About this page
The Diocesan Synod is the governing body of the Church of England in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes. You can contact your Diocesan Synod member using the form below. Scroll down the page to read key documents from each meeting.
Contact your Diocesan Synod member
Latest news
Key dates and information for Diocesan Synod members
Latest news
For information about elections to Boards and Councils, please see tab below.
We still have some vacancies on Diocesan Synod. Please see our leaflet for guidance on who can apply and contact the synod clerk for further information.
Papers for the Induction for new and existing Synod members can be found on the document store, below.
Dates for future Diocesan Synod meetings
- 17 November 2018 – Green Park Conference Centre, Reading
- 16 March 2019 – Gerrards Cross, St James
- 15 June 2019 – Unipart Conference Centre, Cowley
- 16 November 2019 – venue to be advised.
Document Store : Papers for Diocesan Synod
There are a number of vacancies we would like to fill (see reports):
Notice ODBF Chair and Vice Chair election Nov 2015
(8) Diocesan Boards Elections leaflet 2018
2018-2021 First Election Report – 28th September 2018
Chairman and Vice Chairman of the ODBF.- roles 1018
First Election Report – VACANCIES
Induction and Eucharist, Oxford (all Diocesan Synod members)
Welcome letter from the Bishop of Oxford
Welcome letter from the Diocesan Secretary
Bishop Steven’s Common Vision presentation
John Tattersall’s Finance and Parish Share presentation
Darren Oliver’s Governance and Registry presentation
Nominations to Boards and Councils
Note there is a full list of members by area – See ‘Contact your Diocesan Synod member’ at the top of this page
Diocesan Boards Elections leaflet 2018
DIOCESAN BOARDS Nominations Paper
Other information
Papers that require returning to Diocesan Office
Data Collection Form Boards and Councils
Equal opportunities monitoring form 2018
Other papers
Diocesan Synod Standing Orders ( Revised March 2018)
Nomination Form 2018 Vice-President Diocesan Synod
16 June 2018
Diocesan Synod Papers
- ODS 18.00 Agenda 160618
- Attendance slip
- ODS 18.07 Synod Reports of the Diocesan Boards councils and Committees 2017
- ODS 18.08 ODBE financial statements 2017
- ODS 18.09 Draft Budget and Parish Share Apportionment 2019
- Growing Disciples and ‘Setting God’s People Free’ slides
Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance Annual General Meeting (AGM)
17 March 2018
Diocesan Synod papers
Bishop Steven’s Presidential Address – Tending Creation
Amending Canon NOS. 36 & 37 (for information only)
Question from Mr Gavin Oldham with response
ODS 18.01 Diocesan Synod Amended Motion
ODS 1801(a) Amendment to Environmental Motion
Update on ‘A Common Vision’ Slide Presentation Bishop Steven
Changes to constitutions:
- ODS 18.02 Oxford Diocesan Council for Partnership in World Mission
- ODS 18.03 Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC)
- ODS 18.04 Diocesan Synod Standing Orders
ODS 18.05 Diocesan Synod elections 2018
ODS 18.06 Christ Church Cathedral – Annual Report year ended 31.07.17
Note: for item 14 on the agenda – General Synod Business (February Sessions)
Slide Presentation given by Mr Gavin Oldham 180318
Both the full agenda and a summary of Business Done can be viewed at:
18 November 2017
Diocesan Synod Papers
- ODS 181117 Agenda
- Towards a Common Vision individual worksheet
- ODS 17.20 Budget FULL Document pdf pages 1-14
- Attendance slip
- ODS 17.21 Summary GS Agenda July Group of Sessions
- Common Vision Diocesan Synod Feedback Questions and Hopes
17 June 2017
Diocesan Synod Papers
Download a copy of the Diocesan Synod Summary: Synod Digest June 2017
Download feedback from Group Sessions “Setting God’s People Free”Feedback on Discussions March Diocesan Synod
Download feedback “Towards a Common Vision RESPONSES from group work
- ODS Agenda 170617
- Attendance slip
- ODS Draft Minutes 180317
- “Towards a Common Vision” Paper ODS 17.16 “Towards a Common Vision”
- ODS 17.17 Synod Reports
- ODS17.18 ODBE financial statements 2016
- ODS17.19 Draft Budget 2018 and Parish Share Apportionment
Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance Annual General Meeting (AGM)
18 March 2017
Presidential Address
Full text of Bishop Steven’s Address.
Diocesan Synod Papers
- Agenda
- ODS Minutes 121116
- ODS 17.12 Cathedral Report
- ODS 17.13 GS Agenda & GS 2055
- ODS 17.14 Diocesan Safeguarding Policies and Practice
- ODS 17.15 GS-2056 Setting Gods People Free
Link to papers for information
Link to Diocesan Synod election papers for vacancies on committees
- Vacancy in See Ltr to DS Members
- Vacancy in See Committee Expanation 2017
- Vacancy in See Nomination Form 2017
12 November 2016
Diocesan Synod Papers
- Agenda
- Notice of ODBF Election
- Nomination Paper ODBF Vice Chair Vacancy
- ODS 16-08 Withdrawal of Anglican Communion Motion
- ODS 16-09 Elected Lay Representation on Deanery Synods
- ODS 16-10-2017 Revenue Budget and Projections
- ODS 16-11 ODBE
Link to Diocesan Synod election papers for vacancies on committees
- Vacancy in see Committee Explanation October 2016
- Vacancy in see Committee Letter – Laity
- Vacancy in see Committee Letter – Clergy
- Vacancy in see Committee Nomination Form 2016
- Eighth Report on the Elections to Diocesan Boards October 2016
18 June 2016
Diocesan Synod Papers
- Agenda
- Attendance Slip
- Minutes of the Diocesan Synod Meeting held on 12 March 2016
- AGM Agenda and 2015 Minutes
- Directors’ Report and Accounts for the Year ended 31 December 2015
- Draft Budget 2017 and Parish Share Apportionment Paper ODS 16.04
- Annual Report and Accounts of the Diocesan Board of Finance Paper ODS 16.05
- Annual Report and Accounts of the Diocesan Board of Education Paper ODS 16.06
- Annual Report Christ Church Cathedral Paper ODS 16.07
Link to Diocesan Synod election papers for vacancies on committees
- Nomination Form – Partnership in World Mission
- Nomination Form – Diocesan Trustees (Oxford) Limited Dorchester LAITY
- Nomination Form – Diocesan Trustees (Oxford) Limited Dorchester CLERGY
- Nomination Form – Council for the Deaf
12 March 2016
Diocesan Synod Papers
Download a summary of Diocesan Synod 12 March 16
- Agenda
- Attendance slip
- Minutes of the Diocesan Synod Meeting held on 14 November 2015
- Deanery Synod Motion Paper ODS 16.01
- General Synod Agenda for discussion groups Paper ODS 16.02
- Quinquennial Inspections in the Deanery Paper ODS 16.03
- Amending Canon no 34 – promulged at Diocesan Synod
14 November 2015
Download a Summary of Diocesan Synod 14 Nov 15 (pdf)
Presidential Address (Word)
Questions – first notice paper P Keens 151114 (pdf)
Download the archdeacons’ Diocesan Synod Presentation (PDF)
Archdeacon Karen writes: The archdeaconry plans are ever evolving but this short video shows how some of the themes in the archdeaconry plans are beginning to bear fruit across the diocese.
Download a Presentation on office move 14 Nov 15 from David Mason, Director of Glebe and Buildings.
For a list of members of diocesan synod follow the link.
Diocesan Synod Papers for 14 November 2015
- Item 1 Agenda
- Item 2 Attendance slip
- Item 3 Notice Paper ODBF
- Item 4 Notice Paper Election of Clergy and Lay Vice-Presidents
- Item 5 Minutes of the Diocesan Synod Meeting held on 20 June 2015
- Item 6 An introduction to the Diocesan Finances. Paper ODS 15.12 Draft 2016 Budget and Projections Supplement to the draft 2016 budget.Archdeaconry Area Reports for Bishop’s Council on 9 December 2015.
August 2015
Diocesan Synod Induction Pack – August 2015
- Item 1 Welcome letter from the Acting Bishop of Oxford
- Item 2 Welcome letter from the Diocesan Secretary
- Item 3 Equal opportunities monitoring form 2015
- Item 4a Consent to Serve Form
- Item 4b Responses pages
- Item 5 Induction Programme 2015
- Item 6 Induction Day Reply Form
- Item 7a Finding St Aldates Church
- Item 7b Christ Church Map
- Item 8 Diocesan Boards, Councils and Committees leaflet 2015
- Item 9 Diocesan Boards, Councils and Committees Nominations Paper
- Item 10 Chairs of the Diocesan Synod Houses of Clergy and Laity
- Item 11 Nomination Form 2015 Vice-Presidents
- Item 12 Diocesan Synod Acronyms
- Item 13 Roles and Responsibilities of Members
- Item 14 Standing Orders Diocesan Synod July 2015
- Item 15 Articles of Association ODBF July 2015
- Item 16 Directions to St Andrew’s Church, High Wycombe
- Item 17 Diocesan Budget 2015
- Item 18 Draft Diocesan Budget and Share Allocation 2016
20 June 2015
Digest of the Diocesan Synod (20 June 2015).
- Agenda Attendance card
- Item 1: Dwelling in the word: Luke 10:1-12
- Item 3: Minutes 21 March 2015
- Item 6: Annual Report 2014 (ODS15.6)
- Item 7: Notice of Annual General Meeting ODBF financial statements 2014
- Item 8: ODS 15.7 2016 Budget overview
- Item 9: ODS 15.8 Revision to the constitution of Buildings Committee
- Item 10: ODS 15.9 Mission and Pastoral Committee revision
- Item 11: ODS 15.10 New Communities
- Item 12: ODS15.11 ODBE financial statements 2014
21 March 2015
- Agenda
- Item 1: Dwelling in the word: Luke 10:1-12
- Item 3: Amending Canon No. 32 / Amending Canon No. 33 (for information only)
- Item 4: Minutes (15 November 2014)
- Item 5: Questions
- Item 6: General Synod background paper
- Item 7: ODS 15.1 – Christ Church Cathedral Annual Report
- Item 8: ODS 15.2 – Revisions to constitution of Diocesan Board of Education
- Item 9: ODS 15.3 – Diocesan office accommodation
- Item 10: ODS 15.4 – Interfaith relations in global context / Appendix table 2
- Item 11: ODS 15.5 – Revisions to ODCIC constitution
- Item 13: ODBF General Meeting agenda and November 2013 minutes / Revision of ODBF Articles (covering paper) / Revised ODBF Articles
- News report
15 November 2014
- Agenda / Attendance slip
- Item 3: Amending Canon No. 31 (for information only)
- Item 4: Act of Synod Rescinding Episcopal Ministry Act of Synod 1993 (for information only)
- Item 5: Minutes (June 2014)
- Item 8: A mainstream Islamic response to the beliefs and practices of Islamic State / Imam Monawar Hussain biography
- Item 9: ODS 14.12 – Living Faith: the future
- Item 10: ODS 14.13 – Amendments to Standing Orders
- Item 11: ODS 14.14 – Elected representation on Diocesan Synod, 2015–18
- Item 12: ODS 14.15 A – Disinvestment from fossil fuel companies
- ODS 14.15 B – Disinvestment (Amendments proposed by Chair of DBF)
- Item 13: ODS 14.16 – Covering paper to 2015 budget / Draft 2015 budget
21 June 2014
- Agenda
- Item 3: Minutes (March 2014)
- Item 5: ODS 14.7 – 2013 Annual reports of diocesan, boards, councils and committees
- Item 6: ODBF AGM 2014 agenda and 2013 minutes / 2013 financial statements
- Item 7: ODS 14.8 – 2015 outline revenue budget and deanery share apportionment
- Item 8: ODS 14.9 – Diocesan Board of Education 2013 financial statements
- Item 9: ODS 14.10 – Amendment of deanery synod rules
- Item 10: ODS 14.11 – Intentional evangelism cover note / background paper
22 March 2014
- Agenda
- Item 3: ODS 14.1 – Vacancy in See Committees Regulation
- Item 4: Minutes (November 2013)
- Item 5: Presidential address
- Item 6: Questions
- Item 7: ODS 14.2 – Living Faith review
- Item 9: ODS 14.3 – Share discounts at parish level
- Item 9A: ODS 14.6 – Christ Church Cathedral annual report
- Item 10: Covering letter from +John / ODS 14.4 – Women in the episcopate
- Item 12: ODS 14.5 – BMO deanery synod representation