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The Synod

Reviewed

The East Midlands Synod

. . . is one of thirteen Synods in the United Reformed Church.

In the United Reformed Church ‘Synod’ describes: a geographical area; a collection of local churches; the meeting of representatives of those churches; and an organisation that supports those churches and their officers.

The word Synod comes from Greek roots meaning ‘together’ and ‘on the way’.

Local Churches of the Synod

The East Midlands Synod covers Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and Milton Keynes and has around 100 local churches in cities, towns and villages. Many of our churches work together with other United Reformed Churches linked with each other in “Areas” and some are joint congregations with Anglicans, Baptists or Methodists or in partnerships with other denominations.

Much of Synod’s work is to support these churches, their ministers and their mission.

Map of churches in the URC East Midlands Synod

Synod Meeting

The Synod Meeting, which takes place twice a year, is the gathering of representatives of the local United Reformed Churches. We come together to conduct business and to worship together. The Synod Meeting is the highest decision-making body of the Synod and much of the Synod's work, including agreeing policy matters, requires a decision of this meeting.

Somechurch in Leicester
A Synod Meeting

The Synod Office

1 Edwards Lane, Nottingham, NG5 3AA
Tel: 0115 960 9241

The office is usually open
Monday - Thursday, 9.30am - 3.00pm

If you are unsure of who to contact then choose our Office Manager (Mrs Chris Willis)

The Synod office is the administrative hub of the East Midlands Synod. Many Synod Officers have office space there. On the ground floor we have a large meeting room which is also used for training sessions.

Structures and organisation of the Synod

The day-to-day running of Synod is undertaken by our Synod Moderator and other Officers appointed by Synod Meeting

  • Deputy Moderator,
  • Clerk
  • Treasurer

together with Synod Staff Officers

  • Children and Youth Development Officer (CYDO)
  • Finance and Governance Officer;
  • Mission Development Officer;
  • Property Officer;
  • Synod Safeguarding Officer (SSO)
  • Training and Development Officer (TDO).

All are supported by our Synod Office Team

  • our Synod Administrator and Office Manager,
  • the Personal Assistant to the Moderator,
  • the Personal Assistant to the TDO/CYDO/SSO
  • our IT advisor.

You can read more about the Synod Team and contact them here.

The work of Synod is guided by our Synod Council, a strategic planning and decision-making body, which reports to and takes direction from the Synod Meeting. This, in turn, is supported by five Function Groups:

  • Children and Youth Development Group
  • Finance Group
  • Training and Development Group
  • Lay Ministry Group
  • Ordained Ministry and Churches Group

and a number of Focus Groups, currently:

  • Ecumenical
  • Mission
  • Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation

Details of the Synod Structures can be found here

The Synod Trust

Synod funds and property are held in trust by a registered charity, "The United Reformed Church (East Midlands Synod) Incorporated", a company limited by guarantee. The Trust body makes funds available to churches through grants to support mission programmes and projects and buildings maintenance and development.

Your can read more about The Trust on its page.