Below you will find a summary of all the Motions passed at Synod 2022. If you have any questions about any of these, do feel free to be in touch firstly with your Vicar/Priest in Charge or Synod Representatives, or with Diocesan Manager Ben Pringle.

Motion 1: Procedural Omnibus Canon
Our Procedural Omnibus motion, confirming the hours, order of business, Committees and other functions of Synod, was adopted.

Motion 2: Diocesan Council Report
The Diocesan Council Report enclosed in the Reports Books for 2022, was presented by Archdeacon Sue Fordyce and was received by Synod.

Motion 3: Omnibus Canon Amendments
Motion 3 was passed after discussion. In summary, this Motion amends the Diocesan Social Service and Community Development Board Canon 1993 by replacing section 4(1) to reflect that the Board consists of the Bishop or the Bishop’s nominee; and between four and six persons appointed by the Diocesan Council at its first meeting after the second ordinary session of Synod. Schedule 1 of the Diocesan Lay Ministry Canon 2019 was also amended. 

Motion 4: Clergy Welfare Committee
Synod repealed the Clergy Welfare Committee, removing all references to the Committee within the Diocesan Canons (Diocesan Governance Canon, Schedule 5, ‘Groups and Office Holders’) and the Diocesan Standing Resolutions (A1: Clergy Welfare Committee). 

Motion 5: Budget Share Review and General Diocesan Fund (GDF) Budget 2023
Keith Millar of Finance Committee presented via Zoom a summary of the General Diocesan Fund Budget for 2023, which had been approved by Diocesan Council and placed before Synod for adoption. He noted that next year’s budget will see a deficit of $82,747. The Parish Budget Share for 2023 will be $998,647 (a decrease of $49,757 from the 2022 figure of $1,048,404). In the year 2021, the GDF accounts (excluding the Insurance Board) recorded a surplus of $84k (compared to a deficit of $135k in 2019) vs budgeted deficit of $83k (compared to a deficit $70k in 2019). The total GDF (including Insurance) recorded a surplus of $235k (compared to a deficit of $373k in 2019).

Motion 6: Sale of Holy Trinity, Avalon
Synod approved the sale of Holy Trinity Avalon, from which 25% of the proceeds of sale will be tithed to Te Hui Amorangi ki te Ūpoko o te Ika.

Motion 7: All Saints Hataitai-Kilbirnie
This motion asked Synod to affirm that All Saints Hataitai-Kilbirnie be known and spoken of as the most beloved Mission Unit within Wellington Diocese. The motion was deferred to 2023.

Motion 8: Invitation for Mission Units to Join Eco Church NZ
Synod committed as a Diocese to uphold the safeguarding of all creation by encouraging all Mission Units to register as Eco Churches and inviting each Ministry Unit to complete the self-assessment for Eco Churches during 2023. That the Diocese will support this commitment by tracking the Eco Church membership and self-assessment process in Schedule A, to record the number of mission units committed to this creation care journey.

Motion 9: Diocesan Priorities for 2023
Synod adopted the following priorities, requesting that these be a prime consideration in decisions relating to the resourcing and activity of the Diocese, for the following 12 months. 

1. Housing: seeking transformation for the most vulnerable within New Zealand’s worsening housing crisis 

2. Climate: safeguarding all creation by actively reducing carbon emissions 

3. Refugees: responding in compassionate and generous ways to the growing global humanitarian crisis (Recalling that this Diocese has collectively supported over 325 households comprising nearly 950 people through its partnership with Red Cross since 2016.)

Motion 10: Synod 2023
Next year’s Synod will be held on the 14th and 15th of October in Whakaoriori (Masterton).

Motion 11: Vote of Thanks
Synod finished with the usual vote of thanks to all those involved, led by Archdeacon Julie. She noted that Synod remains part of our common life, and how in the genesis of the church in Aotearoa New Zealand Bishop Selwyn’s vision was for clergy and laity to have an equal voice in mission together, compared to the clergy-dominated governance of his UK experience.  

Bishop Justin concluded our time together with one of his favourite blessings:  

As you travel the journey ahead
May you hear the whisper of God’s Fatherly voice guiding you to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family of faith.
May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you will live deeply and from the heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression and the exploitation of people, so that you will work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears to shed for those that mourn, so that you will reach out your hand to them and turn their mourning into joy.
May God bless you with just enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world, so that you will do those things that others say cannot be done.
And may you know the love, joy and freedom that is your inheritance as the children of the Living God.
Amen