Safeguarding, the importance of Parish Share, our Barnabas work and the rise of Christian nationalism were all on the agenda of the most recent Diocesan Synod.
Diocesan Synod met online on Saturday, March 14, and opened with worship from the Revd Tim Thomas and other members of the Inner Bradford Deanery, using material from the Northumbria Community’s Celtic Daily Prayer.
After approving the minutes from the last Synod on Saturday, October 18, 2025, the Rt Revd Toby Howarth, Acting Bishop of Leeds, gave his Presidential Address, talking about the importance of good relationships, which are at the heart of the church.
Bishop Toby spoke of the positive relationships between our members of General Synod, and General Synod more widely, as well as the strong working relationships between senior leaders in the diocese.
He also spoke of the importance of Parish Share, and about how we have received freely of God’s grace given to us through the costly ministry of other people, often from past generations, with the call now to ‘pay that forward’, investing graciously in others so that God’s work can grow there too.
Bishop Toby also announced to Synod our recent successful bid to the national church, which has secured over £11 million to significantly invest in children and young peoples’ work, developing more leaders in our churches and supporting the next wave of grafts and plants in the city of Leeds.
More on this can be read here.
Bishop Toby’s full address can be read here.
After the address answers were given to submitted questions to Synod on topics including Lowest Income Communities funding from the national church, supporting clergy wellbeing, the diocesan relationship with Multi-Academy Trusts and sustainable church flowers.
More on our support for clergy wellbeing can be found here.
After these questions Synod heard from Juliette Mclellan, Diocesan Director of Safeguarding, about the work of our Safeguarding Team over the last year and the goals for the next.
Juliette shared updates about case management, safety plans, governance and better use of data, as well as our strategy for safeguarding training going forward.
After a break, Synod then heard from the Revd Canon Jude Smith, Diocesan Director of Mission and Revitalisation, with an update on our Barnabas work.
Revd Jude shared about how engagement with Barnabas is increasing across the diocese, and shared a little of what is to come with our newly awarded funds.
More on this can be found here.
More on Barnabas can be found here.
The Revd Dr Catherine Shelley then talked through a report on the most recent General Synod, which took place in February 2026, covering topics including Living in Love and Faith and sustainable church flowers.
After this Synod heard from Bishop Toby and Geoff Park, Diocesan Chief Finance Officer, speaking about the importance of Parish Share.
Bishop Toby spoke about how we should see share as an example of all of us bringing something to make sure the ministry of the whole church flourishes, and thanked all for continued giving and support of each other’s’ churches.
Geoff shared details of our Parish Share strategy, which included upcoming ‘roadshows’ with senior leaders and staff in each episcopal area, and the Parish Share Agreements process we have begun.
Synod then had a time of discussion looking at how we should behave if we understand Parish Share as a shared endeavour.
More on Parish Share can be found here.
After a final break, Synod heard from the Rt Revd Arun Arora, Bishop of Kirkstall, and the Revd Canon Anne Russell, Team Rector of the parish of Seacroft, about the rise of Christian nationalism in our society.
Bishop Arun spoke about the context of the last couple of years, with the far right’s use of Christian imagery growing during that time, before speaking about where we have been witness to this in our diocese, in Leeds and Wakefield especially.
Revd Anne then spoke about they had been responding in the parish of Seacroft, meeting with people on all sides, listening and working for reconciliation.
Synod then closed with a prayer and blessing from Bishop Toby.