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January 2011 Standing Committee News

The Standing Committee of the General Synod met on Tuesday 25 January 2011, the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul.

Special Meeting of General Synod
Before the meeting commenced, the Archbishop of Armagh informed members present that he had received a communication from the bishops requesting that, pursuant to the Constitution of the Church of Ireland, Chapter 1, Part II, Section 15, a special meeting of the General Synod be called, to provide that the electoral college for the Dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry be not held for the time being, in order to give opportunity for consideration of the requirements for episcopal ministry in that Diocese. The Archbishop said that he proposed to proceed under the Constitution to summon a special meeting of the General Synod for Saturday 5 March 2011 at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.

The meeting was opened with a scripture reading and prayers.

Tributes
The Archbishop of Armagh paid tribute to the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill and to the Bishop of Tuam, the Rt Revd Dr Richard Henderson, following their respective retirement and resignation, both taking effect at the end of January. Archbishop Harper spoke of how Dr Neill, who was present, enjoyed the esteem of all who knew him. He thanked the Archbishop for his contribution to the Church during his distinguished ministry, not least as a bishop for twenty-five years, and prayed for God’s blessing in the future and that he and Mrs Neill would enjoy a happy, healthy and fruitful retirement.

Archbishop Neill thanked the Archbishop of Armagh for his generous remarks and made special note of the dedication of the laity of the Church of Ireland. He hoped that God would especially bless the exciting work that was happening in parishes across dioceses.

The Archbishop of Armagh spoke of Bishop Henderson’s move to the Diocese of Carlisle and recorded how much the people of the Church of Ireland had benefited from the bishop’s deep spiritual interests, and thoughtful, gentle presence, especially at retreats. In noting how he would remain in the affections of the bishops and in the people of Dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, he also wished Dr Henderson all that is good in his new phase of ministry in England, which would also be ‘a kind of homecoming’ for the bishop.

Sympathy
The Archbishop of Dublin referred to a tragic situation in Bray parish which had been reported that morning, in which a person was found dead in a prefabricated cabin in the grounds of the church after a fire. The Archbishop expressed his sadness at the event and asked that, in addition to a press statement being issued by Archdeacon Ricky Rountree after the meeting, a message of sympathy be sent from Standing Committee to the Rector of Bray.

Election of Lay Honorary Secretary
The Revd John McDowell, having conferred with lay members of Standing Committee from Armagh Province, brought to Standing Committee the name of Mrs Ethne Harkness as Lay Honorary Secretary. Standing Committee resolved that Mrs Harkness be elected as Lay Honorary Secretary until the day previous to the next ordinary meeting of General Synod on 12 May 2011.

Mrs Harkness is a recently retired academic lawyer from Queen’s University, Belfast; a member of both the RCB and General Synod; and had been instrumental in the Church working group responses to the proposed Bill of Human Rights for Northern Ireland and the response to the consultation on Cohesion, Sharing and Integration.

ACC Lay Representative
As the term of the current Church of Ireland Lay Representative to the Anglican Consultative Council, Ms Kate Turner, is expiring prior to the next ACC meeting, Standing Committee elected Mr Wilfred Baker as the next Church of Ireland ACC Lay Representative.

Church of Ireland Clergy Pensions Board appointment
Mrs C.H.L. Cherry was appointed to as a member of the Church of Ireland Clergy Pensions Board. Mrs Cherry will hold office until the next triennial election in 2012.

Ecumenical Canon
Following a joint meeting of the Bills Committee and the Legislation Committee to discuss the definition of a Local Ecumenical Partnership, it was resolved that the Bill pertaining to the proposed enabling ecumenical Canon be brought to the General Synod 2011 at the request of the Standing Committee.

Children’s Ministry Network
Mr Peter Hamill spoke about children’s ministry in the Church, and reported on proposals which had been developed following discussions between the Children’s Ministry Sub-Group and the Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD); this was followed by further discussion by Standing Committee members about the importance of both children’s and youth ministries at parish and diocesan levels.

It was resolved that Standing Committee direct the Honorary Secretaries to set up a Children’s Ministry Network, to consist of one member nominated by the bishop of each diocese (or united diocese) and three additional co-opted members as chosen by the Network. The Boards of Education NI and RI would be asked to agree to nominate an ex-officio member to the Network. The Church of Ireland Youth Officer will attend the Network and the Network will nominate a member to attend board meetings of CIYD, both as observers.

One of the Honorary Secretaries will convene and chair the first meeting of the Network. At this first meeting the Network will appoint its own officers and working groups. The Network will report to Standing Committee twice per year.

It will have the following roles:
• To engage in discussion with CIYD to develop a proposed joint Children’s and Youth strategy with the long-term aim of a common Children’s and Youth Department. To present this proposed strategy to Standing Committee for discussion at General Synod 2012.
• To investigate the provision of a support network for those employed in children’s ministry.
• To make available to diocesan and children’s ministry representatives the most up-to-date information on relevant training and resources in order to support volunteers working in children’s ministry.
• To organise meetings of the Network on at least an annual basis.

Irish Inter-Church Meeting and ICC
It was resolved that Mrs Hilary McClay be appointed as a representative of the Church of Ireland to the Irish Inter-Church Meeting Church in Society Forum.

It was resolved that the following be appointed as representatives of the Church of Ireland to the Irish Council of Churches (ICC): the Most Revd R.L. Clarke; the Rt Revd A.F. Abernethy; the Rt Revd T.R. Williams, Revd Canon D.W.T. Crooks; Revd Canon W.A. Lewis; Revd G. Clunie; Revd F.J. McDowell; Revd D.R. Nuzum; Revd N.J. Sloane; Revd H.T. Steed; Revd O.C. Ulogwara; Ms R. Handy; Mr S.R. Harper; Mrs R. McKelvey; Dr K. Milne; Ms U. Rabb; and Ms C. Turner.

Royalties Fund
Standing Committee approved a grant of €1,000 be made to Revd Canon David Crooks for the publication of Clergy of Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert and Kilmacduagh.

Representatives of other Churches to General Synod 2011
It was agreed that the following be invited to attend General Synod 2011: two representatives from the Presbyterian Church, the Methodist Church and the Roman Catholic Church; one representative from the ICC; one Church of England representative; and one representative from the Moravian Church of Britain and Ireland, the Russian Orthodox Church and the Rock of Ages Cherubim and Seraphim Church respectively.

Delegates to other Annual Meetings
It was resolved that the Rt Revd Dr Michael Jackson and the Revd John McDowell attend the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Belfast, 6-9 June; Miss Elva Byrne and the Ven. Philip Patterson attend the Conference of the Methodist Church in Newtownards, 9-12 June; and the Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke and Revd Niall Sloane attend the Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends in King’s Hospital School, Palmerstown, 28 April-1 May.

Book launch
Immediately following Standing Committee, many members attended the Dublin launch of Canon Turner at 90, a festschrift published in his honour, in Church House.

ENDS

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