Synod

Homily October 2nd

So what’s all this synod stuff?

Each year our diocese holds a thing called a synod. It’s the Diocesan parliament. It's a curious and important beast and you should probably know a little bit about it.

It’s made up of 1 bishop, the parish clergy and lay representatives from every parish in the diocese, including this one of course. It has some legal people to help us with any tricky things and they are called the advocate and the chancellor. They also assist the bishop in anything legal throughout the year and sadly they have had more than their fair share of things to wrestle with.

Our Synod meets over the course of a Friday afternoon and a good chunk of Saturday. This year we meet on Friday, October 21st and Saturday 22nd.

At the Synod, the bishop gives his charge or address. This is always a scintillating speech and presents the big picture of the diocese and often a glimpse into the National Church as well. We are very fortunate to have a bishop who is articulate and can present complex ideas in an easy-to-understand, even Fr. David can get it, type of way.

We then break for worship, an evening meal and often on Friday night there are some workshops and discussion groups pertinent to the day's topics.

On Saturday morning we begin with morning prayer, and then there is legislation that has been handed down for us to consider from the National Anglican Church. We can choose to either accept it in total, or reject it in total. We can’t cherry pick the bits we like and chuck out the rest.

Then there is any legislation for our own diocese and finally, any motions that we can vote on.

I would expect that this year there might well be some more discussion on the issue of whether we can bless the union of two people who are of the same gender.  I would be surprised  if someone did not move a motion to the effect of

“That this Diocese gives thanks for the life and ministry of Queen Elizabeth the second and extends our deepest sympathy to the royal family in their bereavement.”

What else happens?

The diocesan budget is presented and folk have an opportunity to ask questions for clarification. Our Registrar Peter is a splendid gentleman doing an impossible job and fields queries effectively and with clarity. At this time, leading up to Synod, he and the bishop will be working very hard to make sure everything is put in place so that the whole thing runs smoothly and effectively.

The Head Master of our Grammar school in Ballarat offers a presentation to the Synod and again there is an opportunity for questions to be put. It’s good to see what our Grammar school is up to and it always seems to be going ahead in leaps and bounds.

Reports from our Diocesan bodies are presented and received. For example our Diocesan Mothers Union and Guild.

So who gets to go to this jamboree? All the clergy go. And this parish is allotted 4 places for our lay people. These folk are elected for three years or three meetings. There is often a public gallery for folk who want to come and have a look-see and while they cannot vote on any motions, it is always fascinating to watch Synod in action.

Now you might think all that sounds rather drab, dry and tedious and there are parts that do seem to make you want to lose the will to live. However, it is just plain good fun. There are a number of articulate, witty, intelligent people, particularly from the laity, who sprinkle synod with wise and funny words and make us laugh out loud and often.

There are two other things that we do that are essential to the life of the Synod. First, we eat together and over the table, we meet other people or reconnect with good friends. There is much chatter and a genuine and warm camaraderie is built up. This is vital for the life of the diocese and whatever differences we might express in our speeches on the floor of the synod, there is a mature and professional understanding that we are here just to get on with it, even if we might have a difference of opinion to the rest of the Synod and the decision does not go the way we would have liked.

But the most important thing of all is we worship together. There is an Evening Prayer, a Eucharist and Morning Prayer and to be able to say the office with 100 other people is a rare and lovely thing. Not better or worse than when there are only one or two, but it is kinda nice to be reminded you're not on your Pat Malone.

Well, all that sounds pretty jolly spiffy Fr. David. How do I get to be a Synods rep? Well, as I mentioned Synod reps are elected for 3 years and next year at our Annual General Parish Meeting in 2023, it is an election year for Synod reps. There are those 4 places up for grabs once again and we need two emergency folk. Anyone, from any of our centres in our parish, can be elected or reelected. I commend Synod and our local representatives for your prayers and ask you to consider whether this ministry might be something God is calling you to.