Members of the Bishop's Council act as the Company Directors and Charity Trustees of the Ely Diocesan Board of Finance (EDBF).
Bishop's Council members have legal duties to comply with company and charity law in terms of the running of the Diocese of Ely as a charitable business.
Bishop's Council Functions
The functions of the Bishop's Council are set out in Standing Order 47 of the Diocesan Synod Standing Orders as follows:
- to advise the President (the Bishop) on any matters which he may refer to it;
- to plan the business of the Synod, prepare the agenda for its sessions, and to circulate to members information about matters for discussion;
- to initiate proposals for action by the Synod and to advise it on matters of policy which are placed before it;
- subject to the directions of the Synod, to transact the business of the Synod between sessions;
- to appoint members of committees or nominate members for election to committees subject to the directions of the Synod;
- to carry out such other functions as the Synod may delegate to it;
- to act as the Diocesan Mission and Pastoral Committee;
- to act as directors of Ely Diocesan Board of Finance.
Membership of Bishop's Council
Membership of Bishop's Council is set out in Standing Order 44 of the Diocesan Synod Standing Orders, and comprises ex officio members, lay and clergy members elected from each archdeaconry, Bishop's appointees and co-opted members.
The term of office three years, starting on 1 January following the reconstitution of Diocesan Synod.
The Bishop's Council meets up to six times each year, usually on a Thursday evening from 7pm - 9pm. A residential meeting also takes place once a year.
All members of the Bishop's Council are expected to attend and participate fully in all meetings. It is also expected that each member will be an active member of at least one of the sub-committees or other statutory committees of the Diocese, including:
- Diocesan Board of Education
- Finance Committee
- Houses Committee
- Assets Committee
Learn more
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If you’d like to learn more about the role of the Bishop's Council and its members, please contact the Diocesan Secretary, who will be pleased to give you more information.
Dates and Minutes
2025 dates
- 30 January
- 26 March
- 17 May - all day
- 17 July
- 25 September
- 26 November
2024 dates
- 31 January - Click here for the minutes
- 21 March - Click here for the minutes
- 18 May - Click here for the minutes
- 18 July - Click here for the minutes
- 26 September - Click here for the minutes
- 26 November
2023 dates
- 23 March - Click here for the minutes
- 20 May - Click here for the minutes
- 6 July (Extraordinary meeting) - Click here for the minutes
- 27 July - Click here for the minutes
- 28 September - Click here for the minutes
- 23 November - Click here for the minutes
2022 dates
- 1 February (PM) - Click here for the minutes
- 23 March - Click here for the minutes
- 21 May (all day) - Click here for the minutes
- 6 July (PM) - Click here for the minutes
- 28 September (PM) - Click here for the minutes
- 23 November (PM) - Click here for the minutes
2021 dates
- 27 January (evening session) Click here for the minutes
- 24 March (evening session) Click here for the minutes
- 22 May (all day) Click here for the minutes
- 15 September - Click here for the minutes
- 23 November - Click here for the minutes
2020 dates
- 23 January 2020 - Click here for the minutes
- 28 May 2020 - Click here for the minutes
- 8 July 2020 - Click here for the minutes
- 24 September 2020 - Click here for the minutes
- 18 November 2020 - Click here for the minutes
2019 dates
- 25/26 January 2019 - Click here for the minutes
- 14 March 2019 - Click here for the minutes
- 18 July 2019 - Click here for the minutes
- 30 September 2019 - Click here for the minutes