An autumnal morning in the Cathedral Precincts saw the Diocesan Synod gather at the International Study Centre for an unusual meeting. The idea was to keep the normal, procedural business of synods down to an absolute minimum and to concentrate on the way the Church engages with children and young people.

Youth

A youth band (from Wye) led the opening worship and the Synod was then treated to stories of work with young people up and down the diocese. In towns and remote villages; small groups and large; led by professionals and volunteers. Inspiring stories of hard work and (sometimes) heartening results. Not forgetting the work which Church in Society does with disadvantaged children in trouble with the police.

Schools

15,000 children go to a church school each day in this diocese – that’s 101 primary and 4 secondary schools. The headteacher from an idyllic rural school compared notes about their different worlds with her opposite number from a tough urban area. And the parish priest in Sandwich deanery, who spends half his time as chaplain to two large secondary schools in the town, waxed lyrical about the opportunities his role provides.

Children

Two memorable highlights of work with children were stories of Kidz Club, an evangelistic club which is spreading across the diocese, and 7 children who told the Synod (in their own words) why they liked the experimental idea of taking Communion before being confirmed.

Most Synod members confessed that they had no idea that all this unsung work was going on. And the routine business – minutes, reports etc - took just 7 minutes! Could PCCs run like that ………..?

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