Message from Save The Parish: remember to elect your deanery synod reps

 A message from Save The Parish founder Rev Marcus Walker:

This year is a defining year for Save the Parish. This summer there will be General Synod elections which will determine who speaks for parishes at the national level for the next five years. But your parish can only have a say in choosing those representatives if you have members serving on Deanery Synod.

YOU CAN HELP!

Every three years your parish elects representatives to Deanery Synod at your Annual Parochial Church Meeting. These Deanery Synod reps are the electors for General Synod. If you want your parish to have a vote, you need to be on Deanery Synod. If you want people to vote for Save the Parish candidates, you need reps who will do this.

To ensure you have a voice here’s what you need to do at your APCM this spring:

Check that your parish has its full complement of Deanery Synod representatives appointed - this is different for each Parish, so check how many you should have.

Ask your current Deanery Synod members if they will support Save the Parish general synod candidates

Consider putting yourself forward if there are vacancies - yes this means more meetings, but you don't have to attend the meetings to vote!

Talk to others in your congregation about serving if you cannot do so yourself

Pass this message on; every PCC serving every parish has the right to appoint their deanery synod members, make sure others in your benefice have, and that neighbouring parishes do too.

Over a quarter of places on Deanery Synods across the country are vacant! Without representation at Deanery Synod, your parish will have no vote in the General Synod elections. The time to act is now - APCMs are happening over the coming weeks and months, and nomination periods are often short.

And don't forget: members of Deanery Synod are automatically members of your PCC - so if you are already on PCC but there are vacancies for Deanery Synod, swap! This year your vote is one of the most important things you can give to the church.

Please share this call to action across your benefice and with neighbouring churches to ensure all parishes have their vote count this year. This year you have the change to take action to save the parish, make sure your voice is heard.

Many thanks,




































The Rev’d Marcus Walker

for Save the Parish

Save the Parish campaigns for well-resourced, locally-rooted ministry across the Church of England.















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