Diocesan Synod

Representatives from throughout the Auckland Diocese gather every year to make decisions about the policy and governance of the Church and hold elections for various committees. Synod is made up of three ‘houses’ – bishops, clergy and lay members.

2020 Synod

A Special Session of the Fifty-Sixth Synod was held in person on Friday 20 November and Saturday 21 November in Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell.

The Venerable Dr Lyndon Drake’s Eucharist sermon

Bishop Ross’ Video News about Synod can be viewed here.

A highlights video can be viewed here and images from Synod are below.

St Mary’s-in-Holy Trinity – Friday 20 November

A delegation from our Te Pīhopatanga o Te Tai Tokerau partners

Tikanga partnership discussion

Time to catch up with others

To download the Yearbook as a pdf for viewing offline, click on the link or the image above and then click on the yellow ‘2020 Yearbook’ banner at the top of the page.

Since our online Synod on 5 September, amendments have been proposed to some of the motions and leave of Synod will be sought to withdraw others. Click the link above to see the proposed amendments.

Online Synod

The first part of the Second Session of the Fifty-Sixth Synod was held via Zoom on Saturday 5 September from 9.30am to 1.00pm, due to the impact of COVID-19.

(Below) Managing Synod online from Neligan House.

2019 Synod

The first session of the fifty-sixth Auckland Diocesan Synod was held from 5 to 7 September at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell.

A video of Synod 2019 can be viewed here and images from Synod are below.

St Mary’s Church – Thursday 5 September

Days 2-3 Thursday and Friday 6-7 September

Pre-Synod meetings

These meetings are an opportunity for all Synod representatives to gain an understanding of the bills and motions that will be presented at Synod. Copies of the bills and motions will be provided.

7.00pm Wednesday 21 August
Christ Church, 40 Coles Crescent, Papakura

7.00pm Thursday 22 August
St Mark’s, 95 Remuera Road, Remuera

7.00pm Friday 23 August
Christ Church, 2 Kamo Road, Regent, Whangarei

You can download a copy of the Synod guide here.

2018 Synod

The Third Session of the Fifty Fifth Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland was held from Thursday 6 September to Saturday 8 September 2018.

Coming to the Measure of the Full Stature of Christ

A video of Synod 2018 can be viewed here; and images from Synod are below.

Day 1 – Thursday 6 September

Eucharist Service

Chris Clarke

Bishops’ Charge

Day 2 – Friday 7 September

Diocesan Council report

AYM presentation

Day 3 – Saturday 8 September

Rise for Climate 2018

2017 Synod

The Second Session of the Fifty Fifth Synod was held from Thursday 7 September – Saturday 9 September 2017.

Day 1 – Thursday 7 September 2017

Day 2 – Friday 8 September 2017

Day 3 – Saturday 9 September 2017

2016 Synod

Photos from Thursday Service in St Mary’s-in-Holy Trinity

Bishop Ross Bay declaring Synod underway.

New Archdeacons being prayed for by the Bishops

Choir singing in St Mary’s

Moving into the Cathedral Nave

Bishop’s Charge

2015 Synod

Please click here for the Diocesan Synod Programme

Summary of Synod – click to read

Bishops’ Charge – click to read

Summary of Day Two

The Third Session of the 54^th Synod

Orders of the Day

a report from Diocesan Council
a presentation from Trust Management on the Centralised Accounting System
a report from the Anglican Missions Board

The Bishop Ross Bay seconds the motion to increase NZ’s refugee quota.

Bills

The second day addressed the three bills that were before the Synod with all being passed

The Ministry Unit Statute Amendment – that allows provision for change in the names of ministry units, for bishops to exercise certain powers through nominees, for the Administrator to be a member of the Council of a Local Shared Ministry and for Ministry Enablers to speak at Council meetings
Centralised Ministry Unit Accounting (with amendments) – that provides for variations of Statutes of the Diocese for centralised processing and preparation of accounts
Clergy Housing – to provide better provision for clergy housing

Motions

Motions that were before the Synod included;

Refugee Quota: called on the government to double the refugee quota and encouraged parishes and individuals to write in support of raising the quota and to consider how they may support refugee and asylum seekers in their community (passed)

The Rev Richard Bonifant talking about State Housing.

Support for the Common Life Missions Conference to be held in Auckland in October with ministry units encouraged to send delegates to prepare for the Decade of Mission (passed)
Overseas Mission: set a target of $300,000 as a diocesan contribution to the Anglican Missions Board budget in 2016 (agreed)
Selwyn Foundation: amendments to the Selwyn Foundation constitution, agreed with amendments
State Housing: discussion of the motion continues on Saturday

Summary Day 3

Orders of the Day

·        Presentation from the Dean of Holy Trinity Cathedral including an update on the completion and consecration project Selwyn’s Vision
·        Presentation from the Communications Office including an outline of the Diocesan Intranet as well as website and social media development
·        A presentation on the priorities of the Mission and Ministry Oversight priorities with a focus on Children and Young People, New Ways of Being Church, Empowering Local Leadership, Collaboration and Tikanga Interaction

Bills

· The House passed the Bills before the Synod into Statute that were presented in detail on Day Two

Motions

Synod Membership and Participation – Carried
· The motion sought a small working party to consider ways to review representation at Synod and was amended to include a clause to increase the number of youth representatives

Income Inequality – Agreed
· The motion called on the government to ban zero hour contracts and highlighted the living wage as a step in reducing inequality

Housing – Carried with amendment
· The motion called on the government to take responsibility as a major provider of public housing that included maintain an appropriate level of housing that was maintained to an acceptable standard