Members of Diocesan Synod gathered at St Paul Church, Weston super Mare for the autumn Synod. In his opening Presidential Address Bishop Michael shared that that across Bath and Wells we are going to make 2026 have a special focus on prayer.
Speaking about prayer in his address, Bishop Michael said he feels prayer is, “… about growing a relationship with God our heavenly Father. By approaching God, just as a child does with their parent, about the needs we have. Through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit knowing God’s presence as we do so. Of learning through relationship what is God’s good and perfect will for us.
“Because the purpose of prayer is not to change God’s mind. It’s to change us. Enabling us, to become the people God has made us to be.”
He went on to say that for many of us the challenge about prayer is “…that we think we ought to be good at it. Yet we find it hard, get frustrated that we’re not complete naturals and can be tempted to give up.”
Bishop Michael explained that this has led to the decision “that across our Diocese of Bath and Wells we should make next year, 2026, a year of especial focus on prayer.”
Updates on other items in the agenda, including the diocesan budget, racial justice audit, rural strategy and the environment can be found below.
Later in the meeting synod members were shown some of the resources that will be made available for the year of prayer as they were asked to consider what a year of prayer look like where they are. Tony Cook,
Assistant Director of Education and Head of the Go Team, talked about the resources being developed to support children and schools.
Revd Caroline Deakin shared how a box of inter-generational resources will be shared to help people explore different ways of praying. There will be a box for each archdeaconry, it can be used however church communities chose and then it will be passed on. Each place can share with photos and stories of the things they have done. More information about the year of prayer and the ways in which you can connect with it where you are can be found in our Prayer section of the website.
2026 Budget approved
Following a series of questions from the floor Synod then turned its attention to consideration of the 2026 budget.
Synod passed the following budget for 2026:
- Maintaining our current charitable activities budgeted expenditure of £15.096m, with budgeted income leading to a deficit budget before capital gains of £1.5m
- Continuation of selling housing stock to obtain capital gains to support the excess of budgeted expenditure to budgeted income.
- Part A and B Benefice share requests being set based on setting a balanced budget, this correlates to an average of 4% increase compared to the 2025 level. A net recover rate of 85% on requested ask is incorporated into the budget.
- A budget of £716,630 to be allocated to be spent on investing for growth supported by time limited funding received from the National Church, accrued Diocesan Pastoral Account balance and LiNC funding not utilised to support Benefice share requests.
Speaking before the vote Elizabeth Renshaw-Ames DBF Chair, discussed the need for “parishes to grow their finances to become sustainable. The diocese needs to contain its costs and needs to support the parishes to do that. And collectively, we need to evaluate opportunities for investment and growth to achieve the budget we have set.”
She went on to talk about the time-limited additional support the diocese has from the national church, “We have some money to help us join in with what God is already doing.” And went on to say, “The finances represent the work that is going to happen locally and centrally to achieve growth in the diocese.” And explained, “I am very excited about the opportunity of investing in growth.”
Jenny Hollingsworth Diocesan Secretary, spoke about recognising how we are working in response to God’s love for us. She said, “I think we need to shift our mindset around what growth looks like. It doesn’t have to be all bells and whistles.
She added, “All of those Statistics for Mission forms that you fill in show that we have grown consistently by a few hundred each year. And that’s not nothing. I think it is because we are quietly and faithfully getting on with what we have been asked to do.”
Rural strategy development
Simon Hill Archdeacon of Taunton and Rob Walrond Bath and Wells Rural Adviser, spoke to Synod about the work being done in relation to rural contexts and sought wisdom from Synod on refining and developing the rural strategy.
Members were asked to consider how in their experience what makes/could make the most difference in the three areas of rural strategy:
• Growing in numbers, faith, disciples, diversity, (including younger).
• Share in ministry and leadership
• Have Fit-for-purpose buildings supported and sustained by the wider community.
Synod voted to support the direction of travel of the rural strategy, and that the comments from Synod are to be shared with the Flourishing Rural Churches Group and with the diocesan Mission Support and Ministry Development and Education teams to inform future planning.
Net Zero update
Bath and Wells Net Zero Adviser, Dan Wills shared an update on our journey to becoming a net zero diocese. Copies of the booklet Caring for Creation were shared with Synod members and an accompanying video of the work being undertaken across our diocese was shown. Dan took a number of questions from the floor before members voted to endorse the actions set out in the booklet.
Download the Caring for Creation booklet
Watch the Caring for Creation video
Racial Justice Audit
Diocesan Secretary, Jenny Hollingsworth welcomed Anira Khokhar, Racial Justice Consultant and Susann Savidge, Chair of the African Caribbean Network to Synod. Earlier this year, Anira undertook a Racial Justice Audit for the diocese. Susann and Anira joined Bishop Michael for a discussion around the findings of the audit and its report, and to share some of their experiences.
Racial Justice Report
You can watch a video of the discussion on the audit which took place at Synod below.