Electing lay synod representatives and parish officers

Every three years, parishes must elect lay members of the Synod for the new Synod triennium. This normally happens at the Annual Vestry Meeting.

How many lay members of Synod does a parish have?

The number of representatives that each parish is entitled to have depends on two key things: how many congregations there are in a parish and how many communicant members there are in a parish – see Constitution s 10(d).

In practice, the clergy in charge of the parish is asked to fill in a form (First Schedule Election of Members of Synod Ordinance) by 30 November and based on that information, the Secretary of Synod notifies each parish of the number of representatives they need to elect – see s4 and 5 Election of Members of Synod Ordinance.

Eligibility

To be a lay member of Synod, a person must:

• Be a communicant member of The Anglican Church of Australia. ‘Communicant’ means the person has received communion at least three times in the last year.
• Be over eighteen years old
• Be a member of the parish (and not of any other parish in the Adelaide Diocese)
• Sign the declaration found in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution.

These eligibility criteria are found in the Constitution at s13(2).

Declaration

The declaration (Fifth Schedule of the Constitution) contains the statements outlined above. It also contains these additional requirements and undertakings:

• To belong to no other religious denomination
• Be willing to submit and agree to the Constitution and Ordinances of the Diocese of Adelaide and to obey lawful directions made under their authority
• Acknowledgment that being a lay member of Synod will end if the person is no longer a member of the parish that elected them.

Lay Synod Members and AnglicareSA membership

All members of Synod are members of AnglicareSA as well. The Anglican Church has a long history of providing social welfare and community services in the Diocese. AnglicareSA continues that charitable work and is now structured as a company limited by guarantee. Concomitant membership of Synod and AnglicareSA recognises and continues the strong connections between Anglicare and the Synod.

Anyone who is elected to be a lay member of Synod must also agree to be a member of AnglicareSA – s11A of the Election of Members of Synod Ordinance. Newly elected laymembers of Synod need to sign an application for membership of Anglicare SA Limited.

Election of Alternate lay members of Synod

Parishes are able to elect alternate lay members of Synod. An alternate lay member of Synod can attend in place of a lay member of Synod who is unable to attend a session of Synod. Note that strict procedures have to be followed to allow this to happen – s15A(6) Election of Members of Synod Ordinance.

Procedure at meeting

The Vestry of a parish must elect the required number of Lay Synod representatives

• The Vestry may also preferentially elect a number of Alternate Lay Synod Representatives
• Each elected representative or alternate must complete the Lay Synod member Declaration and an application for Anglicare membership, which will be forwarded by Anglicare
• The Priest or Chair of the Vestry must complete a form certifying who has been elected (see Second Schedule of the Election of Members of the Synod Ordinance) and return to the Secretary of Synod together with the completed declarations and applications for Anglicare membership

The election process is described in more detail in Sections 7-10, 12-15A of the Election of Members of Synod Ordinance.