The Deanery Synod has had 4 meetings since our last APCM and 4 Deanery Evensongs: the meetings and services move round the 18 parishes in the Deanery. Meetings always start with a brief description of the host parish and of any issues they are currently dealing with.
Each meeting has an agenda of general business and reports, plus a substantial presentation or discussion. In May 2007 the presentation concerned the use made of Parish buildings and particularly churches and this was continued in the September meeting. In November we had a Eucharist led by the Bishop of St Albans during which he talked about how he uses the bible to help him tussle with moral and ethical issues: he was a member of the Select Committee of both Houses of Parliament considering the Embryology and Fertility Bill currently being debated in parliament. At our last meeting in Much Hadham in January, Christina Rees (a member of the General Synod and the Archbishops’ Council) spoke about the Anglican Communion.
There is one more meeting of this Deanery Synod in May in Sawbridgeworth. After that this Synod ceases: the new Synod comes into being in June and will last for 3 years. Members are elected to a Synod. This means that the 5 current members must step down, and 5 new members can be elected to serve for 3 years: retiring members can stand for further election. Deanery Synod members are ex-officio members of the PCC.
Lesley Parker