Having just been awarded a Bronze Eco Award, and conscious of our carbon footprint, Synod met in Hybrid form. Approximately a third of those attending travelled to St Paul’s Methodist Church, Sowerby Bridge in the Calderdale circuit. All were welcomed by the Revd Kerry Tankard, the Chair of District.
Synod was welcomed to the Calderdale circuit and told that when John Wesley visited these parts on 22 August 1748, he was struck by a stone thrown from the crowd. Opening worship was led by the circuit, encouraging synod to reflect on Galatians 5:13-26 affirming that the church is a gift of the Spirit’s work:
22God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled.
Prayers were said for Myanmar following the devastating earthquake on the previous day.
The formal business of the Synod was guided by the Business Booklet.
Two churches were given permission to cease to meet and in one case this included the dissolution of the LEP. One church was given permission to cease to worship in their building.
Synod were informed that mission in Leeds City Centre continues through Leeds Sanctuary, who become a charity in its own right as of 1 April 2025.
Carolyn Merry, the Director of Place for Hope, spoke to the synod about the Reconciliation and Mediation Team and the support that is available when relationships in churches start to break down: two party mediation, large group facilitation, and conflict coaching for leaders.
The theme of the day was “Revive us Again” and the Synod was incredibly pleased that the Revd Leslie Newton came to Yorkshire West to lead our reflections. In Isaiah we read “See I’m doing a new thing…“, but how might we find space in the busy-ness for God’s new thing? Synod was led to reflect on a phrase of Rowan Williams: The Church exists ‘…so that there may be a space where human beings let themselves be lifted’. How do we create a space where God can do the heavy lifting? Synod were reminded that John Wesley preached of the importance of God’s grace – with God’s grace, everything becomes possible. So often the worry is about what we are running out of (people, time, money) but we will never run out of the grace of God. Leslie shared some key re-orientations with the Synod and gave examples from his current context encouraging folk to create space for different habitats to flourish and to play with curiosity and see what grows. Above all, make space for grace and let God do the heavy lifting.
Stories were shared about the wonderful mission being done by churches through Lent, using the Susanna’s Table resources, all centred around a table and sharing food.
A presentation was shared from Action for Children highlighting the dreadful poverty that some children face.
Thanks were offered for the ministry of those sitting down or leaving the District.
In closing, the technical team that had enabled the hybrid synod to work so efficiently were thanked before the singing of “Hear the call of the Kingdom” brought the synod to a fitting conclusion as the Chair closed with the blessing.
Caroline Stead, Synod Secretary
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