The Diocesan Synod is made up of three Houses – the bishops, the clergy, and the laity. These are referred to as the House of Bishops, the House of Clergy, and the House of Laity. When it is appropriate to do so these Houses meet separately, for instance, when a matter before the Diocesan Synod affects the clergy and laity in different ways.
However, normally the Diocesan Synod meets together as a whole. It meets twice a year.
Forthcoming meetings:
Saturday 16 November 2024 at St John’s (Meads) Church at the junction of St John’s Rd and Staveley Rd Eastbourne BN20 7ND
Saturday 17 May 2025 (venue to be confirmed)
Saturday 15 November 2025 (venue to be confirmed)
Previous Diocesan Synod meetings:
Please click here
For enquiries contact Anne-Marie Mizler Telephone: 01273 421 021
Elections to Boards, Committees and Councils 2024
Invitations to Nominate open: 07/10/2024
Deadline for Nominations: 5pm 01/11/2024
Ballot papers issued: 8/11/2024
Closing date for return of ballot papers: 25/11/2024
Invitations to nominate or be nominated for election to the following boards, councils and committees have opened. As we look to the future it’s important that we are able to gather the best possible range of skills and expertise from around the diocese. We are also keen to see diverse representation on these bodies. We encourage candidates from different backgrounds and those with disabilities for all bodies but particularly for the Bishop’s Council which serves as the trustee body of the diocese:
| Body | Candidates to be elected | Electors (who can nominate and vote) |
| Bishop’s Council (which in its meetings also acts as the Standing Committee of Diocesan Synod, the DBF’s Finance Committee and the Diocesan Mission & Pastoral Committee). Those elected to the Bishop’s Council serve as the trustees of the Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) and must be eligible to serve as a trustee. | One clergy and two lay members of Diocesan Synod from each archdeaconry | Members of Diocesan Synod from the relevant house and archdeaconry |
| Mission and Pastoral Sub-Committees (x2 East & West) East: Hastings and Brighton & Lewes archdeaconries West: Chichester and Horsham archdeaconries | One clergy and two lay members of Diocesan Synod from each archdeaconry | Members of Diocesan Synod from the relevant house and archdeaconry |
| Diocesan Overseas Council | One clergy and one lay person from each archdeaconry | Members of Diocesan Synod from the relevant house and archdeaconry |
| Parsonages and Houses Committees (x2 East & West) East: Hastings and Brighton & Lewes archdeaconries West: Chichester and Horsham archdeaconries | One clergy member from each relevant archdeaconry and one lay member of Diocesan Synod from a westerly archdeaconry and one from an easterly archdeaconry. | Members of Diocesan Synod from the relevant house and archdeaconry / archdeaconries |
| Board of Patronage | Three clergy (not archdeacons) and five lay persons | Members of Diocesan Synod from the relevant house |
| Vacancy in See Committee | Two clergy (not bishops or archdeacons) and two lay members on the electoral roll of a parish in the diocese | Members of Diocesan Synod |
| Operating Committee | One clergy and one lay member of Diocesan Synod | Members of Diocesan Synod |
| Assets Committee | One clergy and one lay member of Diocesan Synod | Members of Diocesan Synod |
| Council for Apostolic Life | Two clergy and two laity | Members of Diocesan Synod |
| Council for Promotion of the Common Good | Two persons from each archdeaconry | Members of Diocesan Synod |
Please see the Related Resources below for the overview of the Boards, Councils and Committees. The full Committee Handbook can also be found there.
Term of office
Those elected to boards, councils and committees will serve for a period of three years from 1 January 2025 until 31 December 2027, apart from the Board of Patronage which has a six year term until 31 December 2030.
Qualifications for candidates
Please see the table above identifying the requirements for each committee as these vary. For some committees, candidates must be members of the new Diocesan Synod. Please see the list of Diocesan Synod members in the Related Resources below.
Qualifications for proposers and seconders (electors)
All proposers and seconders must be members of the new Diocesan Synod (see the Related Resources below for the list of members). Please see the table above identifying the particular requirements for each committee.
Procedure for nominations
Nominations must be made on the relevant form. Please see the Related Resources for the nomination form for each committee. Completed signed nomination forms must reach the Diocesan Secretary at Church House Hove either by post or by email to anne-marie.mizler@chichester.anglican.orgby 5pm on Friday 1 November 2024.
Election Questionnaires
Two election questionnaires can be found in the Related Resources below, one for candidates to the Bishop’s Council and one for candidates to other committees. The completed questionnaires will be circulated to synod members to assist their decisions on how to vote if a ballot is required and candidates should therefore send completed questionnaires to me by the same deadline, 5pm on Friday 1 November 2024. Candidates will not be able to submit an election address.
Arrangement for a ballot
A ballot will take place only where the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies, and ballot papers will be issued no later than 8 November. The ballot will be by the first-past-the-post system, except for the Vacancy in See Committee and Board of Patronage, which will be by single transferable vote. The closing date for the return of ballot papers will be 5pm on Monday 25 November 2024. The count will be conducted by members of Church House staff and will be held on Tuesday 26 November. Results will be announced and published on the diocesan website on Wednesday 27 November.
For any queries about the elections or Diocesan Synod please contact: anne-marie.mizler@chichester.anglican.org or ring her on 01273 421021.