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Members and Staff

GENERAL SYNOD OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Office

Church House, Great Smith St, London SW1P 3NZ
020 7898 1000 Fax: 020 7898 1369
email: synod@c-of-e.org.uk

Staff

William Fittall, Secretary General Tel: 020 7898 1360 email: william.fittall@c-of-e.org.uk

David Williams, Clerk to the Synod Tel: 020 7898 1559 email: david.williams@c-of-e.org.uk

Alastair Callcutt, Head of Synod Support Tel: 020 7898 1374 email: alastair.callcutt@c-of-e.org.uk

Who are the members of the General Synod?

The General Synod has 467 members. It comprises the Convocations of Canterbury and York, joined together in a House of Bishops and a House of Clergy, to which is added a House of Laity.

The House of Bishops is made up of the Upper Houses of the Convocations of Canterbury and York. It consists of the archbishops and all other diocesan bishops and the Bishop of Dover as ex officio members, six bishops elected by and from the suffragan bishops (and certain other bishops) of the Province of Canterbury (other than the Bishop of Dover), three bishops elected by and from the suffragan bishops (and certain other bishops) of the Province of York, and any other bishops residing in either Province who are members of the Archbishops' Council.

The House of Clergy is made up of the Lower Houses of the Convocations of Canterbury and York. It consists of clergy (other than bishops) who have been elected, appointed or chosen in accordance with Canon H 2 and the rules made under it (including deans, proctors from the dioceses, forces and university constituencies, and clerical members of religious communities) together with ex officio members and up to five co-opted members.

The House of Laity consists of members from each diocese of the two Provinces elected by lay members of the deanery synods (or annual meetings of the chaplaincies in the case of the Diocese in Europe) or chosen by and from the lay members of religious communities, together with ex officio members.

Representatives of other Churches are invited to attend the Synod and under its Standing Orders enjoy speaking but not voting rights.

There are fresh elections to form a new General Synod every five years.

House of Bishops

Chair Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury)
Vice-Chair Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu (Archbishop of York)
Secretary Jonathan Neil-Smith
020 7898 1373
email: jonathan.neil-smith@c-of-e.org.uk
Theological Consultant Dr Martin Davie
020 7898 1488
email: martin.davie@c-of-e.org.uk

The House of Bishops meets separately from sessions of the General Synod three times a year, in private session. It has a special responsibility for matters relating to doctrine and liturgy. Its agendas nevertheless range more widely, reflecting matters relating to the exercise of oversight by bishops in the Church. The Standing Committee of the House of Bishops consists of those members of the House who are members of the Archbishops' Council, the Business Committee and the Appointments Committee, and such other members of the House as it decides. Its principal role is to prepare the agendas for the House's meetings, but it also deals with other matters on the House's behalf.

House of Clergy

Joint Chairs

Ven Norman Russell (Prolocutor of the Lower House of the Convocation of Canterbury)
Canon Glyn Webster (Prolocutor of the Lower House of the Convocation of York)
Secretary Dr Colin Podmore
020 7898 1385
email: colin.podmore@c-of-e.org.uk

Membership of the House of Clergy comprises the Lower House of the Convocation of Canterbury and the Lower House of the Convocation of York joined into one House.

The Standing Committee of the House of Clergy consists of the Prolocutors of the Convocations, the two members elected by the House to serve on the Archbishops' Council, six members elected by and from the Lower House of the Convocation of Canterbury and four members elected by and from the Convocation of York.

House of Laity

Chair Canon Dr Christina Baxter
Vice-Chair Dr Philip Giddings
Secretary Nicholas Hills
020 7898 1363
email: nicholas.hills@c-of-e.org.uk

The Standing Committee of the House of Laity consists of the Chair and Vice-Chair, the members of the Business and Appointments Committees elected by the House and the members of the Archbishops' Council elected by the House.

Officers of the General Synod

Presidents

Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury)
Most Revd and Rt Hon Dr John Sentamu (Archbishop of York)

Ven Norman Russell (Prolocutor of the Lower House of the Convocation of Canterbury)
Revd Canon Glyn Webster (Prolocutor of the Lower House of the Convocation of York)
Canon Dr Christina Baxter (Chair of the House of Laity)
Dr Philip Giddings (Vice-Chair of the House of Laity)
Secretary General William Fittall
Clerk to the Synod David Williams
Chief Legal Adviser and Joint Registrar of the Provinces of Canterbury and York (Registrar of the General Synod) Stephen Slack
Legal Adviser Revd Judith Egar
Legal Adviser Revd Alexander McGregor
Standing Counsel Sir Anthony Hammond
Consultant Miss Ingrid Slaughter