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Reflection by The Rev'd Dr Deborah Broome, Ministry Educator

‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine-grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.                                          

John 15:1-8

 

This is one of the Gospel passages suggested “for a Synod or Conference” since our Waiapu Synod is held this week (18-19 October).  It comes from Jesus’ words to his disciples after his last meal with them before his arrest.  Jesus speaks eloquently of the close connection disciples of Christ should have with Christ, who is the true vine.  We should abide in Christ, as indeed Christ abides in us, and it is that faithful abiding that allows us to bear fruit.  A useful reading for those who gather in Gisborne for Synod.

 

The word “synod” comes from Greek synodos, “assembly.”  Meetings of Synod are, in effect, the Annual General Meeting for the diocese, in that they receive reports, elect members to some bodies (eg Standing Committee and General Synod) and vote on a budget.   Because Synod is a gathering of people from every parish it’s a key forum for discussing important issues and passing legislation which affects the way the diocese operates.

 

The basic unit within Anglicanism, as with all episcopal churches, is the diocese.  This has been the case for many centuries: an early theologian, Ignatius of Antioch (c35-108 CE), emphasised the role of the bishop as the chief authority in each place.  We are episcopally led (“episcopal” comes from the word in the Greek New Testament we tend to translate as “bishop” – it originally meant “overseer”): the bishop is the leader of the diocese.  Alongside the Bishop is Synod, the representative governing body which comprises lay people, clergy and bishops.  That means that while the Bishop leads the diocese, we all have a role to play in its governance.  Each diocese has its own Synod, which meets annually, with lay representatives of parishes elected every two years.  In between meetings of Synod a representative body known as Standing Committee functions as “Synod out of session” and acts as the governance body for the diocese.




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