An extra-ordinary Diocesan Synod will take place on Monday, 4th August 2025. This is to consider amendments to Canon 4, with an indicative vote, which will be considered at an extra-ordinary meeting of the General Synod on Tuesday, 9th September 2025.
Following practice in other Dioceses, Bishop Anne will celebrate the Eucharist to constitute the Diocesan Synod at 6.15 pm at St Mary’s Carden Place, Aberdeen. This will not be live-streamed, but if you wish to attend, you are very welcome. However, there will not be facilities to attend the Online Diocesan Synod at St Mary’s. If you are unable to attend the Eucharist, you are encouraged to pray during this time. The readings for the day are Numbers 11:4-15, Psalm 81:10-16, and Matthew 14:22-36.
The Diocesan Synod itself will begin at 7pm online, on Zoom. In order to receive the link for the Zoom meeting you will need to register at this link. Following registration and validation, you will receive a weblink for the Zoom meeting. If you are not a member of Diocesan Synod and wish to attend the meeting, please contact the Dean for
This Diocesan Synod is an extra-ordinary meeting to consider only the amendments to Canon 4 that were approved at First Reading at General Synod 2025. All other Diocesan Synod business will be considered at the regular Diocesan Synod in 2026.
The changes to Canon 4 to be considered are :
- Section 12 “that Section 12(b) of this Canon be updated so that the 12-month time limit starts from the date upon which the mandate is issued (usually three weeks from the date of the vacancy arising).”
- Section 26: change “to allow this transferable voting procedure to take place as a whole Electoral Synod, as opposed to in houses”. The existing version of Canon 4 requires that this vote take place in houses, potentially frustrating the process by preventing the list being shortened to two preferred candidates.