Decisions made at this month’s Synod, particularly with regard to the Diocesan Mission, will have a major impact on our churches

Synodical government of the Diocese was a great nineteenth century initiative, but it is due for an update. Its procedures are based on a legislative model something like the Parliament, but in membership, sitting time and purpose it is not like Parliament at all.

The real problem is not the size of the Sydney Synod. It is true that once you get over a couple of hundred members – and our Synod has more than 700 members – most people do not speak. Yet, the larger size of our Synod does allow for a greater number of people to participate in other important functions, such as voting.

However, I do think that some of the procedures and formalities are unnecessarily alienating. Even the set formulas we use suggest that you have to master ‘synod speak’ before being able to contribute. As well, a number of our debates bog down in the ‘committee stage’. The issues being discussed are often important, but a smaller group may be able to resolve them. This would leave the Synod to get on with big policy debates, where the wisdom of the larger group is especially significant. It would also leave time for more interaction at a small group level.

I think that the most significant change for the better would be in the way Synod thinks of itself.

Instead of some sort of weird legislative chamber, we should think of Synod as a gathering of brothers and sisters who represent the churches (and to a lesser extent the organisations) of our Diocese meeting in order to promote the work of Jesus Christ, to pray together, to strengthen each other, to decide on mutual policy and to administer our joint affairs.

The major business of the coming Synod is the Mission that we have been talking about since the last Synod. The Presidential Address will explain the Mission. The debate on the first evening will centre on the Mission and will give Synod the opportunity to accept the Mission as the major task of the Diocese, or to reject it. If the members accept the Mission, it is my hope that the Synod will make further opportunity later in the week to discuss the details of Mission strategy at considerable length. On the second evening of Synod we will debate the budget, which has been prepared in line with the strategy of the Mission.

The Mission makes this Synod a particularly important one. Please pray for all Synod members as we share together on these key subjects and seek to bring godly wisdom to bear on our affairs. Decisions taken in 2002 are going to have major consequences for us all.

Dr Peter Jensen
Archbishop Writes
Southern Cross, October 2002