Last Saturday’s diocesan synod meeting got off to a lively start with Wiggle Worship led by Steph Openshaw from the Children Changing Places team. Synod members enjoyed joining in with this new approach to worship for toddlers, and pre-school children and their families.
After Bishop David’s opening reflection on the Whit Friday Walk of Witness which he’d been part of in Mossley the previous day, Synod members were updated on the various development projects that are being funded by the Church Commissioners – the diocese’s Strategic Development Fund (SDF) projects. As well as Children Changing Places, this includes the Antioch Network along with the Nelson Street Resource Church in Rochdale, St Werburgh’s Resource Church in Chorlton, and the Hub Church at the Ascension, Hulme.
Bolton Deanery Synod proposed a motion on the use of individual communion cups, that if passed, would have been referred to General Synod. Following a debate, the Houses of Bishops, Clergy and Laity each voted against the motion by a clear majority.
The annual report and accounts for 2021 were adopted at the Annual General Meeting of the Diocesan Board of Finance and received by Synod. Helen Platts, COO/Diocesan Secretary, made a presentation explaining the financial results for 2021, which had resulted in an operating deficit of £739k. This was after taking into account additional funding of £900k from the Church Commissioners to help with the financial challenges of the pandemic. One of the main reasons for the deficit in 2021 is the shortfall in Parish Share payments which are over £1m lower than in 2019 before the pandemic. Parish Share is paid by parishes to fund the cost of our clergy. There was recognition for all the efforts that have gone into paying parish share over the last year, with over half of our parishes paying in full. The importance of returning to pre-pandemic levels of Parish Share was also emphasised. This will enable us to maintain clergy numbers at current levels, and ensure the financial sustainability of the diocese.
Synod was updated on plans for the disposal of Church House and the relocation of the diocese’s offices to St John’s House in Bury. The business case for the disposal of Church House has been considered by Church House Company Board and Bishop’s Council. The building is over 100 years old and would require significant investment to make it fit for the future. Following a marketing exercise, there has been a positive offer in excess of the asking price and the sale is now close to completion. St John’s House Bury has been chosen as the new office base, as this building is already owned by the diocese. It is a modern office building based in the geographic centre of the diocese on public transport links. While there is understandable regret that the diocese’s offices will no longer be based in Manchester city centre, the move is a cost-effective solution for the diocese. The new building will be refurbished so that has excellent facilities for staff and the diocese more widely. There has been a formal consultation with staff on the move which is expected to take place early in 2023.
The meeting closed with an update by the Bishop of Middleton on the Diocese’s Transformation Programme, for which over £5m has been awarded by the Church Commissioners. It is now a year since the new deaneries were created, and since the new Area Deans and Lay Chairs started in their roles. Since then the mission community boundaries have been agreed and good progress has been made with appointing mission community leaders. In the next stage of the Transformation Programme we will be developing our proposals for focal leaders, and for discipleship more widely.