Diocesan Synod

About

The Synod of the Anglican Church of Bermuda is the legal body authorised by the Church of England in Bermuda Act 1975 to manage the Anglican Church of Bermuda subject to the Constitution, Regulations and Canons of the Church and the Declaration of Principles.

The Synod is composed of three houses:

• The Bishop who is the President;
• the House of Clergy (all licensed and resident clergy of the Diocese);
• and the House of Laity (made up of three lay persons appointed from each parish and the Cathedral).

The ex-officio offers are: The Chancellor, Treasurer and Chair of the Business Committee of the Bermuda Church society.

The Synod meets at a minimum of two times a year. In practice there are usually three meetings – general meetings in March and June with an Annual General Meeting at the end of the November. Special meetings may be called as necessary.

The day-to-day functions of the Synod are carried out by the Diocesan Office and overseen by the Standing Committee whose membership is comprised of the Bishop, Archdeacon, two elected clerical members of Synod and three elected lay members of Synod.

Powers

The powers of the Diocesan Synod are set out in the Act under section 8 and are:

8. Subject to the provisions of section 3 (the Declarations of Principle) , the Synod shall have power –

(a) to affiliate the Church with any Province of the Anglican Communion;

(b) to make and vary such provisions as it thinks fit for its Constitution;

(c) to revoke or alter its Constitution;

(d) to make and vary such articles, rules, ordinances, canons and regulations as it thinks fit in relation to the Church –

(i) for the general management, discipline and good government of the Church;

(ii) for the appointment, retirement and removal of the Bishop, the incumbents and other clergymen;

(iii) for settling the rites of the Church;

(iv) for the establishment of ecclesiastical tribunals;

(v) for the appointment of such councils, committees and officers as it may think fit for any purpose connected with the work of the Church;

(vi) for settling the composition, election and procedures of the Cathedral Vestry and the Church Vestries;

(vii) for settling the election or appointment of Churchwardens;

(viii) for settling the procedures for the transaction of its business and for all other matters relating to the furtherance of the Church and the interests of the Church.