Diocesan Synod 2020: Day One

Today (Friday 28 February) was the opening of the Diocese of Aberdeen & Orkney’s Synod and conference.

The delegates to Synod gathered in Aberdeen from across the Diocese where they were welcomed by the Rt Rev Anne Dyer who then introduced Dr Steve Aisthorpe, a Mission Development Worker for the Church of Scotland, who lead the afternoon’s conference session entitled ‘The Invisible Church’.

Dr Aisthorpe began by presenting the results of a survey he conducted of those who are Christians but who do not regularly attend Church. He then went on to lead the delegates in a group discussion on how the Church might wish to respond to these statistics. A recording of Dr Aisthorpe’s lecture will be made available on the Diocesan website after the conclusion of the Synod.

After the lecture the delegates made their way to St Andrew’s Cathedral, Aberdeen for the Diocesan Eucharist and Celebration of Ministry. The Eucharist included the renewal of baptismal promises. There was a renewal of the promises of the Lay Readers in the Diocese and a renewal of the Ordination Vows of the Clergy.

The Rev Dr Dennis Berk was installed and licensed as Dean of the Diocese during the service.

You can read the report of the second day of the Diocesan Synod here.