The Bishop’s Council is a statutory body established under the Synodical Government Measure 1969. It acts as the Standing Committee of the Synod and carries on the work of the Synod between sessions. It advises the Bishop on matters where he seeks guidance and has, since its inception in 1970, gradually assumed an important role in the formulation of diocesan policy. The Council receives regular reports from Diocesan Boards and Committees and also responds to national consultations.
The Council usually meets four times each year. Meetings are held at 7pm until approximately 9pm in the Diocesan Office.
Membership: (2025 – 2027)
Ex Officio: The Bishop; The Bishops Suffragan; The Dean; The Archdeacons; The Chairs of the Houses of Clergy and Laity of the Diocesan Synod; The Chairs of the Board of Finance, Board of Education and the Board for Mission and Ministry.
Elected by the House of Clergy: The Reverend Canon Y Pentelow, The Reverend J de Souza and the Reverend R Wakefield.
Elected by the House of Laity: Mr C Bird, Ms S Bissell, Ms E Cranfield, Dr M Eaton, Ms M Jenkin, Dr H Kinsey, Dr J Kurien, Mr R Lambert, Mr D Roberts.
Bishop’s Nominations: Mr N Challis, The Reverend Canon L Davis, The Reverend K Pearson, Mrs K Smith.
Secretary: Mr D White
Bishops Council Constitution
Dates of Meetings in 2026:
Monday 02 March
Monday 08 June
Monday 28 September
Monday 23 November
There are five main sub-committees of the Bishop’s Council:
Agenda Committee
The Agenda Committee plans the business of Synod and prepares the agenda for its sessions, subject to approval by the Bishop’s Council.
Membership: (2025 – 2027)
Ex Officio: The Chairs and Deputy Chairs of the Houses of Clergy and Laity of the Diocesan Synod, Diocesan Secretary, Director of Communications, Director of Mission and Ministry
Appointed by Bishop’s Council: The Reverend Y Pentelow, Dr H Kinsey
Appointed by BMM:
Appointed by DBE:
Member of General Synod appointed by and from the General Synod Members for the Diocese: Ms S Bissell
In Attendance: Governance and HR Operations Manager, Governance and Compliance Manager
Agenda Committee Constitution
Dates of Meetings in 2026:
Wednesday 14 January
Wednesday 15 April
Tuesday 16 June
Wednesday 02 September
Tuesday 20 October
Dates of Meetings in 2027:
Wednesday 13 January
Wednesday 14 April
Wednesday 08 September
Mission and Pastoral Executive Committee
The functions of the Executive Committee are as follows:
- Considering/developing proposals for pastoral re-organisation and first-stage consultation
- Identifying options for pastoral re-organisation arising from deanery MAPs
- Vacancies and suspensions
- Local Ecumenical Partnerships
- Development of local [area] mission partnerships (LGL 2020)
- Identification & support of Fresh Expressions and new worshipping communities
- Sharing good practice (LGL 2020)
- Casework under the Church Representation Rules [e.g. Team Council Constitutions – currently dealt with directly by the Bishop’s Council]
- Some delegated functions from Bishop’s Council as DMPC to act between Bishop’s Council meetings
Membership: (2025 – 2027)
Chair: The Bishop of Bedford
Ex-Officio: The Bishop of Bedford, The Archdeacon of St Albans, The Archdeacon of Bedford, The Archdeacon of Hertford
Rural Dean: The Reverend C Harald
Lay Chairs: Mr N Greatorex, Canon R Osborn
Nominated by Property Committee: Mrs E Sivyer
DMPC Executive Committee Constitution
Dates of Meetings in 2026:
Thursday 05 February – 0930 (online)
Thursday 07 May – 1030
Thursday 02 July – 1500 (online)
Thursday 01 October – 1030
Thursday 03 December – 1030 (online)
Dates of Meetings in 2027:
Thursday 04 February 10.30-13.00 (online)
Thursday 06 May 10.30-13.00
Thursday 08 July 14.00-16.30
Thursday 07 October 10.30-13.00
Thursday 02 December 10.30-13.00 (online)
Growing Younger and More Diverse Programme
The Purpose of the Board is to:
- Recognise the priority to Grow Younger and More Diverse.
- Monitor funding from the Strategic Mission and Ministry Investment Board (SMMIB).
- Ensure appropriate managerial oversight for this strategy.
- Collaborate with the SMMIB to ensure alignment with the broader mission and strategic goals of the Church of England.
- Report to the SMIIB on the progress and impact of initiatives and programs related to its mission.
Membership: (2025 – 2027)
Chair: The Bishop of Hertford
Appointed: The Bishop of Bedford, The Diocesan Secretary, The Director of Education, the Diocesan Director of Mission and Ministry
Representatives from the Board of Mission and Ministry: The Reverend J de Souza, Mrs C Banham
Church of England Consultant: Mr M Jackson
Representative from Diocesan Board of Finance:
Co-opted by the Board: Mr C Bird; The Reverend AJ Hutchinson-Wade; The Reverend Mike Macey
In Attendance: Assistant Director of Mission and Ministry, the Diocesan Strategic Programme Manager, The Director of Finance, The Alban Way Project Lead, Racial Justice Officer, Project Support Officer and Governance and Compliance Manager
Growing Younger and More Diverse Constitution
Dates of Meetings in 2026:
Tuesday 20 January
Thursday 19 March
Monday 13 July
Wednesday 23 September
Dates of Meetings in 2027:
Monday 18 January
Monday 08 March
Monday 12 July
Wednesday 29 September
Racial Justice Action Group
The Purpose of the Group is to embed racial justice at the heart of our mission and ministry in the Diocese of St Albans.
Membership: (2025 – 2027)
Chair: The Reverend K Alford
Ex Officio: Archdeacon of St Albans, the Reverend J Nyaongo; Mr Peter Adams
Appointed Members of Clergy: The Reverend S Marsh, The Reverend R Namakula, The Reverend K Alford
Appointed Members of Laity: Mr R Lambert
Co-opted by the Board:
In Attendance: Diocesan Secretary, Assistant Director of Mission and Ministry, Racial Justice Officer, Racial Justice Administrator and Governance and Compliance Manager
Racial Justice Action Group Constitution
Dates of Meetings in 2026:
Wednesday 11 March
Wednesday 24 June
Wednesday 30 September
Wednesday 25 November
Dates of Meetings in 2027:
Wednesday 10 March
Wednesday 16 June
Wednesday 29 September
Wednesday 254 November
Diocesan Environment Group
The Diocesan Environment Group was created to provide advice and support on Environment matters, including the commitment to work towards Net Zero Carbon Emissions, and to raise the profile of Environment issues.
Membership: (2025 – 2027)
Chair: The Bishop of Hertford
Vice Chair: Mr D Lambert
Members: The Archdeacon of Bedford, The Reverend W Gibbs, The Reverend J Sawyer, Mr M Eddison, Mrs J Griffiths, Mrs R Johnston, Mr R Lewis
In Attendance: Diocesan Secretary, DAC Secretary, Director of Mission and Ministry, Governance and Compliance Officer, Net Zero Carbon Officer, Schools Buildings Officer, Parsonage Estate Manager
Diocesan Environmental Group Constitution
Dates of Meetings in 2026:
Tuesday 10 February
Tuesday 05 May
Tuesday 22 September
Dates of Meetings in 2027:
Wednesday 10 February
Tuesday 04 May
Tuesday 28 September