Diocesan Synod March 2023

Bishop Martin welcomed Synod members to Stowmarket Salvation Army Hall on Saturday 18 March.  In his presidential address Bishop Martin announced that Archbishops Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrell have extended his episcopal leadership of our Diocese for a further year until the summer of 2025.   He is thrilled and blessed to serve longer and will continue to provide continuity and stability following the pandemic.

Bishop Martin reminded Synod of the Growing in God commitment from 2015 and how he wants to focus on four personal priorities for the next two years. 

1) Worship and faith with a focus on reaching out to young people - achieving real progress on working with young people both in and outside of our churches, those in schools and those out of schools to create connections to church and faith.

2) To support and encourage ordained and lay ministry,with a commitment to retain our levels of stipendiary clergy while growing our SSM (self-supporting ministry) and lay ministry roles.  Bishop Martin wishes to support those in our ministry teams with a programme of ongoing training as well as support for their well-being.

3)  Relationship and structures need to be built to enable us to work together to ensure financial sustainability of our diocese.  A focus on income generation and giving is crucial in these difficult financial times.

4) The security of our church buildings is fundamental if we wish to realise Net Carbon Zero as well as ensure our buildings are sustainable and suitable to fulfil our mission.

Please do watch the full address available here:

Presidential Address | Bishop Martin

Synod enjoyed presentations on key topics, Inspiring Ipswich annual review, the Cost of Living, led by Gary Peverley and including key notes from the Revd Lynda Sebbage, the Revd Rich Henderson and the Revd Lawrence Carey and Living in Love and Faith led by Bishop Martin.

Please do watch them here:

Inspiring Ipswich annual review

Archdeacon Rhiannon King and the Revd Charlotte Cook presented an inspirational PowerPoint of events and initiatives across the deanery of Ipswich in 2022.

Slideshow | PDF

Cost of Living | Gary Peverley

Living in Love and Faith | Bishop Martin

Diocesan Synod Presentation | PDF

Diocesan Synod Minutes | PDF

Page last updated: Monday 27th March 2023 1:58 PM
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