Over the past few weeks there has been some uncertainty around our ability to hold Synod in person. We are hoping to physically meet on 11-13 September, but recognise we may need to provide a briefer virtual Synod.

Synod books and other information will be in the post later this week and on-line shortly afterwards. They will enable us to follow either option. We are also providing a handy guide for how we will manage essential Synod business virtually (on-line) if this is required. 

We are making some immediate changes to Synod this year.

• We will no longer be providing any catering, apart from tea and coffee for breaks. Please bring or purchase your own food and snacks for Synod. We won't be having dinner at the Home of St Barnabas. We will arrange refunds for any who have already paid in advance - please don't make any further payments for catering. 

• We may need to change Synod to a virtual meeting (by Zoom) for Saturday 12 September. This will focus on essential business only and may agree to adjourn to a Face to Face continuation of Synod (yet to be arranged). We will not be able to complete business related to Selwyn College – Te Maru Pūmanawa if we have to conduct business virtually, but will deal with this as soon as we can arrange to meet in person. 

If you have organised places to stay, contact them and check what their cancellation policy is. We understand this could be problematic, but accommodation providers do understand that plans can change if Alert Levels disrupt proceedings. You may choose to still come to Dunedin for a change of scenery even if Synod is made virtual - check if there is internet provided at your accommodation if you want to join on-line from there.

This whole situation continues to be challenging, and it is one that all other Diocesan Synods throughout Aotearoa-NZ are also trying to deal with. We are working on getting systems in place to make a virtual Synod as smooth as possible, and also seeking advice from our Chancellor, The Worshipful Lauren Pegg, to ensure that we get our processes right.

We will be keeping our Synod 2020 Essential Information page updated and are also working on a dedicated Synod 2020 web page  -  keep checking the Essential information page for further directions. 

Please pray for each other and for our Church: we do all these things to make sure we can continue to be beacons of hope and love in our communities and beyond.

+Steven