Image: Photo taken at a previous Synod
Diocesan Synod and the Annual General Meeting of the Diocesan Board of Finance took place at Flourish House on Wednesday, 8 July. With this session of Diocesan Synod also including the Annual General Meeting of the Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF), after sharing some of the joys he has seen across the diocese in recent months, including around our Year of Focus on Prayer and the 7,800 children who joined Bishop Fiona at this week’s online collective worship, Bishop Michael reflected on our continuing financial challenges. Drawing on the story of David and Goliath he said,
“When confronted with such a terrifying, seemingly invincible giant, the response of the people must have been to consider their situation hopeless. How could they take on such a man, such a challenge? Bigger than any of them could contemplate dealing with. When Goliath mocks his opponents, the Bible says:
‘When Saul and all Israel heard the words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid’.
"When we look at the size of our diocesan deficit, we may well feel the same. Except of course that there was one person who saw things very differently – David.”
He continued, “One of the most challenging questions that Elizabeth, our Diocesan Board of Finance chair, keeps on asking us is this. Why do you keep on doing the same things if they only lead to the same results? I suggest that this was Saul and Israel’s problem when they were confronted with their Goliath. David’s genius was to welcome the living God working within him to find another way.
“That’s what we need to do with our Goliath, our giant, our deficit. Our call is in faith to open ourselves to the work of God’s creative spirit within us, to take what’s already in our hands, and to use what we have to find new ways, new approaches, new solutions to the challenges we face. I invite us to use our time here together tonight to engage in that work. And in the days, weeks and months ahead, I ask you to make this your business in all the parishes and deaneries of our diocese from which you come.”
Download Bishop Michael’s Presidential Address
Following Bishop Michael’s address, diocesan Lead Giving and Funding Adviser, Natalie Wainwright shared some inspiring stories of giving and fundraising from around our diocese. Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance, Elizabeth Renshaw-Ames then opened the Annual General Meeting for the DBF and her proposal to accept that the Trustees’ and Directors’ Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2025 be received was approved by Synod. The meeting then closed in prayer. The prayers Bishop Fiona shared with Diocesan Synod are now available for you to download and use where you are as a resource for prayer and reflection on finances and generosity.
Download Bishop Fiona’s prayers
.