Synod 2023 - Celebrating our Vision

With the karanga call of mana whenua and Wairarapa sun warmly shining, delegates entered St Matthew’s Masterton for the 61st Synod of the Diocese of Wellington.  

Over the next day and a half, Synod would pass procedural motions and celebrate the missional steps parishes were taking to live our vision of being ‘A transformative movement of local faith communities.’ 

Special ‘Hotspots’ informed those gathered about what’s being achieved in our key areas of the Diocese vision ‘tree’.  

On speaking about Disciple-Making, Archdeacon Gendy Thomson noted that we are always discipling those around us in some way, in our words and actions.  

“The question we need to answer is are we making good disciples?”, she said.  

Gendy went on to list the impressive number of discipleship huddles and resources throughout the diocese that support our disciple-making.  

She offered the discipleship pathway – used for clergy leader clusters – for people to see how we are embedding discipleship into a fabric for church renewal. For more information see here.

She also encouraged delegates to consider attending the Everyday Disciple Workshops happening soon in Wellington, Whanganui and Otautahi.  

For more information and to register, please click here.

Rev Stephen King spoke on Parish Flourishing and described the support for parishes to develop mission action plans (MAPs).  

He said the direction and clarity MAPs give to parishes is so important in how they move closer to achieving the vision they have for being a local expression of the Anglican church in their context.  

Stephen also promoted the Leading Your Church into Growth training (happening this week). He described how effective it had been over 30 years in equipping churches to grow.  

“This material will continue to be part of our conversation when it comes to supporting parish flourishing,” said Stephen.  

Leading Your Church into Growth happens this week from Tuesday 17 – Thursday 19 October. More information can be found here.  

While gathering, Synod’s thoughts were on the humanitarian disaster unfolding in Palestine. Attendees were invited to support the appeal of Anglican Missions and its partners for the Al Ahli Hospital in Gaza.  

If you’re in a position to make a donation, please do so here.

Synod was a wonderful time of gathering together. 

St Matthew’s Parish are to be thanked for their amazing hospitality. Such attention to detail and creative flair was evident in the decorations and keeping delegates fed and watered with delicious kai.  

Synod 2024 will be held on 19 and 20 October at St Mary’s Karori in Wellington.