Diocesan Synod

Each diocese within the Church of England has a Diocesan Synod, which consists of a house of bishops, a house of clergy and a house of laity.

The clerical and lay members are largely elected every three years by members of Deanery Synods, in addition to which there are some ex officio members and co-opted members.

The rules governing the composition, election and business of Diocesan Synods are set out in Part 4 of the Church Representation Rules 2022. The functions of a Deanery Synod are set out in s4(2)  of the Synodical Government Measure 1969. In some Dioceses, such as Norwich, the Diocesan Synod is also the Diocesan Board of Finance, so that members of the Synod are also members of the Board of Finance.

In each diocese, the Diocesan Synod must have a standing committee, which acts as the Bishop’s Council . The Council generally acts in an advisory role to the Bishop, and may also function as the Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee. The members of the Council are, as in Norwich and London, the trustees or directors of the diocesan board of finance. The Council may also discharge other functions, such as acting as the Parsonages Board for the diocese, although this and other roles may be delegated to other committees of the Board of Finance.