Synod 2025
A Synod 2025 Reflection - Jane Andrews
Growing up, one of my favourite shows to watch was Dawn French’s classic series, The Vicar of Dibley. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a British comedy set in a small town in the English countryside, with a small parish council that is shocked to find out their next vicar is a woman. Their eccentric parish council usually gets out of hand pretty quickly. And I must admit, having only seen the Vicar of Dibley before I signed up to be our Synod representative, I was disappointed to learn it wasn't quite like the show. It's simply a group of people who discuss the future of the church. Which I find interesting, but I don't think it would be a good tv show. Perhaps, you might not even know what Synod is. I didn't quite know what I was signing up for six years ago, and I still find it hard to explain in my own words. According to the AI Overview on Google: "A synod is a gathering of church officials, often bishops, convened to discuss and make decisions on matters of faith, doctrine, or church governance.". Essentially, it is our church's parliament. We can discuss anything from doctrinal questions to social issues to finances. Surprisingly, the most controversial matter discussed at this year's Synod was the standing orders. These are the procedure for how things are discussed at Synod. While the topic appears dry, it actually relates to the way we treat each other. At the end of the day, people want to be heard. People want to know that what they have to say is important. By setting up rules regarding the way we discuss important matters, we can ensure that we treat each other with respect. Recently, I have thought about the way I speak to others. Am I too solutions focused? Am I speaking to them in a way that makes them feel heard, or am I simply waiting for my chance to speak? Sometimes, we have quite mundane topics brought to Synod. However, once I delve into it, I always find a sense that what I'm reading in the business papers or hearing people speak to is important to them. I might not agree with what is being said, but it's important to take the debate seriously because everyone who chooses to express their opinion has a right to be heard. Whether in a church meeting or a casual conversation, the way we listen and respond speaks volumes about the respect we hold for one another. I will strive to listen, and try to make others feel heard.