The General Synod
The Scottish Episcopal Church will hold the 2026 meeting of the General Synod in June. The meeting will take place at the Stirling Court Hotel at the university of Stirling.
About The General Synod
The General Synod acts as the Parliament of the Scottish Episcopal Church.
It is the Church’s legislative and deliberative body. Synod members oversee and direct the work of the Church’s boards and committees.
The General Synod meets once a year to vote on two broad types of motion: firstly on formal changes to Canon Law or internal church policy; and secondly on wider issues of national and international concern.
Under the first category, the General Synod could, for example, authorise a new baptism service or change the rite for the burial of the dead, or change clergy disciplinary procedure.
Subjects covered by the second, broader type of motion have in the past ranged from the situation in the Middle East to nuclear power stations and the plight of asylum seekers. In these cases, the General Synod has the power to speak out and call for action on behalf of the whole Church.
The General Synod often invites guest speakers to address it on specific areas of concern.
It also receives and responds to reports from bodies like Christian Aid and the World Council of Churches.
The annual meeting also receives reports from its various boards and committees and elects new conveners and members.
The Rest of the Year
During the rest of the year, the General Synod’s work is carried out by its boards and committees, and by the officers who work in the General Synod Office.
