Making your voice heard

Have you ever thought of serving on one of the diocesan committees? Or, perhaps you are already a committee member and would like to continue.

Serving on one of our committees gives you a chance to get more involved, provides you with a better understanding of what's happening in the Church and gives you an opportunity to help shape its direction.

Committee work can be highly rewarding. It offers interesting opportunities for getting to know people from other parishes, having your say and sharing your insights and expertise. You may meet people who have different motivations with their declared and, sometimes hidden, agendas.

If you have the aptitude and temperament for it, it can be fascinating as you view the decision-making process being played out before you. There is a real challenge in making it all work, and for a good cause.

In the Autumn we are holding the elections to all the Boards and Committees and members serve for three years, attending three to five meetings a year depending on the committee they join.

Finding out more

Boards and committees are elected for three years and members take office on 1st January 2010.

Volunteering to serve on a diocesan committee may seem daunting and you may have questions: “What will I be expected to do? How much time will it take? How often does the committee meet?”

The secretary of the committee, on which you’re considering service, will be able to answer your enquiries and tell you the purpose of the committee and the scope of its work.

The Boards and Committees

If you are a member of the Diocesan Synod, you might like to join the Bishop’s Council, which acts as both the Board of Directors of the Ely Diocesan Board of Finance and the Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod. In this way the Bishop is able to use the Bishop’s Council as the body that is responsible for both policy and financial matters relating to the diocese. The Bishop’s Council also serves as the Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee, taking forward mission in the parishes and making sure that there is sufficient provision for the cure of souls in the diocese. Jane Logan will be able to give you more information

The Board seeks to promote, develop and coordinate responsible social thought and action within the diocese. It advises and supports individuals and groups in projects of social action within their communities. Members take an active part in the work of the Board and usually have an area of special social concern. Dr Hilary Lavis will be able to give you more information

The Board supports work with adults, children and young people in schools, colleges and parishes. It works to offer Christian perspective to those involved in education and learning.

It has a statutory responsibility for Church Schools in the Diocese, including school organisation, governance, inspection, religious education and property issues. It operates a trading company for some of these activities and provides services to schools through a service level agreement.

In addition to its quarterly plenary meetings, the work is developed through its Children’s Council, Youth Council and Schools Executive and annual development plans are published setting out the detail of the work and its priorities each year. There are associated groups with oversight of Further Education chaplaincy, adult education and child protection. There is also a Resources Centre available to all schools and parishes at the Diocesan Office.

The composition of the Board is prescribed by a Measure of Parliament and includes elected and co-opted members.

More information about the work of the Board is available online at: www.ely.anglican.org/education and there are regular e-bulletins to which anyone can subscribe.

The Houses Sub Committee ensures that clergy housing is maintained in accordance with the Repair of Benefice Buildings Measure and sets the budget for that maintenance to be carried out. It also ensures that current housing stock meets the needs of the Pastoral Plan. Jon Green will be able to give you more information

Getting elected

Any member of Diocesan Synod may stand for election to the Bishop’s Council and all other boards and committees are open to anyone on a Parish electoral roll.

Nominations for all Boards and Committees will be sent out on 1st October to members of the Diocesan Synod.

If you would like to stand please contact Mrs Doreen Cutchey or Miss Jane Logan at the Diocesan Office (01353 652729) for a nomination paper which you should complete and return by the due date.