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Synod in session
 
Photo by Andrew Metcalfe

Second Session of Synod 2021 Completed

Andrew Metcalfe —

Better late than never, Synod 2021 concluded with the second session under Traffic Protection Framework Red conditions in the Scenic Circle lounge of Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday 12 February.

Synod met to consider Bills that were not dealt with at the First session last September. Even though the pandemic profile has kept changing, we were able to conduct the meeting with relative safety under Red settings at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Synod members wore their masks unless speaking or eating/drinking, and great hospitality was shared in the room (and outside for those who had brought their own) with a general relief that we were able to meet in person before COVID-19 case numbers took off in the South.  

Image by: Andrew Metcalfe

Synod Chaplain, the Rev'd Brett Roberts from Balclutha Parish helped set the tone of the proceedings with morning prayer, intentional prayer throughout the day, Midday Prayers (with use of Te Reo Maori) and introducing us to a video that encouraged us to always consider the "why" of doing whatever we do. 

Know Your Why | Michael Jr. Michael Jr.

The first procedural tasks put in place an alternate lay secretary (Lisa Burton) and also suspended standing order 9 so that we could mark attendees off a roll, rather than get people to sign in individually and having to handle pens etc.

Synod also approved a revised order of Bills as well as a motion to lay Bill 2 "A Statute to provide for office of Diocesan Bishop and Assistant Bishops in the Diocese" on the table until the September 2022 Synod.

A stadium view from the Scenic Circle lounge — Image by: Andrew Metcalfe

After this, Synod moved into the main business looking at the following Bills:

Bill 1

Bill 1 amending Statute 11, the Home Missions Fund statute 2019. 

This was passed, with the following addition to clause 7 (a) 

7. Grants may be made from the Fund, following approval from the Diocesan Council: (a) To Parishes, Local Churches and the Cathedral District where there is an Assistant Curate in training up to 50% of the Curate’s stipend for two years, excluding any housing allowance. (If the Curate is part-time, then this is to be adjusted on a pro-rata basis.)

This helps clarify the rate and length of time the Diocese can support curacies. 

Bill 5

Bill 5 amending Statute 26 The Dunedin Diocesan Trust Board Statute 2019. 

This was passed, with the following addition after Clause 11 (a): 

“(b) Except as otherwise provided by this Statute and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other Statute, the policies and procedures as to the deposit and withdrawal of funds in the Income Fund, including the division of the Income Fund into two or more categories according to the purpose of and time frame for deposits, shall be prescribed by The Board in pursuance of regulations made from time to time by The Board

The explanatory note attached to the Bill explains why this was requested by the DDTB:

The DDTB holds in its Income Fund a spread of cash/short term deposits, notes & bonds, mortgages, direct & listed property, Australasian shares, and non-Australasian shares.

With the drop of interest rates on cash and term deposits, substantial deposits invested for short terms drag down the returns on longer term deposits because of the need to invest such short term deposits in short term securities. An example is the deposit by Anglican Family Care of monies received annually from government agencies for services to be provided during the following year ($1,450,000 for 2021-2), with withdrawals required at intervals from 2 to 11 months from the time of deposit.

The Investment Committee of the DDTB has concerns about this situation.

It is unfair to long term depositors and is also outside the purpose for which AFC received those funds.

It could be argued that the “prudent person” rule under which Title F requires the DDTB to operate makes amalgamating such different deposits improper from the viewpoint of long-term investors in the Income Fund.

Amendment of the DDTB statute, rather than setting out definite rules regarding this, could give the DDTB the option of establishing regulations (as it can with the Growth Fund). This would enable it to decide to hold such short term deposits (the main purpose of which, in the case of AFC, is not to earn income but to pay for services provided by AFC) in a separate section of the Income Fund. Depositors in this separate section would be paid only income earned by that section of the Fund (less management costs). This would not artificially depress returns in the main section of the fund, for which the prime purpose is to earn income for the investors.

It may be of interest to see what the Waiapu Diocesan Trust Board Statute provides:

“6. As from the 1st day of April 1983 the said Board shall form three consolidated trust funds as follows:

(a) For deposits and funds held at call;

(b) For deposits and funds entrusted to the said Board for a fixed term;

(c) For funds entrusted to the said Board in perpetuity or for a term of not less than five years in respect of which the income only is payable to the beneficiary entitled thereto.

7. The said Board shall have the sole right to determine to which consolidated trust fund any monies entrusted to it shall be allocated or whether such monies shall be held in a separate trust as provided in clause 4 of this Canon.”

Bill 3

Bill 3 amending Statute 1 To regulate the composition and procedures of the Diocesan Synod and to establish a Diocesan Council

This Bill was passed, with the following amendment to Clause 2.1 by adding

k) up to two persons holding a Bishop’s licence as Hospital or Healthcare Chaplains, elected for two years and in accordance with the First Schedule to this Statute.

2. The First Schedule was amended by adding clause 11.3 two further sub-clauses reading:

Firstly: A general meeting of the chaplains to whom clause 2.1(k) of this Statute applies shall be held by 30 June at least biennially being in the years when lay representatives of parishes are due to be elected, to elect up to two persons to represent all such chaplains at Synod meetings provided that if such representatives are members of different houses of Synod, they shall vote in their respective houses. Any vacancy between general meetings which may occur in the seats of such representative(s) may be filled by the Diocesan Council.

And, secondly: The following clauses of this Schedule shall apply to such biennial meetings of such chaplains, with any necessary changes: clauses 4, second proviso; 5, 6.1 to 6.5; 7, and 8.2 & 8.3. 

This will allow hospital and healthcare based chaplains to not only have speaking rights at Synod, but Voting rights as well. 

Bill 4

Bill 4 amending Statute 5 Constituting a Cathedral and Chapter in and for the Diocese of Dunedin.

Bill No 4 Amendments to the following clauses were agreed (explanatory notes in italics):

2. Commencement

This Statute comes into force on passing.

4. Proposed Changes

Clause 11. Staff Appointments. The appointment and removal and the assignment of duties of staff shall rest with the Dean, to whom they shall be responsible, in consultation with Greater Chapter.

Synod added "in consultation with Greater Chapter" to this clause, and removed references to previous wording around appointment responsibilities.

Clause 13. To Reorder the list of powers and responsibilities, so that (iii) To Promote the Worship of God becomes (i) and (i) To receive all voluntary contributions and (ii) To receive and hold moneys are moved to the end of the list.

Synod changed the order to reflect that references to money and contributions follow other references to worship, spiritual life etc. 

Clause 15. That wherever “Lesser” is referred to in relation to Chapter that it be removed in this Bill.

Clause 13 (c) (iii). That wherever it says “Greater and Lesser Chapter” in the Bill, that it now says “Greater Chapter and Chapter”.

The proposed term "Lesser Chapter" prompted some debate, and Synod decided to remove this term, reverting back to "Chapter" and "Greater Chapter".

Clause 29. Role of Greater Chapter. (b) the approval of any works to the Cathedral for which a faculty would otherwise be required, will proceed with the approval of the Bishop and the Chancellor.

The addition of "approval of the Bishop and Chancellor" was included to allow the Cathedral to be within the spirit of faculty requirements that other Parishes and local churches have (under Statute 3 there is a sign off process that needs to be completed for Parishes, Statute 3 doesn't apply to the Cathedral district).

Clause 45. That Clause 45 be removed from the existing Statute.

This clause was called "Consequential Amendments" and is no longer required. 

A motion of thanks was moved by Rev'd Barbara Dineen and seconded by St Matthew's Co-Vicars, Rev'ds Francis and Barbara Noordanus, for all the work done behind the scenes and at Synod itself to make sure things ran smoothly.

Synod 2022 is due to take place on 16-18 September (venue to be confirmed).