General Synod

The General Synod isgoverning body ofChurchEngland,church withinAnglican Communion. It was instituted1970isculmination ofprocessrediscovering self-government forChurchEngland that had started in1850s.

General Synodelected every five years bysystemProportional representationofficially opened by Queen Elizabeth II.

Itdivided intoHouseBishops,HouseClergy andHouseLaity. All diocesan bishopsmembers ofHouseBishops ex-officio;addition, nine suffragan bishopselected by all suffragan bishops. Membership ofHouseClergyby election throughHouseClergyeach Diocesan Synod. Membership ofHouseLaityby election throughHouseLaityeach Deanery Synod. There574 General Synod memberstotal.

Theretwo synodical sessions per year (4-5 days each), oneChurch House, Westminster,other atUniversityYork.

General Synod dealsthree main areas:

• Central church business
• Relationsother churches
• Public issues

General Synodsother churches withinAnglican Communion

• Australia
• Canada
• Ireland
• New Zealand
• Scotland
• United StatesAmerica

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