The General Synod decides on key issues in the life of the national Church of England, ranging from legislative and policy decisions to more routine matters.
The Synod is given power by Parliament to pass ‘Measures’ which, on approval by Parliament, become part of the law of the land. General Synod also has a strong interest in current affairs and social issues.
Structure
General Synod is elected every five years by a system of proportional representation. It is made up of three Houses: Bishops, Clergy and Laity with a maximum total number of members of 467. The House of Bishops includes all diocesan bishops plus seven suffragan (or assistant) bishops. In addition to clergy elected from the dioceses, the House of Clergy also includes cathedral deans, a representative of prison chaplains and clergy employed in the universities. The House of Laity is composed chiefly of lay people elected from the dioceses. General Synod meets two or three times a year in London or York.
Our current lay representatives
- Mrs Anna De Castro
anna@opc.org.uk - Miss Jane Patterson
janeepatterson@aol.com - Dr Cathy Rhodes
cathyrhodes3@gmail.com - Mrs Michaela Suckling
michaela.suckling@gmail.com
Our current clergy representatives
- The Reverend Eleanor Robertshaw
eleanorbox@yahoo.co.uk - The Reverend Canon Rick Stordy
rick.stordy@sheffield.anglican.org
- Father Andrew Howard
fatherahoward@gmail.com
General Synod Vacancy 2025
Following the end of the voting period on Wednesday 27 August, and the count which was held on Thursday 28 August, we can now confirm that the Reverend Canon Andrew Howard has been duly elected as your representative for the remainder of the General Synod term (until July 2026).