The Tribune

THE Anglican Diocese of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands will meet for its 113th annual Synod next week.

The Synod will begin with a Pontifical concelebrated Eucharist on October 14 at 7.30pm at Christ Church Cathedral, George Street, Nassau, when Diocesan Bishop, the Rt Rev Laish Boyd, will deliver his annual charge.

The business sessions will take place from October 15 to 17 at the Holy Trinity Activities Centre, Stapledon Gardens, New Providence.

The 160 delegates to the Synod consist of the Bishops, Diocesan administration and officials, all active clergy and two lay delegates from each of the 46 parishes of the Diocese.

The business sessions will focus on two important areas of ministry. First, the final plans for the inauguration of the long-awaited Diocesan Institute, a school for the training and empowerment of lay people and the continuing education of the clergy. The Institute will equip lay persons to be more effective in any area of ministry in which they are now involved or intend to be involved.

Second, a continued focus on stewardship in ministry via the Diocesan Stewardship Initiative (DSI). This will enable the Church to make the best use of the resources with which God has given to individuals, parishes and as a two-country Diocese, the Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands.

The sessions will also receive reports from all of the functioning ministries and organisations within the Diocese. The Constitutional Commission will address one of the morning sessions on the proposed amendments to the Bahamas’ Constitution.