synod summons
Key details are:
Date: Friday 16 and Saturday 17 October 2026
Time: Friday: 4.15pm registration for a 5pm pōwhiri; Saturday: Offsite dawn service (precise details will be provided closer to the time).
Location: Elim Church, 11 Heriot Drive, Elsdon, Porirua*
Theme: ‘On the Water’ Mark 4:35-41
*You will note this is a change of location from what was agreed at last year’s synod. The reason for the change of location is to provide close proximity to Whitireia maunga for the Ngāti Toa Rangatira motion. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this change.
Accounts and Report Books
Both books will be made available prior to the pre-Synod regional meetings, which will be held via Zoom on Wednesday 26 August and Tuesday 1 September.
Synod Representatives – Voting and Non-Voting
Each Mission Unit is entitled to be represented in Synod by one or more lay representatives with the right to vote who are elected or appointed under the Diocesan Synod Canon 2017. In addition, Mission Units may appoint one more lay representative with the right to attend Synod but without the right to vote.
It will be noted in the Programme of Business Book, and other documentation for Synod, which lay representative is which. If votes need to be counted for a motion, the names of all lay representatives will be included in voting lists. This will ensure that the correct people vote.
A proxy may be appointed for any lay representative who has been granted leave of absence. If such a change is made, we require an update about this. Please arrange for these by Wednesday 16 September by contacting the Diocesan Manager.
All active/current members of clergy (including chaplains) have voting rights and are required to attend Synod.
Synod Motions and Elections & Appointments
Any member of Synod or Body wishing to put a motion before Synod must send their motion, along with their submissions to the Anglican Centre. Please include the email address and phone number of the mover, and the name of the seconder of the motion.
Motions need to be sent in 30 working days prior to Synod – so please submit these by Friday 4 September to the Diocesan Manager.
Please note that this deadline is important, as preparing the programme book is time-consuming. As such, submissions received after this date will not be accepted for inclusion in the Programme of Business Book. They will be considered only in cases of urgency, and by leave of Synod, by giving notice on the first day of the session.
For your planning purposes as vestry, we will be sending out the Programme of Business Book on Thursday 24 September.
Mark 4:35-41
As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”. When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”. The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”
Register for synod 2026
We are continuing our approach of last year by requiring that all Synod attendees register in advance. Please register by Thursday 3 September using this Coda link.
There will be a cost for each person attending Synod. Full attendance costs will be charged to Mission Units, with invoices sent out closer to Synod. Costs are:
$115.00 + GST for attendance on both days
$85.00 + GST for attendance on one day
Synod members who are unable to attend Synod need to seek a Leave of Absence. Apologies for Synod will be accepted until Wednesday 16 September and can be sent to the Diocesan Manager at ben@anglicanmovement.nz. If you would like to attend Synod for only one day, a Leave of Absence is still required. Note that as we will be invoicing Mission Units shortly after this date, late apologies will still be charged attendance costs.
Childcare and dietary requirements
Our commitment continues to be that no Synod attendee should be discouraged from coming because of childcare responsibilities. As such, we will be offering childcare across both days of Synod. We will be catering dinner on Friday and morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea on Saturday. Please ensure that you specify any dietary requirements during the Coda registration process.
