The General Synod Q&A

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, is expected use his address to the General Synod today to defend and clarify his comments about Sharia. So what is the synod and what does it do?

What is the General Synod?
The General Synod is the national assembly or government of the Church of England. It was started in 1970 under the Synodical Government Measure of 1969 and replaced the Church Assembly. It continued the tradition of synodical government which dates back to medieval England which was an assembly of clergy and laity who discuss and decide on ecclesiastical affairs.

What does it do?
The synod has power to create laws governing England.
Legislation passed by the synod must be approved by resolution in the House of Parliament and receive Royal Assent before it becomes part of English law.

The assembly debate issues about religion relevant to the general public and govern relations with other church denominations.

The synod can pass laws by Canon governing the Church of England, they must receive Royal Licence and Assent before they can be put into practice.

The body also determines the wording used in Church of England services and gives approval to the budget for the Church of England.

How often does the synod meet
The General Synod meets twice or three times a year, alternating between London and York, for five days each time .

How many members are there on the General Synod?                                                                   The present synod has 482 members.

Who can sit on the General Synod?
The synod has three houses, Bishops, clergy, and laity.

How are they elected?
Each member is elected to serve on the synod once every five years by their diocese, larger diocese have a greater number of representatives on the synod.

How long do they serve?
Each synod is elected for five years before dissolution.

Can the synod rebuke the Archbishop?

No. An individual would have to make a written complaint to Lambeth Palace which would then be referred to the diocesan registrar and carried forward under the Clergy Discipline Measure. It is unlikely that the Archbishop's comments would be seen as grave enough for this to happen.

Emergency debates can be held in the synod, but these are very rare.

Joanna Sugden