Hubs and hand-waving: Synod 2021 goes hybrid

Bishop Justin and Bishop Ellie, Chancellor Tony Hill and Diocesan Manager Ben Pringle beam into Synod.

Clergy and Synod representatives gathered this year in ten hubs in order to observe Covid-19 restrictions yet still maintain fellowship together: Whanganui at Christ Church, Palmerston North at All Saints, Wairarapa at The Epiphany, Hutt Valley at St James Lower Hutt, Eastern Suburbs in Hataitai-Kilbirnie, Wellington Central at the Cathedral, Wellington Northern Suburbs at Onslow, Porirua at Whitby and Kapiti in Otaki, and finally at the Anglican Centre.

Bishop Justin, Bishop Ellie, Chancellor Tony Hill and Diocesan Manager Ben Pringle beamed in from the Anglican Centre boardroom, supported by the tech team in the room next door, date scones and cinnabuns from the café next door, and scrutineers around the Diocese. 

Throughout Synod, voting took place online, and discussion took place with each hub location raising their virtual hand when they had a Synod member who wished to speak to a Motion. Once we all got into the swing of things, this all went smoothly. Proceedings were bookended by Synod Charges from Bishop Justin and Bishop Ellie respectively.

As Synod began, Bishop Justin noted how he was missing seeing the bags of Ohakune carrots on the tables – a tradition in recent years, but more importantly, how he missed seeing everyone face to face. He acknowledged that Synod on Zoom is less optimal as a method of governance, and how gathering in hubs was a way that local fellowship could still take place. He also noted that it was an unusual day – Super Saturday – and how he had received his second vaccination the Monday prior. As a House of Bishops, +Justin said, the Province was fully supportive of the vaccination process and encouraged us all to think of the most vulnerable among us. Together, we celebrated that the Get One, Give One campaign now sits at around $130,000: a phenomenal achievement – that’s 13,000 vaccines going to where they are needed most.  

But most of the usual things still happened. Diocesan Manager Ben Pringle, yet to do a Synod in person, was still able to utter the immortal words: ‘Mr President, I believe we have a quorum.’ There was the welcome to those who were attending Synod for the first time, and for those who were under-35 representatives. Fellow Dioceses sent their greetings and prayers for our time together. One particular highlight was hearing from Bishop Vicente in the Diocese of Niassa in Mozambique, who have recently undergone such hardship and challenge with Covid-19, famine and civil unrest. Bishop Ellie read out his message:

‘Praise be to God, what a joy to know that our friends are standing in the gap lifting the yoke together with us. God is faithful.’

We kept prayerful and grateful silence as we remembered those clergy and lay Synod Representatives who had gone to be with Jesus since the last Synod: Mark with silence those who have passed in the last year: Rev Margaret Carr, Rev Ann Dinniss, Rev Canon Richard Simpson, Rev Geoff Neilson, Rev Muriel Dewe, and Graham Edridge.

 Vicar-General Julie Rokotakala and the Kāpiti hub ably led worship and covered each Motion in prayer throughout Synod. Reverend Simon Falconer (Parish of Ōtaki) read John 14:15-37, and as Julie prayed she reminded us of the promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit who unites us all, even though we are separated.

For the Anglican Centre team, it was a joy to gather for Eucharist with the Wellington Central hub down at the Cathedral, and enjoy fellowship over lunch together afterwards. A huge thank you to all the hub coordinators, caterers and techies who worked so hard to make this important relationality possible.

Synod tech team hard at work!