The Bishop’s Council acts as Standing Committee for Diocesan Synod - so decision-making and updates on work in progress continue in between Diocesan Synod meetings.
The Bishop’s Council serves as Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee (DMPC) and Diocesan Board of Finance (DBF) concurrently, so the membership and matters for discussion are the same across the three bodies.
Its other main roles are to advise the Bishop and Diocesan Synod on matters of policy and forward planning, to consider and recommend to Diocesan Synod a budget produced by the DBF and to consider the annual accounts of the DBF.
You can view the full list of Bishop's Council members here.
The role of Bishop’s Council as DBF
- As DBF, the Council is a statutory body, established under the Diocesan Boards of Finance Measure 1925 and a company registered under the Companies Act
- It is also a registered charity and members are therefore charity trustees
- The DBF acts as the financial executive of the Diocese, is responsible for preparing the annual budget and accounts of the Diocese, and acts in accordance with the policy and directives of Diocesan Synod
- Also, the DBF holds properties and investments in support of the clergy in the diocese and also as Custodian Trustee on behalf of parish and church school trusts
- Additionally, the DBF deals with a range of other matters such as risk management, contracts for buildings and services, insurance and the employment of the Board’s staff
The role of Bishop’s Council as DMPC
- As DMPC the Council carries out the responsibilities identified under the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 including reviewing the arrangements for pastoral organisation in the diocese (eg deanery planning, changes to parishes and benefices, church closures, Bishop’s Mission Orders).
Members of the Bishop's Council
Ex officio
- The Bishop of Durham
- The Bishop of Jarrow
- The Dean of Durham
- The Archdeacon of Auckland
- The Archdeacon of Durham
- The Archdeacon of Sunderland
- The Chair of the House of Clergy of Diocesan Synod
- The Chair of the House of Laity of Diocesan Synod
- The Chair of the Finance Group
Elected
- Three elected clergy members (one from each Archdeaconry)
- Nine elected lay members (at least one from each Archdeaconry)
- One elected lay member from the Diocesan Youth Council
Meeting dates for Bishop’s Council
2025
24-25 January
11 March
29 April
2 June
21 July
15 September
21 October
1 December
Bishop’s Council papers
For papers related to Bishop’s Council search in Documents.