Synod at the Diocesan Office.

(d)       Each archdeaconry and deanery synod should have a Standing Committee to prepare its agenda and act on its behalf between meetings.  In this Diocese distance and cost require that the Standing Committee should be small.  It may consist only of the officers of the synod (the archdeacon, the chairmen of the two houses, the secretary and the treasurer).  It may, if necessary, transact its business without meeting, provided that all its members agree.