The Bristol Diocesan Synod is the governance body of the diocese, formulating diocesan policy, assisting the bishop and his staff to support and oversee the work and mission of the diocese, approving the budget, and debating important local and national issues affecting the Church. It considers matters referred from general synod, deanery synods, PCC's and synod members.

Each meeting includes a Bishop's Address, a General Synod report, a Bishop's Council/Board of Directors/Mission and Pastoral Committee report, and features Question-Time and begins with a short act of worship.

The diocese always has an overall strategy, setting out its priorities, guiding thinking. The current one is entitled Transforming Church. Together. (TCT). It is the largest and most ambitious strategy that I have yet encountered, in many years' involvement with Church of England local governance, and it is a strategic plan based around renewing the diocese's mission, focusing on following Jesus, serving communities, and fostering an inclusive culture. It is concerned with growth, environmental sustainability and empowering leadership. TCT updates are considered at most diocesan synods at the present time.

There are usually three meetings of the Bristol Diocesan Synod, but in 2025, there were four. The main business of the meetings was as follows:

At the March meeting, there was a report from the Diocesan Board of Education. There was a video of young people posing questions to the synod for its consideration. There was a report on using Sharesy at Holy Trinity Horfield. Sharesy is a UK-based on-line venue-hire market place connecting people looking for space with local community venues, such as schools, church halls and community centres. The synod considered living in love and Faith. There was a report on the diocese's carbon emissions in the years 2021-23.

At the June meeting, which included the AGM of the Bristol Diocesan Board of Finance, the synod voted to receive and adopt the annual report and financial statement for the year ended 31 December 2024, and to reappoint auditors, Hays Mac. People were also elected to posts on the Board of Finance.

The synod also received the safeguarding report. There was a presentation about roof repairs to All Saints Corn Street, where the memorial to Edward Colston is situated.

September's meeting was additional, and was solely about Living in Love and Faith, prayers of blessing for same gender couples, and featured a good deal of round table discussion.

At the November meeting, the synod voted to authorize the Bristol Diocesan Board of Finance to expend, in the year 2026, sums totalling £15966000. This represents a projected deficit of at least £288.000. Although the budget was voted through, (had this not been the case, the diocese would not have been able to spend any money in 2026!), there were a larger number of objections and abstensions than usual, due to factors such as the diocese suspending funding for Carbon Net Zero.

There was an update on Priority Communities, an initiative involving the most deprived areas receiving targetted help, including funding and dedicated resources. The synod also received a report on the Church Urban Fund Together Network Partnership, a nation wide alliance of Christian organisations, working to combat poverty and strengthen communities, including providing places of welcome and trying to address food insecurity through local partnerships, notably thanks to hard working volunteers.

Auriol Britton

30.04.2026