Boards, Groups and Committees

You can find a list of 2026 meeting dates for all boards, groups and committees here and a list of 2027 meeting dates can be found here.

Diocesan Synod +

Bishops Council +

Groups and Committees supporting the Bishops Council

Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Panel +

The DSAP oversees safeguarding arrangements in the Diocese. It has an independent chair, Mark Gurney. DSAP offers external expertise and challenge to the Diocese on safeguarding matters. It is advised by the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, Beth Miller.

Finance Group +

Investment Committee +

Audit and Risk Committee +

Closed Churches Uses Panel +

Other Groups and Committees

Board of Education +

This is a joint Board with the Diocese of Newcastle. For more information about its role and membership, visit its separate website.

The Vacancy in See Committee +

The role of the Vacancy in See Committee is: to prepare a brief description of the Diocese and a statement setting out the desired profile of the new Bishop and to elect the diocesan representatives to the Crown Nominations Commission.

The Vacancy in See Committee has a mixture of ex officio, nominated and elected members as follows:

The Right Reverend Sarah Clark – Chair (ex officio as Bishop of Jarrow)
The Very Revd Dr Philip Plyming (ex officio as Dean of Durham)
The Venerable Libby Wilkinson (ex officio as one of two Archdeacons elected by and from the Archdeacons)
The Venerable Rick Simpson (ex officio as one of two Archdeacons elected by and from the Archdeacons)
The Venerable Katherine Bagnall(ex officio as an elected clergy member of General Synod)
The Reverend Mark Mawhinney (ex officio as an elected clergy member of General Synod)
The Reverend Mark Miller (ex officio as an elected clergy member of General Synod)
The Reverend Chantal Noppen (ex officio as an elected clergy member of General Synod)
The Reverend Canon Dave Tolhurst (ex officio as an elected clergy member of General Synod)
Mr Ali Bianchi (ex officio as an elected member of the House of Laity of General Synod)
Dr Angus Goudie (ex officio as an elected member of the House of Laity of General Synod
Canon Dr Jamie Harrison (ex officio as an elected member of the House of Laity of General Synod)
Mrs Helen Smith (ex officio as an elected member of the House of Laity of General Synod)
The Reverend Canon Steph Clark (ex officio as Chair of the House of Clergy of Diocesan Synod)
Mrs Frances Stenlake (ex officio as Chair of the House of Laity of Diocesan Synod)
The Reverend Ian Somasundram (elected by the House of Clergy and House of Laity of Diocesan Synod)
The Reverend Matt Tarling (elected by the House of Clergy and House of Laity of Diocesan Synod)
Canon Margaret Vaughan (elected by the House of Clergy and House of Laity of Diocesan Synod)
Mr James Hall (nominated by Bishop’s Council)
The Reverend Mary Yasini (nominated by Bishop’s Council)
Mrs Val Barron (nominated by Bishop’s Council)
Mrs Susan Brown (nominated by Bishop’s Council)

Any representations to the committee should be made to Kate Martin

Diocesan Advisory Committee +