We opened with worship, and Archbishop Sentamu gave the Presidential Address on the Book of Ecclesiastes, calling it a book for our times and a critic of consumer culture. Life is not to be found on the top of the hill, the top of the career ladder, or in winning the X Factor, but in the simple things of life. We cannot find joy by ourselves, but only in the company of other people, and in things that connect us with others. If we are joyful people because of the communities we are part of, there is a chance we will be joyful evangelists.
Synod welcomed our new Bishops of Whitby and Selby, Paul Ferguson and John Thomson. We said farewell to Richard Frith, John Harrison, Lionel Lennox and Dr Ann Lees, who were attending their last Diocesan Synod. Synod also voted to make the Rt Revd James Jones, who is living in the Diocese, an Assistant Bishop.
Maureen Loffill spoke about the progress of the financial side of Generous Churches Making and Nurturing Disciples. Churches are honouring the pledges given in the first year of Freewill Offers, which is a great platform to start from. We are now receiving offers for 2015. They are ok, but they are not keeping pace with inflation, or financing growth. We have arrested decline, but we have not turned it around. We are presenting a deficit budget again, to commit to growth. An upturn of 4% across the board would deliver growth. The Archdeacons (and Acting Archdeacons) are meeting with all the Deaneries to ask what help is needed to enable financial and spiritual growth. Peter Warry updated us on the launch of the pilgrim course – materials are now our in parishes. We are still working with the Leading Your Church Into Growth team, but were are struggling to find suitable venues for the number of people we want to bring. The next RPA courses will be starting the autumn.
Young people from Archbishop Holgate’s Academy spoke about their recent trip to our link Diocese of Cape Town. They visited churches, schools and the Fikelela Aids Orphanage, meeting people living in the Flamingo illegal settlement. They helped pull together clothes parcels for people in need, including a six year old boy who had been displaced after a house fire.
Contributions to the Common Fund at the end of June were £3,883,000 – parishes have given more in the first 6 months of 2014 than in the first 6 months of 2013. Costs to date are within budget, partly due to underspends on vacant posts. The first forecast suggests that the full year results will be better than budget. Catherine shared the first draft of the 2015 budget - contributions to the Common Fund have been put as £8,200,000, but this is subject to amendment once all offers received. The budget gives 180 core archdeaconry based posts, agreed by the Archbishop’s Staff as the ideal number to support growth and mission in the diocese. There is a 2% increase in stipends and salaries. The budget will be finalised over the summer, the Finance Sub-Committee and Board will review the updated Budget, and it will be brought back to Synod for approval in October.
Sue Sheriff spoke about the recent session of General Synod. Synod agreed to support covenants with our Armed forces; veterans, families and serving personnel, not to support war but to emphasise the duty of pastoral care we have for all those who serve or have served their country. Synod also discussed simplifying the faculty procedure, Clergy Pensions, how to tighten regulations on safeguarding, and a simpler liturgy for baptism to be used alongside existing services. The main item of business covered by the press was women in the Episcopacy. Synod decided some time ago that there should be women consecrated as Bishops what we have spent a lot of time discussing is how best to bring this about. It was ultimately in the eyes of most a joyous and welcome decision, and the whole debate was sensitively chaired by the Archbishop of York. Sue’s full report can be found below.
Andy Dorton, the East Riding Archdeaconry Social Responsibility Officer, spoke to Synod about the Hull Mission Apprentices scheme. The scheme has received funding from the Church Commissioners to employ five Mission Apprentices for two years at Christian organisations across the city, to develop church growth in deprived areas. JP spoke to Synod about his work at Hull Youth For Christ, and Terri spoke about her life, and why she came to work for the Ark. The other Mission Apprentices in Hull are Alison at Longhill Link-Up Trust , Merv at Hull Churches Home From Hospital Service, and Gemma at St Michael’s Youth Project, Orchard Park.
Neil Davidson from the Deanery of Whitby moved a motion for Synod to set aside time to consider the current state of rural churches. Nick Land, chair of the House of Laity, replied, recognising the challenges of rural and urban ministry. He reminded Synod that the Bishop of Selby has a brief to work with rural churches, and will be meeting with relevant parties on this issue. The motion was passed.
The next meeting of Diocesan Synod will be on Saturday 18th October at Manor School.