diocesan conference
The Diocesan Conference comprises lay members elected by Deanery Conferences, together with serving clergy, ex-officio, co-opted and nominated members. The President of the Conference is the Bishop.
The Conference has many duties and responsibilities under the Constitution of the Church in Wales, including the election of members to the Representative Body, The Governing Body, and the Diocesan Board of Nomination.
The Conference is involved in pastoral reorganisation within the diocese, and a substantial amount of its duties in this, and other respects, are delegated to the Standing Committee.
The Conference receives reports from various diocesan boards and committees, and also receives the audited accounts and budget. Additionally, through discussion groups, it considers – and advises upon – various aspects of the mission and ministry of the Church in the diocese.
The Standing Committee
Chaired by the Bishop, The Standing Committee is the executive arm of the Diocesan Conference and consists of elected lay and clerical members from each deanery, together with ex-officio and nominated members.
Within the powers delegated to it, it acts on behalf of Conference and cooperates with the Bishop to bring about pastoral reorganisation such as the grouping of parishes, the redrawing of parish boundaries etc.
The Committee is also responsible for contributing to the development of mission and ministry with the diocese and, when required, considers matters referred to it from Conference, the Governing Body and the Representative Body.
Under the new Diocesan Conference Constitution, adopted in October 2009, the Committee works through a number of sub-committees: Business, Appointments and Nominations (not to be confused with the Diocesan Nomination Board - see below), Constitution and Structures and Conference Worship.
Finally, the Standing Committee, via its joint Lay and Clerical Secretaries, is responsible for the planning and organisation of the annual Conference.
The Diocesan Nomination Board
The right to collate or nominate an incumbent to a vacant parish falls to the Diocesan Bishop, the Diocesan Nomination Board or the Provincial Nomination Board. A ‘cycle’ is established whereby the diocese has two ‘turns’ in every four.
The Board meets under the Chairmanship of the Bishop and comprises the
three Archdeacons and lay and clerical members elected by Conference. Three lay elected members sit on the Board but the number of clerical members is dependent upon the number of parishes in the vacancy.
Also in attendance are lay representatives from the vacant benefice, elected by their respective Parochial Church Council(s) when a vacancy occurs.
Whilst it is the Board that nominates to a vacancy, it is the Bishop who appoints.
Vacancies within the diocese are advertised in the Church Times and also published on our website.
Clerics wishing to discuss vacancies are welcome to contact The Board Secretary, Revd Fr Paul R Mackness
All enquires are treated in the strictest confidence.
In addition to its role in nominating to vacancies, the Board also works very closely with the Diocesan Churches and Pastoral Committee in considering the most effective manner in which ministerial and pastoral needs are met within the diocese.