Most recent meeting of the Diocesan Synod
A meeting of the Newcastle Diocesan Synod was held on Saturday 7th May 2022 at 10:00.
The meeting was hosted using Zoom Video Conferencing.
Agenda and papers for the meeting.
Paper Number | Item of Business | Agenda item |
DS22 01 | Agenda | |
DS22 01PP | PowerPoint Slides (slidedeck) used at the meeting | |
Recording | Opening Reflection by the Revd Phyl Carruthers | |
Recording | Presidential Address by the Rt Revd Mark Wroe | |
DS22 02 | Minute of 13th November 2021 | 4 |
DS22 03A | NDBF Annual Report & Financial Statements 2021 | 10 |
DS22 03B | Summary Financial Information for 2021 | 10 |
Saturday 13th November 2021
A meeting of the Newcastle Diocesan Synod was held on Saturday 13th November 2021.
This meeting was hosted using Zoom Video Conferencing.
Agenda for 13th November
- Welcome and opening worship
- Botswana Partnership Agreement (Paper DS21 16)
Use this link to watch a video of the Bishop of Botswana's presentation to the Synod - Note of business transacted on 18 September 2021 (Paper DS21 13B)
- To agree the note of the business transacted
- Matters Arising
- Instrument of Delegation: Honorary Assistant Bishop, the Rt Revd Christopher Lowson (Paper DS21 15)
- Newcastle Education Board Scheme for approval in accordance with DBE Measure 2021
(Paper DS21 14A/Paper DS21 14B) - Vacancy in See: update
- Next Steps (part 1) (Paper DS21 17)
This item will involve the use of breakout rooms - Screen Break
- Next Steps (part 2)
This item will involve the use of breakout rooms - Budget 2022 (Paper DS21 18)
- Farewells
- Close
Saturday 18th September 2021
A meeting of the Newcastle Diocesan Synod was held on Saturday 18th September. The meeting was hosted using Zoom Video Conferencing.
Agenda for 18th September
- Welcome by Bishop Christine
- Opening Worship
- Election of Chair of House of Clergy and Chair of House of Laity
- Minute of a meeting held on 8 May 2021 (Paper DS21 11)
- To agree the minute
- Matters Arising
- Presidential Address
Use this link to see the Presidential Address - Presentation by Together Newcastle
- Notices by the Secretary
- Diocesan Synod Elections to Boards and Councils
- Vacancy in See
- SCREEN BREAK
- Transformation Programme: Growing Church Bringing Hope: NEXT STEPS
Use this link to see the video which supported this presentation - Financial Upate
Use this link to download the financial presentation - Any Other Business
- Close
Tuesday 20th July 2021
Open Synod Forum: FINANCE FORUM
- Tuesday 20th July 2021
An Open Synod Finance Forum was hosted using Zoom Video Conferencing on 20th July.
Open Synod Forum: LIVING IN LOVE & FAITH
Thursday 10th June 2021
- Thursday 10th June 2021
An Open Synod Forum meeting about Living in Love and Faith (LLF) was hosted on Zoom.
Dr Eeva John, the Church of England's Enabling Officer for LLF facilitated this Open Synod.
DS21 12 Agenda for the Open Forum Synod 10th June 2021
DS21 11 Introduction to Living in Love and Faith
Saturday 8th May 2021
The Diocesan Synod met on Saturday 8th May. The meeting was hosted using Zoom Video Conferencing.
Resources from the meeting, including notes following the meeting are included in the table below:
Agenda Item | Paper number | Title |
1 | Welcome and Opening Prayers | |
2 |
DS21 03B |
Transcript: 28 November 2020 (agreed) |
3 |
DS21 04 |
Promulgation of Amending Canons 40 and 41 (promulgated) |
4 |
DS21 05 |
DAC Quinquennial Inspection Scheme 2021 (DAC Chair) (Scheme agreed) |
5 |
DS21 06 |
Instrument of Delegation: Honorary Assistant Bishop (Bishop Christine) (Instrument agreed) |
6 |
DS21 07 |
Growing Church Bringing Hope: NEXT STEPS (Bishop Mark; Chris Elder; Shane Waddle) (Progress noted) |
7 |
DS21 11 |
Introduction to Living in Love and Faith (Chair of the House of Laity) (Introduction noted) |
SCREEN BREAK | ||
8 | FINANCIAL ITEMS | |
DS21 08A |
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2020 (Report and Accounts received) |
|
DS21 08B | Summary of Financial Statements 2020 | |
9 | ELECTIONS 2021 | |
9A |
DS21 09 |
GENERAL SYNOD ELECTIONS (Chair: House of Laity and the Secretary) |
9B |
DS21 10 |
DIOCESAN SYNOD ELECTIONS (The Secretary) |
OTHER BUSINESS |
Saturday 13th March 2021
The Diocesan Synod met in Open Forum on Saturday 13th March. The meeting was hosted using Zoom Video Conferencing.
Resources from the meeting, including notes following the meeting are included in the table below:
Open Synod Forum 13th March 2021 Video recording: this recording includes the Address by Bishop Christine; the presentations by the Revd Canon Rob Saner-Haigh and Bishop Mark; and the plenary session. Use this link to watch the video Paper DS21 01 Notes from the plenary session |
Diocesan Synod 2020: list of papers
Diocesan Synod 2019: list of papers
Diocesan Synod 2018: list of papers
Paper number | Meeting date | Description | Other Resoucres |
DS18 01 | |||
DS18 02 | |||
DS 18 03 | 28/04/2018 | Agenda for 28 April 2018 | Recording |
DS18 04 | 28/04/2018 | Minutes 30 September 2017 | |
DS18 05 | 28/04/2018 | Financial Statements 2017 | Received 28/04/2018 |
DS18 05A | 28/04/2018 | Summary Statements 2017 | |
DS18 06 | 28/04/2018 | Contignecy Budget Planning 2018 | Agreed 28/04/2018 |
DS18 07 | 28/04/2018 | Annual Reports 2017 | Received 28/04/2018 |
DS18 08 | 28/04/2018 | Elections to Diocesan Synod 2018 | |
DS18 09A | 28/04/2018 | Update: Resource Church for the Diocese of Newcastle | |
DS18 09B | 28/04/2018 | Mission Strategy | Agreed 28/04/2018 |
DS18 09C | 28/04/2018 | Church Planting Strategy | Agreed 28/04/2018 |
DS18 11 | 24/07/2018 | Budget Consultation 2019 | Recording |
DS18 12 | 20/10/2018 | Agenda for 20th October | |
DS18 13 | 20/10/2018 | Minute of 28th April 2018 | Agreed 20/10/2018 |
DS18 14 | 20/10/2018 | Proposed Budget 2019 | |
DS18 22 | 20/10/2018 | Safeguarding Report |
Diocesan Synod held on 24th July 2017
A meeting of the Diocesan Synod took place on 24th July 2017 at St John's Church, Percy Main.
Diocesan Synod held on 27th May 2017
A meeting of the Diocesan Synod took place at the Josephine Butler Campus, Northumberland Church of England Academy, Ashington.
Diocesan Synod held on 11th March 2017
An Open Synod Forum took place at the Dr Thomlinson Church of England Middle School, Rothbury.
The theme for the meeting was the launch of a new strategic vision growing church bringing hope. A short formal meeting of the Diocesan Synod took place at the interval. Documents supporting the Synod can be downloaded from the links below, including sound recordings and a link to photographs.
Paper | Item Description |
Vision, by the Bishop of Newcastle: recording of the Bishop's address | |
Values, by the Ven Geoff Miller: recording of the Archdeacon's address | |
DS17 01 | Agenda for the formal meeting to be held during the interval |
DS17 02 | Amending Standing Order 72 |
Listen | Bishop Christine's address to Synod (opens in SoundCloud) |
Diocesan Synod held on 26 November 2016
A meeting of the Diocesan Synod took place at the Josephine Butler Campus, Northumberland Church of England Academy, Ashington.
The Agenda and Papers used at this meeting are set out below.
Listen to the sound recordings from the Synod (via Soundcloud)
Paper Number | Description | Sound Files |
DS16 07 | Agenda for 26 November 2016 | Open & Worship |
DS16 08 | Minute of a meeting held on 14 May 2016 | Notices |
Presidential Address (Bishop of Newcastle) | Address | |
DS16 09 | Proposed Budget 2017 | Budget |
Report from General Synod: July 2016 | Synod Report | |
DS16 10 | Growth & Fruitfulness (short version) | Presentation |
DS16 11 | Instrument of Delegation | Governance |
DS16 12 | Deanery Synod Elections 2017 | Governance |
Closing Worship | Worship & Close |
Diocesan Synod held on 11th October 2016
A meeting of the Diocesan Synod took place at St John's Church, Percy Main, North Shields.
The meeting had a single item agenda with the budget document forming the basis for discussion.
The budget document can be downloaded using this link DS16 07
Listen to the sound recordings from the Synod(via Soundcloud)
Diocesan Synod held on 24th September 2016
An Open Synod Forum took place at the Josephine Butler Campus, Northumberland Church of England Academy, Ashington.
The Synod met for an Open Synod Forum at the Josephine Butler Campus, Northumberland Church of England Academy, Ashington on Saturday 24th September.
The theme for the Forum was Walking with Aidan, the next part of our journey with the Companions of St Aidan. Documents supporting the Synod can be downloaded from the links below, including sound recordings and a link to photographs.
- Companions Leaflet
- Participation
- Photographs from the Synod
- Listen to the sound recordings from the Synod (via Soundcloud)
Diocesan Synod held on 14th May 2016
A meeting of the Diocesan Synod took place at the Dr Thomlinson Church of England Middle School, Rothbury.
Recordings from the Synod are available at https://soundcloud.com/diocese-of-newcastle
The Agenda and papers were as follows:
Paper | Description |
DS16 01 |
|
DS16 02 |
|
DS16 03 |
|
DS16 04 |
|
DS16 04A |
|
DS16 05 |
|
DS16 06 |
Diocesan Synod held on 12th March 2016
An Open Synod Forum took place at the Josephine Butler Campus, Northumberland Church of England Academy, Ashington.
Recordings from the Synod are available at https://soundcloud.com/diocese-of-newcastle
Diocesan Synod met on Saturday 12th March 2016 at the Northumberland Church of England Academy, Josephine Butler Campus, Ashington NE63 9RX.
This was an Open Meeting and ovr 130 people attended. The Synod began with a Presidential Address from the Bishop of Newcastle followed by a conversation with the Bishop. After a short break the Disability Task Group led a series of workshops which allowed people to share some of the joys, challenges, opportunities and frustrations of living with disabilities as part of God's church and the world.
The seven main workshops were:
- Hearing Loss: Hearing loss affects nearly all of us - either personally, or in someone we know well. How can the church community do more to include those who have limited hearing, and make their experience of worship and activities joyful instead of frustrating?
- Unseen Disabilities: This will be an interactive group exploring a wide range of conditions and impairments with one thing in common - their invisibility to others. The attitudes of others, whether family, friend or stranger (e.g. in church) can determine crucially how far they feel welcome and included in worship and fellowship.
- Mobility Impairments: Not just a ramp... A workshop about all sorts of barriers that limit access to worship and fellowship and the attitudes that can disable us all.
- Sight Loss: Why might visually impaired people not want to come to your church? The worshop will examine a range of reasons and look at how, with greater awareness, the church community can positively address them.
- Learning Difficulties: People with Learning Disabilities have much to offer the church. We will consider how to maximise individual characteristics, minimize barriers and offer appropriate assistance. Greater awareness is needed by us all.
- Mental Health Issues: How can churches truly include those suffering from mental illness? What support can we give? And what support is available for us as we support others?
- Dementia: Nothing to be afraid of! I have simply forgotten your name. Ways in which we can learn to sare the joys of worship, activities and everyday life with those whom we love.
An eighth workshop was a tour of The Centre (use this link to find out further information) located within the Josephine Butler Campus. It shares the building with the Josephine Butler Primary and Secondary campuses. The Centre caters for the needs of children and young people aged 4-19 years who have severe or profound and multiple learning difficulties and we also have facilities, based on a TEACCH approach, for children with autism.
Diocesan Synod held on 28th November 2015
A meeting of the Diocesan took place at the Josephine Butler Campus, Northumberland Church of England Academy, Ashington.
The Agenda and papers used at the meeting are set out below.
Paper | Description |
post meeting | Note to members following the meeting |
post meeting | Budget 2016 summary document |
DS(15)20 | Agenda |
DS(15)21 | Note of the Finance Synod held on 6 October |
Recording | Recording of the meeting held on 6 October |
DS(15)22 | Responding to Reform & Renewal |
DS(15)23 | Budget 2016 |
DS(15)24 | Proposed Suffragan See of Berwick |
Background | Inspired North East |
Background | Reform and Renewal |
Background | Suffragan Sees |
Diocesan Synod held on th October 2015
A meeting of the Diocesan Synod took place at St John's Church, Percy Main, North Shields.
Agenda and papers used at the meeting held on 6th October
A sound recording of the meeting is available at SoundCloud using this link https://soundcloud.com/diocese-of-newcastle/sets/diocesan-synod-finance-meeting-held-on-6th-october
Paper | Description |
Recording | Recording of the meeting held on 6th October |
DS(15)15 | Agenda for 6 October |
DS(15)16 | Minutes of 19 September (DRAFT) |
DS(15)17 | Draft Budget Paper for Consultation |
Diocesan Synod held on 19th September 2015
A meeting of the Diocesan Synod took place at the Cathedral Church of St Nicholas, Newcastle.
The Diocesan Synod held its first meeting of the new triennium on Saturday 19 September when more than 90 people gathered for a Eucharist at the Cathedral which was followed by a short formal meeting of the Synod. Business carried out included:
Election of the Vice-Presidents: The Revd Canon John Sinclair was elected to serve as Chair of the House of Clergy and Canon Carol Wolstenholme was elected to serve as Chair of the House of Laity;
Overview of the business carried out at the last session of the General Synod held in York in July: A presentation was given by the Revd Canon Dr Dagmar Winter supplemented by the Revd Janet Appleby, Professor John Bull and Canon Carol Wolstenholme.
Overview of the Election Process: Members of the Diocesan Synod need to elect people to serve on the following Boards and Committees:
i) Bishops Council & Standing Committee; ii) Diocesan Education Board; iii) Houses and Glebe Committee; iv) Diocesan Mission & Pastoral Committee; and v) Vacancy in See Committee
The nomination period is now open and runs to noon on Monday 5 October. Nomination forms are available here.
Agenda and papers used at the meeting on 19 September
Paper | Description |
DS(15 06) | Agenda for 19 September |
DS(15 07) | Minutes of meeting held 16th May |
DS(15 08) | Elections to Boards & Committees |
DS(15 09) | Overview of Structures |
DS(15 10) | Nomination form: Bishop's Council & Standing Committee |
DS(15 11) | Nomination form: Diocesan Education Board |
DS(15 12) | Nomination form: Houses & Glebe Committee |
DS(15 13) | Nomination form: Mission & Pastoral Committee |
DS(15 14) | Nomination form: Vacancy in See Committee |
Diocesan Synod held on 16th May 2015
A meeting of the Diocesan Synod took place at the Dr Thomlinson Church of England Middle School, Rothbury.
- Sound extracts are available from https://soundcloud.com/diocese-of-newcastle
- This meeting was open to members and non-members.
- This was a special meeting of the Synod and we welcomed two representatives from the Archbishops' Council, Canon John Spence and the Revd Dr Malcolm Brown.
- The meeting began with worship followed by a presentation about the Reform and Renewal proposals. The presentation was followed by group work and a plenary session. This was a valuable opportunity to engage with the Reform & Renewal consultation.
- The Synod broke for refreshments and reconvened for a formal meeting.
- Agenda and Papers
- More information about the programme of Reform and Renewal is available using this link
Diocesan Synod held on 14th March 2015
This was a morning of Learning and Reflection for Lent to be led by the Revd Dr Calvin Samuel, Academic Dean and Director of Wesley Study Centre, St Johns College, Durham.
Diocesan Synod held on 29th November 2014
A meeting of the Diocesan took place at the Josephine Butler Campus, Northumberland Church of England Academy, Ashington.
Papers:
DS14 06 Agenda
DS14 09 Minute of Synod held on 24 May 2014
DS14 10 Note of a meeting held on 6 October 2014
DS14 07 Dignity at Work: Policy & Procedures
DS14 08 Budget 2015
DS14 11 Poverty Task Group Report to Synod
DS14 12 Elections to Diocesan Synod 2015
Introduction to the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
Lay Voices Conference, held on 25th October 2014
A Lay Conference was held at the Centre for Life, Newcastle to affirm lay voices and help make them heard across our diocese.
A conference to celebrate, inspire and enthuse lay people was held on Saturday 25th October at the Centre for Life, Newcastle.
FOLLOW UP NOTE FROM THE CONFERENCE (DEC 2014)
PROGRAMME (download in PDF format)
POWERPOINT SLIDES (download in PDF format)
VIDEO
Lay Voices 2014
Seven church members from across the diocese attended the General Synod at York from 11th to 13th July. Look out for news and articles following this visit, particularly about what they enjoyed, what they discovered and the amount of networking they achieved over a busy three days.