Over 100 members joined Bishop Martin to begin the new triennium at Diocesan Synod on 2 October. The key focus of the meeting was to shine a light on the many ways churches in Suffolk intentionally engage with their communities. The Revd Carol Mansell, who leads one of the synod focus groups, 'Community Engagement,' and her team presented several videos of current projects and ended with a powerful call to prayer.
"The focus of this Synod, is how we engage with our communities...We are committed to the revitalisation of all our parishes and existing congregations as well as to developing new ones, with new and old existing fruitfully together within the benefice system." Bishop Martin
Synod also approved the 2022 diocesan budget, discussed the Lightwave discernment process, were given a progress report on Living in Love and Faith and heard about resources available to parishes for Generosity Week and for Christmas. Mark Pendlington DL, spoke about the Festival of Suffolk, Suffolk’s celebration of the Queen’s platinum jubilee in 2022. The relevant Houses elected The Revd Canon Sharon Potter and Tony Allwood to the respective Chairs for the House of Clergy and Chair of the House of Laity.
All the presentation materials and videos are available below.
Bishop Martin | Presidential Address
Discussion and Approval of the 2022 Budget
Community Engagement | Carol Mansell
Growing in God in the Countryside Discernment | Bishop Mike
Festival of Suffolk | Mark Pendlington
Community Pop Up Shop | Community Engagement
Emotional Well-being | Community Engagement
Coping with Bereavement | Community Engagement
The Synod also featured the Revd Kiran Lotay performing his NHS Poem, Mirror. The poem is powerfully different, and highlights the difficulties the NHS faced during COVID. You can watch his performance below:
Mirror lyrics | PDF
If you have any comments or questions about the poem please email communications@cofesuffolk.org, these will be forwarded to Kiran himself.
Diocesan Synod October Presentation | PDF
Growing in God in the Countryside Discernment Slides | PDF
The Challenge Feedback | PDF
Synod Minutes October 2021 | PDF