Synod - yes, you say, but what actually is that? Well, we here belong to the Diocese of Europe and, on a more local level, to the Archdeaconry of Switzerland. Peter Hawker, our Archdeacon, "looks after" eight chaplaincies, several of which have daughter or associated communities. According to size, the chaplaincies elect members to attend a Synod meeting twice a year. You could say that these representatives are the go-betweens, bringing the views of the chaplaincies up to archdeaconry level and taking information and directions down back to their congregations. Here is a report of the Archdeaconry Synod held in Basle on 27 January.

One of our main items was a report on the appointment process for our new bishop. Bishop John Hind has been appointed Bishop of Chichester and there is therefore a vacancy. Two of our archdeaconry representatives to Diocesan Synod, Revd. Geoff Read from Basle and Carolyn Favre-Bulle from Lausanne, reported on a recent meeting in London, at which the wheels of the appointment process were put further into motion. Much emphasis was laid on the qualities needed in the new bishop, in particular an awareness of the multi-cultural composition of many of the chaplaincies in the diocese and an ability to handle this. Other qualities mentioned were adaptability and flexibility, ability to communicate and to delegate and, in view of the impossible size of the diocese, the ability to foresee and plan changes.

The diocese stretches from western Europe to eastern Russia. Obviously the Bishop cannot be everywhere at all times and he is just not available every time there is a crisis or intervention is needed in a chaplaincy. Not to mention simply his presence among us. This puts a large burden on the shoulders of the Archdeacon, a formidable task if he already has chaplaincy responsibilities of his own. We are fortunate that, at the moment, Peter Hawker can devote his time to the pastoral needs of the churches in Switzerland. However, this is not typical of the rest of the diocese and it is clear that some solution will have to be found for the sake of the bishop and the archdeacons. We also discussed opportunities for more inter-chaplaincy contact, especially exchange of information in problem areas. Perhaps we could all at some time benefit from each other's experiences.

Some chaplaincy constitutions are hopelessly out of date. We are now trying to introduce a standard constitution conforming to the Swiss Civil Code, but which follows as closely as possible the Diocesan Constitution and the Church Representation Rules. Hector Davie of Berne is working on this.

We also approved the draft 2000 Balance Sheet and 2001 Budget. We are not out to make a profit. Chaplaincy quotas are fixed to cover expenses like speakers at retreats and seminars, archdeacon's travel and so on. The amounts coming in and going out balance at around Sfr. 20'000 per year.

Other matters on the agenda included the closing of the Lucerne chaplaincy, a recent conference of the Old Catholics, Internet access, and a proposed visit of the Springboard team in 2002.

Attendance at Synod always makes you realise that your chaplaincy is only one of several in Switzerland and of many in the wider context of the diocese. You may think that some of the business relates to matters which hardly concern your church, but it is our opportunity to voice our opinions from below and receive information from above. It is a traffic sideways, up and down.

Miriam Keller, Synod Lay Secretary