The synod strategy was formally launched in October 2024 at Synod Together
It focuses on three themes
Renew
- Encouraging personal and corporate devotion. For example, church retreat days.
- Promoting prayer
- Supporting evangelism programmes.
- making good use of the rich resource of volunteers and paid staff.
- Addressing the needs of the local churches by looking at additional and new ways the Synod can support lay and ordained ministry
- Ensuring good pastoral care is given to local churches and ministers
- Helping each local church discern its priorities by informing, stimulating and supporting through the provision of financial resources for churches in their pursuit of mission.
- Encouraging local churches to draw on the richness of our ethos as the United Reformed Church, as they explore different ways in what it means to be a community of faith.
- Providing advice for Local Churches and Pastoral Committees on issues of compliance e.g. Safeguarding, Health and Safety, Annual Returns etc
- Promoting the importance of attendance of local churches and their representatives at Synod Together twice a year
- When appropriate, work with other denominations as we seek to address the global issues confronting society that every person of God may flourish.
Reorder
- Ensuring that staff are aware of the Synod Strategy, and have live objectives in line with this strategy.
- Encouraging church members to participate in the life of the Local Church as well as the wider Councils of the denomination.
- Reviewing the structures and committees supporting the life and witness of the Synod.
- Working with the Deployment Subcommittee to encourage use of the new Deployment Strategy
- Promotion of Safer Recruitment (the responsibility of all)
- Striving for an equitable and appropriate use of financial resources for the Synod and for the National Church.
The Strategy and monitoring processes will be rolled out across committees, groups and local churches over the next few months
Get ahead and download your copy here
Page last updated 22 November 2024