After a turbulent week in the Church of England, the Diocesan Synod met for the first meeting of the new triennium on Saturday.
Presidential address
Bishop Steven’s presidential address began with his reflections on the Makin Review, its findings and the subsequent resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
He reiterated his call for the survivors and victims of abuse to be at the forefront of our response to the review. He added: “It is the victims and survivors who need to be at the forefront of our minds as we read and digest the report and its recommendations, many of us including myself will have reflected on our own past failures and shortcomings. At the heart of safeguarding is a call to build a church which is safe for all, which is grounded in hope. And that is the vocation of the whole people of God.”
He went on to say while we were not complacent about the work to be done in safeguarding, he appreciated the progress made by our parish safeguarding officers and the diocese safeguarding team. Work that has been recognised in our recent independent audit, conducted by INEQE.
Bishop Steven went on to speak about his opposition to the assisted dying bill and called on the clergy present, who felt able to, to write to their MP.
He said: “The same Christian understanding of human life and human dignity, which is at the heart of the Christian gospel, also underpins in my view, the reasons for resisting the terminally ill adults end of life bill. Life is a precious gift from God. Neither illness nor suffering diminish the value of a human life, nor can they diminish the image of God in which human beings are created. Something fundamental will change in our society in our attitude to death and therefore to life if this legislation goes forward.”
Mentioning his own parents’ end of life care, Bishop Steven told Synod he felt focus should be on significant improvements and resourcing for better end of life and palliative care.
Finance
The draft budget for 2025 was shared with members who heard that while parish share asks would remain at the level agreed at the June Diocesan Synod, the diocese expected to receive 94% of that which would reduce our income and reserves. The increase in national insurance contributions will also have an impact on income, with an estimate that it could cost in the region of £400,000 in 2025, and a higher figure in later years, none of which is yet factored into budgets.
Zachary Giuliano, of Central Oxford Deanery, brought an amendment to the budget which called on the diocese to look at increasing the clergy stipend by 1% in 2026 and 2027 to begin to address what he called ‘historic shortfalls’ and to reduce the number of clergy who were struggling to get by and for increased stewardship drives. The amendment was carried and will now be for consideration by Bishop’s Council.
There was some debate about the five-year forecast and members shared concerns about how to raise more funds to support the clergy stipend and Church House services. The budget was then overwhelmingly approved.
Elections
As this was the first meeting of the triennium, several posts were due to be filled. Sir Hector Sants was re-elected for another three-year term as Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance and Julie Dziegiel as the Vice Chair.
Geoff Bayliss was re-appointed as Chair of the House of Clergy and John Sykes as Chair of the House of Laity.
Bishop Steven expressed his thanks to all for all they do for the diocese and their hard work and dedication.
Environmental update
In the annual environmental update, members heard across all parts of the diocese, carbon emissions are falling and in line with our 2035 target. Added to that, the diocese is celebrating its first Gold Eco Church which joins 10% of our churches who have a bronze award and 5% who have silver. This equates to 118 churches which have some kind of Eco Church Award! As a diocese we collectively hold a bronze and are well on our way to becoming a silver eco diocese.
The diocese remains committed to our ambition of achieving Net Zero as a diocese by 2035, but is aware of the challenges which parishes face. While a third of churches have undertaken an energy audit, thus beginning their journey to Net Zero, two thirds have not. Around 150 churches have aging boilers which will need to be replaced soon, and gas remains the least expensive, and therefore most affordable option.
There was also an update on the work towards ensuring all our vicarages are also Net Zero.
Kate Banks, on behalf of the deaneries of Witney and Sonning, presented the deanery motion on the Climate and Nature Bill. She hoped the Bill would encourage congregations and the wider community to work together to mitigate climate change and take positive action to protect our wildlife and our biodiversity systems.
She said: “We are called to care for our brothers and sisters, including those whose homes are swamped in torrential rain. Those who have no viable way of life because they live in areas experiencing prolonged drought. Those who have had to move away from the islands where their families have lived for generations because the rising sea levels have made their homes uninhabitable. A commitment to climate justice for all means working together in this country to help others across the planet.”
The motion to support the Bill was passed.
Church buildings
On introducing a new church buildings overview, Bishop Steven said: “I delight to visit them. After eight years in this wonderfully privileged role, I have still not been to every church and every few weeks, I did this a few weeks ago down in Buckinghamshire. I go to a building I've not been to before and I wonder and I'm amazed at their beauty and history and all that they represent for our communities.
“Our buildings are a fundamental part of the mission and ministry we offer to our communities. They offer presence, they offer public witness, they offer enormous practical facilities and they are signs of continuity.”
Liz Kitch, Head of Church Buildings, presented an overview of the 808 open church buildings which the diocese maintains, and 84% of them are listed as buildings of special historic or architectural interest, with 65% of these listed at Grade I or Grade II.
There was also news of a successful bid to the Buildings for Mission Minor Repairs Fund which awarded £177, 750 to provide grants for small repairs to church buildings. This will be awarded from the summer of 2024, over the next two years, in addition to £228,000 given to support parishes reach Net Zero.
Following the presentation of the paper, Synod members considered the question ‘how can we better realise the role of church buildings in mission and ministry?’ in groups, with rich discussion and reflections emerging.
General Synod
A report on the July meeting of the General Synod followed before the meeting was closed with a reflection on the meeting by the Dean.
Read the reports presented to Synod in full.