Diocesan Synod - Lay Representaives's Report 2008

Diocese of Argyll & The Isles

Pre-Synod Day, Tuesday, 4th March 2008

The Pre-Synod day commenced at 10.15 am, in the Diocesan Centre. The morning session was led by Christine McIntosh, ex head of the English department at Oban Grammar School. She gave a very interesting talk and demonstration on the way the internet could and perhaps should be used in the diocese, and in many cases already is, with most Charges having their own websites. She also demonstrated how Skype could be such a useful medium for keeping in immediate touch with each other.

We formed groups with a leader in each to discuss how we felt modem technology could help our various congregations. Not everyone agreed with the overall use of modern technology, and enjoyed the more personal form of communication. On the whole we agreed that modern technology had great benefits.

After a light lunch, when it was good to meet and talk to people one hadn’t met since the last Synod meeting, the afternoon session was led by Dr. Anne Tomlinson. She is about to leave her present job as Provincial Local Collaborative Ministry Officer. The subject was 'A welcoming Diocese'. In twos we were asked to interview one another recalling when one felt most involved, spiritually touched or most excited about one’s involvement. Dorothy Moorhouse, from Harris, recounted an experience when the Bishop visiting Harris took a service on Isle of Ensay in the ruined chapel there. The service was lovely and the singing beautiful. Tourists passing by came and joined them, and the atmosphere was wonderful.

We were asked what we cherished about our diocese, and what values give life to your diocese. Many suggestions were written up on the board. This was a very interesting afternoon. The Bishop ended the afternoon with a prayer for the diocese adapted from David Adam.

This year the Diocesan Synod was constituted on Tuesday, 4th March, during Holy Eucharist in St John’s Cathedral, Oban, at 5.30 pm This was a lovely service with the Renewal of Ordination Vows, and the Blessing of Oils. I felt very privileged to take the Oil of the Catechumens to the Alter for blessing.

The Pre-Synod dinner at 7.00 pm was held in the Argyllshire Gathering Hall. Dinner was excellent, and afterwards Elspeth and Martin organized reeling which made for a really excellent evening.

Diocesan Synod Meeting, Wednesday, 5th March 2008

The Bishop welcomed everyone to the Centre and opened the meeting with a prayer.

The Bishop welcomed The Revd Canon Prof John Richardson, Convenor of the General Synod Committee on Canons and a member of the Provincial Personnnel Committee; Miss Lorna Finley, Provincial Information Officer, and Mrs Sarah Wolffe, Chancellor to; the Diocese. He also especially welcomed Mr Johnny Bell, Solicitor, in his capacity as the newly appointed Diocesan Registrar. He also welcomed Revd Robert Breaden, newly appointed minister to St. Columba's Portree; Revd Paul Fletcher, recently arrived and residing in the diocese; and Mr Johnathan Jones of the USPG. In Memoriam: Lady Maclean, Mrs Joren Shilson and Mrs Hester Scott were mentioned.

The Bishop’s Report had been circulated with the Synod Papers, but, expanding on his report, he said he had only confirmed one candidate during the year. He said confirmation is very much one of the sacraments, and emphasised the importance of everyone interfacing with young people, and referred them to the booklet prepared by Anne Tomlinson, ‘Welcoming Small Congregations’. The Bishop said that if every member of our congregations went out and brought just one person each into their local body of Christ, we would do well. Bishop Martin said that the new diocesan website was now on line and invited everyone to look at it and make any comments. Any alterations charges should wish to make should be given to Audrey Walton.

Mr. Todhunter, Diocesan Treasurer, reported that the Financial Statements for 2007 were still in the process of being audited. The auditors were new to the diocese and needed more time.

The Very Revd Norman MacCallum gave a PowerPoint presentation illustrating how congregational status had evolved in his years of his ministry in the SEC. He drew on his experiences of evolving congregations in the Diocese of Edinburgh and used the substance of the changes being proposed within this Diocese. He discussed realities in the proposed textual changes, and then invited Revd Canon Professor John Richardson to describe all the proposed changes. Prof Richardson said that the status of Independent Congregations will cease to exit.

Dependent Congregations will remain but other congregations will become Incumbencies. He said this will have two consequences - there will no longer be a category of cleric called a Priest-in-Charge. The second consequence would be that non-Stipendiary Ministers appointed to a charge would automatically be incumbent rectors, regardless whether they were stipendiary or not.

Lambeth Conference - Mrs. Elspeth Shaw said that she led a working group developing plans for hosting the four bishops and their wives who would be guests of this diocese in the four days before the main conference in Canterbury. It comprised a programme of events around the diocese which involves the planning of transport and accommodation. This will obviously involve a cost, and plans are in hand to raise the funds, including letting The Pines to families and friends for holidays during the Bishop's attendance at the conference. The Bishop said that the purpose of the conference was about learning and guidance. He said that it was not concerned with governance or decision-making, but would include questions of identity of the Anglican Communion. The spouses’ conference would be complementary to the main conference.

Revd Canon Hugh Lee (Synod Clerk) asked that Synod members take back to their Vestries a plea for returns to be in on time.

The Bishop asked if the new timetable of Eucharist on the Tuesday evening with Synod starting promptly at l0.00 am on the following morning, was an improvement? Most people were in favour, but the Bishop said he had received one or two complaints in view of which he would circulate a general invitation for comments through his newsletter.

The Bishop thanked everyone who was involved in organising the three days of Synod and also thanked those who had offered hospitality to Synod members. He thanked all the guest speakers who had given great insight into many issues. He thanked Mrs Sarah Wolffe, Chancellor of the Diocese, who gave him invaluable advice and support. He then thanked Dean Norman MacCallum for his friendship, support and encouragement.

The Bishop finally confirmed the Acts of Synod and closed with a prayer.

Sue Blockey
Lay Representative
Saint Columba, Gruline