Diocesan Synod

The Diocesan Synod normally meetings three times each year.

It consists of the Bishop of Liverpool, the Bishop of Warrington and Bishop Ian Stuart who form the House of Bishops.  The two other Houses are the House of Clergy and the House of Laity which is drawn principally from Deaneries along with the elected members of General Synod, certain ex officio members (Archdeacons, the Dean, Chair of the Board of Finance), plus people with a specific contribution to make nominated by the Bishop.  Members can also be co-opted but there are no co-options at present.

The Synod debates key matters raised by the committees of the Diocese (for example fair trade, budgets and the national report on the Commisson for Urban Life and Faith); from Bishop James (who always gives a presidential address), from deaneries (Wigan Deanery proposed a motion to look at the need for eucharistic prayers for children.  Any member may ask a question on an issue of concern.

The Executive of the Synod is Bishop's Council which meets four or five times a year.  It consists of Ex officio members, Chairs of major committees and elected members.  Council Currents, a summary of each meeting, is produced for publication.

The Standing Orders of the Synod can be accessed for further information.  After each meeting a report called Synod Soundings and the Presidential Address are also available on this website.

The Synod is chaired by the President who is Bishop James or one of the three Vice Presidents namely Bishop David, Revd Nicholas Anderson who is chair of the House of Clergy, Canon Maggie Swinson who is Chair of the House of Laity. The Secretary of the Synod is Mike Eastwood and the Assistat Secretary is Ultan Russell who also is responsble for elections to General Synod, Diocesan Synod, and  Deanery Synods.