Day 1
New Facilitation Committee Ratified by Synod
The establishment of a Facilitation Committee has been ratified by members of General Synod meeting in Limerick. The Facilitation Committee was set up by Standing Committee in January 2017 to engage in discussion with all 12 dioceses about issues raised by the work of the Commission on Episcopal Ministry and Structures. The committee also aims to explore proposals that may arise from the conversations and provide an annual report to General Synod.
The committee’s membership will comprise Ken Gibson, Robert Neill, the Revd Robin Bantry White and the Very Revd Katherine Poulton.
Canon Gillian Wharton gave the background to the motion. She said since General Synod 2016 there had been detailed discussions at Standing Committee on how to move forward. She said that the membership proposed was a core group and as the discussion developed others in specific areas of expertise would join the group.
Mrs Ethne Harkness proposed an amendment to the motion which originally included the names of just three men for the membership of the committee. She criticised the dominance of men in the church. She put forward an amendment to add the Very Revd Katherine Poulton, Dean of Ossory, to the membership of the committee. The amendment was seconded by Rhonda Willoughby. Members of Synod agreed to the amendment and the overall motion passed.