Empowered by Christian hope - Diocesan Synod March 2025

Bishop Michael’s presidential address followed opening worship led by thee Revd Craig Philbrick, Weston-super-Mare, and the Revd Roger Driver, Chair of the House of Clergy for Diocesan Synod, and included the testimony of a member of St Paul’s. After a period sleeping rough in London, Julian sought help for his issues with alcohol and was offered a place for rehabilitation, and he chose to come to Weston. He says, “One night I was in a park, under a tree, and I got on my knees and I said ‘Lord, please help’.”

After his rehabilitation ended, Julian was able to accept an invitation to attend St Paul’s and was subsequently baptised there. He says, “I just felt at home. Our Lord answered my prayer in London and he’s put me on this path to recovery. He told me to pick Weston and everything that I have come across in the church is so moving, I now am just besotted with Jesus.

Following the recent anniversary marking five years since the start of the Covid pandemic in the UK, Bishop Michael recalled how difficult it was to watch the news at that time, and also how he has found it hard to so in recent weeks. He said, “Hope is one of the great Christian virtues that we are called to live out. It is spoken of consistently and insistently in our scriptures.

We’re not talking about the ideas of hope that are current in the everyday language of the world around us. Hope that’s little more than wishful thinking – ‘I hope it’ll turn out fine tomorrow’. It’s also much more than mere optimism ‘We hope that something will turn up’. 

"For the Christian, our hope is based in our faith and in our confidence in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That through these things God has ultimately conquered sin and death and evil, all that would enslave or destroy or demean or annihilate us.”

“As well as giving us hope, God calls us to be people who join with God in generating hope too. In Hebrews Chapter 6, the writer says this ‘God will not overlook your work and your love in serving the saints, as you still do.”

Download and read Bishop Michael's address in full.

After approving the minutes from the last meeting of Diocesan Synod and questions from Synod members, Bishop Michael shared an update on the strategy, Bishop Michael shared some of the examples of churches playing their part in transforming communities, that he has seen when undertakes Benefice Visits, including the Willow Garden at Portishead; the impact of youth work at St James’, Yeovil; the Warm Spaces at St Francis, Bridgwater (pictured above) and bereavement support at St Mary’s, Frome.

He then asked Synod to take some time to discuss what the most pressing needs in their communities, the ways that church and community are responding to those needs, and also consider what support they would like from the next Bishop of Taunton and diocesan Support services as they seek to respond to those needs.

Synod members shared stories of people dealing with pressing needs due to health, mental health and social services being ‘broken’, of people dealing with isolation. There were also stories of hope, with some reporting an increased interest in spiritual matters, in particular from young people, and of revival. There was a request for more support with those tasks which take up a lot of time, and more shared templates to save duplication of efforts across parishes. Others asked for support in helping to consider the difference between ‘God work and good work.’ It was suggested that the next Bishop of Taunton could have a role in supporting parishes as they seek to listen to their communities, as we seek to come alongside them and help them solve their own problems, rather than present them with solutions.
 

DBF vice-chair Axel Palmer and diocesan Head of Finance, Matthew Pinnock, provided synod with an update on diocesan finances and support for parishes. Matthew said, “the financial and operational position of our diocese remains tough.” But drawing on the example of British Cycling coach, Sir Dave Brailsford, and referencing Bishop Michael’s challenge of increasing our worshipping communities by one adult and one child (net), he added, “I believe that incremental changes create significant outcomes over long time periods.” 

He also referenced the support and tools offered by both the diocesan Finance team and the Giving and Funding team and their offer to help parishes achieve even a one per cent improvement of their parishes.

Synod members then shared some stories of what has helped them improve their finances, including the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS), installation of a contactless giving machine, adding a QR code to baptism sheets for guest to take away and the benefits of the Parish Giving Scheme (PGS). Some of the synod members share their thoughts below. 

Diocesan Secretary, Jenny Hollingsworth reported back on Safeguarding proceedings at General Synod, the forthcoming Safeguarding Audit and Safeguarding Dashboards latest. There was some discussion as to whether trustees' ability to undertake their safeguarding responsibilities would be impeded through the introduction of Option 3 by General Synod. While nothing has changed as yet, this will be kept under review and answers sought as model three comes into effect.

Ahead of the diocesan Safeguarding Audit, initial feedback indicated that Bath and Wells received a high response rate to surveys issued earlier this year, including from children. Jenny says, “I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank anyone who completed this questionnaire. It goes a long way to show how seriously we take safeguarding in Bath and Wells.”

Jenny was equally positive about parishes response to signing up to use Safeguarding Dashboards. She says, “Considering where we were last summer, I am delighted that now over 95% of our parishes are signed up to dashboards and nearly 75% are using them to a greater extent, which will make safeguarding management genuinely easier for their setting.”
 

Bishop Ruth updated Synod on the latest update on Living in Love and Faith (LLF) conversations following February’s General Synod, reminding synod that, "This is about people. It’s about us and how we live together in the church." She explained that although this was due to be a substantive item on the agenda, because national conversations are not as far along as planned, that longer discussion will now take place at July’s Diocesan Synod. 

She also advised members that last year she was asked to chair the Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF) group tasked with doing work on whether or not there might be provision for standalone – or bespoke – services that incorporate Prayers of Love and Faith. She ended saying, “Let us continue praying for everyone involved. As we walk this Lenten path towards the cross , let us remember our calling to sacrifice, and I pray that we navigate this well.”
 

Emma Gregory, a Bath and Wells General Synod lay representative, shared a briefing on the February session. She reflected on some of the significant and difficult events have taken place leading up to General Synod, which the Church has had to navigate including the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the failure of the Crown Nominations Commission to appoint bishops in some dioceses, ongoing discussion around Living and Love and Faith, and the financial pressures facing the Church of England.

Emma said, “Despite all of this, we are people of hope, as the bishop has reminded us. Jesus has saved us, and we continue to live in that hope. However, these challenges meant that many Synod representatives entered the session feeling anxious about the tone and direction of discussions. Given this, I believe we had a healthy and productive General Synod, where important conversations took place and real progress was made.”
 

Synod were advised that there will soon be an election to fill the current vacancies on our diocesan Vacancy in See Committee. Diocesan Synod members will be advised of the election in due course. 
Jenny Hollingsworth explained, “Every diocese is required to have a full Vacancy in See Committee at all times so the forthcoming election is simply about good housekeeping. Normally elections to the committee would take place at the same time as elections to Diocesan Synod, but as that has been delayed we will be holding this election shortly.”

She added, “When elections do take place we will be encouraging everyone to think about achieving a good balance of members —considering different church traditions, rural and urban settings, and diverse backgrounds. This is about maintaining good governance and ensuring broad representation.”

In offering synod members the opportunity thank Bishop Ruth for all that she has done here and to say farewell, Bishop Michael said, “There was great excitement that you were coming home, but in the manner of Frank Sinatra, this is the first of more than a few opportunities we now have to wish you farewell. We were so proud of you bravely stepping up to help Coventry Diocese in their time of need and you are being equally brave answering the call to serve Liverpool in their time of need. We are going to miss you but wish you Godspeed, and we thank you for all you’ve given us.”

Bishop Ruth said, “I feel called to interim ministry—I think it may be my vocation to go where there is a crisis. I was up in Liverpool last week, meeting folks for the first time. There is a need for some healing, hope, and reconciliation and that is what I am seeking to do in the two to three years I will be there.

Bishop Ruth’s first service at Liverpool will be their Chrism Mass on the Monday of Holy Week. She will return to Bath and Wells for her final service, at our Chrism Eucharist at Wells Cathedral on the Tuesday of Holy Week. Her commissioning service will take place at Liverpool Cathedral at 15:00 on Saturday,3 May.