Synod

What is Synod?

The District Synod sets the policy for the district, serving as a link between the Conference and the Connexional Team on the one hand and the circuits and local churches on the other. It has oversight of all district affairs, formulating and promoting policies through its various officers and committees to assist the mission of the Church, to give inspiration to the leaders in the circuits and to ensure the interrelation of all aspects of the Church's life throughout the district. The synod may bring matters to the Conference.

The synod meets in representative session twice per year, in September and in April/May. A presbyteral session of the synod for presbyters, which is an opportunity for training as well as for debating issues, meets annually in the Spring. In addition to discussing formal business, Synod is an opportunity for us gather as a district to worship, learn and share stories.

Details of the synods are posted on this page and also publicised through the District newsletter to encourage early registration. Anyone is welcome to attend, although only Synod members can vote on Synod business.

Our Representative Synod Secretary is Rammy Obeng. Rammy can be contacted by emailing synod@wmmethodists.org.uk

Reflections from our District Chair from our Representative Synod: Saturday 12 September, Solihull Methodist Church

Holy God who is God-with-us:

You call us to worship, you send us to serve, you invite us to rest…

So begins the prayer for our District Synod which we distributed on postcards at our September Synod which had the theme: “The Wellbeing of the Body of Christ”.

Since writing this prayer, I have been reflecting much on these words in particular and the pattern that they encourage us to develop in our lives. They remind me of a three-legged stool, each leg needing to be in balance with each other if the stool is to be useable and safe to sit on. I know which “leg” usually causes me to wobble because I don’t pay enough attention to it – I wonder if you do too?

As I preach around the District this year I will help us to reflect on what they may be saying to us – as disciples of Jesus, and also for our life together as the West Midlands Methodist District.

I hope that you will join with me in praying the prayer through the year ahead. And I pray that God will help us to create healthy patterns and rhythms that are life giving and life enhancing for ourselves, our church communities and for one another. Patterns and rhythms which model something of the Kingdom of God to our communities.

May God richly bless our life together,

by District Chair – Revd Rachel Deigh

Holy God who is God-with-us:
You call us to worship, you send us to serve, you invite us to rest.
Pour out your Spirit and continue your creative work within and among us:

Weave your hope through our life together
that we may catch glimpses of your glory;

Weave your light through our life together
that in the darkness we might see your way;

Weave your peace through our life together
that all may dwell in safety;

Weave your grace through our life together
that in all things your joy may be our strength;

Weave your love through our life together
that we may grow more fully into the likeness of Christ.

Amen.