2024
Every three years, there is a requirement to elect a new Diocesan Synod. Members of Deanery Synod are entitled to nominate candidates from their deanery (lay members may nominate lay candidates and clergy members may nominate clergy candidates), or stand as a candidate themselves for election to Diocesan Synod. They will also be able to vote if an election is required.
An invitation to stand for Diocesan Synod
"Diocesan Synod is a really helpful forum in which to discern and debate our vision and strategy as a diocese as we continue to look to grow disciples, grow diversity and grow community within the framework of 'Transforming Church, Transforming Lives'. If you know someone who is prayerful, strategic and committed to that vision, do please encourage them to apply – and if that’s you, please apply yourself!
"Without setting quotas, it would be particularly good to continue to work on our diversity as a Synod, with younger voices, a better gender balance, and members from a greater variety of social and ethnic backgrounds."
Bishop Andrew
Would you like to be part of the debate and to influence our response to:
- Young People – How can we listen to, reach, invest in and empower young people and children in our communities?
- Changing Society – What will the church look like across our diocese in response to our changing society?
- Environmental Responsibility – How do we respond to climate change and our environmental responsibilities?
- Respect, Inclusion, Diversity – In which ways will we change as we are challenged by issues of racial justice and other issues?
- All those in Ministry – Where do we focus and how best do we support all our ministers?’
- Financial Resources – How will we be wise and bold in the use of our resources, investing in mission and ministry, delivering sustainable change and demonstrating good stewardship for today and the future?
We’re about to start the process to elect new members of our Diocesan Synod, and these are some of the significant themes it will cover over the next 3-year term. We would like everyone to consider whether they could be involved as Synod works to shape our priorities and responses to these challenges.
Our Diocesan Synod has a membership of about 120 people drawn from each of the 12 deaneries across our diocese. It should represent everyone – young and old, female and male, all ethnic groups, education backgrounds and traditions.
I want to be on Diocesan Synod – what do I do now?
- Find two non-ordained (lay) members of your Deanery Synod who would be prepared to nominate/second you. If you don’t know who they are you can ask your vicar or a church warden. Ask them to complete the nomination/seconder forms they have been sent by email and return them to synod@cofeguildford.org.uk no later than 12 noon on Thursday 20th June 2024.
- Complete the House of Laity candidate form (see below) and a statement of no more than 100 words (if you wish to) and return them to synod@cofeguildford.org.uk no later than 12 noon on Thursday 20th June 2024.
- Please note:
- In the event of an election taking place, duly nominated candidates may request one copy of the names and addresses of the electors from the Presiding Officer.
- Guildford Diocesan Board of Finance is a company limited by guarantee and the liability of members if the company is wound up is limited to £1.
- The qualified electors for this election are all the Lay members of the same Deanery Synod as the candidate.
- Find two clergy members of your Deanery Synod who would be prepared to nominate/second you. If you don’t know who they are you can ask your Area Dean, Deanery Lay Chair or Deanery Secretary. Ask them to complete the nomination/seconder forms they have been sent by email and return them to synod@cofeguildford.org.uk no later than 12 noon on Thursday 20th June 2024.
- Complete the House of Clergy candidate form (see below) and a statement of no more than 100 words (if you wish to) and return them to synod@cofeguildford.org.uk no later than 12 noon on Thursday 20th June 2024.
- Please note:
- In the event of an election taking place, duly nominated candidates may request one copy of the names and addresses of the electors from the Presiding Officer.
- Guildford Diocesan Board of Finance is a company limited by guarantee and the liability of members if the company is wound up is limited to £1.
- The qualified electors for this election are all the Clergy members of the same Deanery Synod as the candidate.
Diocesan Synod Elections 2024 | Timetable
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Nomination Papers Issued Tuesday 28 May
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Deadline for Nominations (and personal Statements) Thursday 20 June (12 noon)
If there are more people nominated than there are seats, an election will be required:
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Voting Papers Issued Monday 24 June
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Deadline for Votes Thursday 11 July (12 noon)
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Count Thursday 11 July
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Results Announced Friday 12 July
(Voting papers (and the associated elections) will only be required if more candidates stand than there are spaces in each deanery).
New Synod Members take Office Thursday 1 August with the first meeting taking place on Saturday 23 November 2024.
| DEANERY | Deanery House of Clergy Number | Deanery ER Numbers | Clergy Allocation | Laity Allocation |
| Aldershot | 23 | 1845 | 5 | 5 |
| Cranleigh | 15 | 1495 | 3 | 4 |
| Farnham | 18 | 1673 | 4 | 5 |
| Godalming | 24 | 1732 | 5 | 5 |
| Guildford | 37 | 2438 | 8 | 7 |
| Surrey Heath | 24 | 1427 | 5 | 4 |
| Dorking | 11 | 1198 | 3 | 4 |
| Emly | 26 | 1973 | 6 | 6 |
| Epsom | 23 | 1871 | 5 | 5 |
| Leatherhead | 29 | 2426 | 6 | 7 |
| Runnymede | 21 | 1345 | 5 | 4 |
| Woking | 26 | 2233 | 6 | 7 |
| Ex-officio | 3 | 4 | ||
| 277 | 21656 | 64 | 67 |
Allocation:
House of Clergy = a number rounded up to 1/5 of the number of House of Clergy members for that deanery
House of Laity = 1 Diocesan Synod member for every 342 members per deanery (to nearest whole number)
Nomination Forms
House of Clergy
House of Laity
CRR 58(1-5)
An appeal may be made against a determination that a nomination of a candidate for a relevant election is not valid on the grounds that the nomination is valid and that the person should, accordingly, be included as a candidate for the election.
An appeal may be made against a determination that a nomination of a candidate for a relevant election is valid on the grounds that the nomination is not valid and that the person should, accordingly, not be included as a candidate for the election.
An appeal under paragraph (1) or (2) may be brought only by an elector in the election.
In this Rule, ‘relevant election’ –
Means an election under these Rules or to a body constituted in accordance with these Rules, but
Does not include an election to the House of Laity of the General Synod.
In a case where a choice of persons is, or is to be, made under these Rules (rather than an election being held), this Rule and the subsequent Rules in this Part apply to the choice as they apply to an election; and the references to elections are to be read accordingly.
Further details can be found on the Church of England website.