Diocesan News
Connor Synod 2021 takes place online
For the first time in the history of Connor Diocese, the annual Diocesan Synod took place online due to the ongoing restrictions related to Covid–19.
Around 150 members took part on June 24, joining the hosts via Zoom. Earlier, a Service of Holy Communion was held in St Stephen’s Parish Church, Millfield, and was livestreamed on the Connor Facebook page.
The business of Synod got underway at 2pm with scripture read by Dr Allison Campbell, Skerry, Rathcavan and Newtowncrommelin; and prayers led by the Rev Peter Blair, All Saints’, Belfast.
As Judge Derek Rodgers has stood down as Chancellor, Bishop George nominated the Ven Barry Forde, Archdeacon of Belfast and Chaplain at Queen’s University, to be assessor for this Synod.
Bishop George commented that Judge Rodgers had served as Chancellor for many years. “He was a source of wise advice to us all, and we appreciated his willingness to serve. We thank him for all his work in this role,” the Bishop said.
Following the acceptance of the minutes of the last Connor Synod, the bishop delivered his Presidential Address which focused on the pandemic and the changes it brought about in how the Church and specifically parishes in Connor Diocese connect with people.
Bishop George paid tribute to the ‘remarkable’ way clergy and parishes responded to the challenges posed by the pandemic, and the creative way they had continued to offer worship and serve their communities.
Speaking of those who have lost loved ones to the virus, the bishop said his thoughts and prayers were with all who mourn. He made special reference to the Rev John Anderson, rector of Billy and Derrykeighan, whose death in April from Covid–19 had been such a great shock.
The bishop paid tribute to those members of Connor Diocese who played a part in responding to the crisis and whose professions brought them to the frontline.
And he said that parishes, forced to change routines and learn new skills, had discovered that doing things differently provided new opportunities to reach out with the good news of Christ to a wider range of people.
Covid–19 was not the only challenge, Bishop George told Synod. “Demographic changes and an increasingly secular outlook on the part of wider society bring their own difficulties and sometimes we have struggled to respond effectively. Increasingly the Church is seen as out of touch and irrelevant in the world of today – ‘nice if you like that sort of thing’ at best and ‘a threat to people’s freedom’ at worst!” the bishop said.
But he stressed that when the gospel is proclaimed, lives are changed. “We simply need to discover ways of connecting effectively with the community around us so that people will want to know more of what it is that motivates us and take us seriously when we share our story of life and hope,” the bishop said.
“Perhaps however, the same openness to trying new things that has enabled us to respond to the challenges of Covid will also enable us to consider ways of addressing those challenges too. We have learned that sometimes it is when we have to step out of our comfort zones that we start to see new and exciting things happen!”
Concluding his address, Bishop George spoke of the work of the diocesan staff team, including changes in personnel. Team Connor, however, was not just staff, but every member of the clergy and every parishioner in the diocese, he told Synod.
“It’s my desire as your bishop to nurture a sense of fellowship and belonging across the diocesan family so that we may better support one another as together we hold out ‘the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all’ (Acts 10:36). Please pray for me in that work, as I will pray for you,” Bishop George concluded.
The bishop’s full presidential address can be read online at https://bit.ly/2TehvCA.
Connor’s new Children’s Ministry Officer Victoria Jackson introduced herself to members of Synod in a pre–recorded video. The Rev Canon William Taggart read communications from General Synod and results of the various elections were outlined.
The Report of the Diocesan Council and Associated Notices of Motion were proposed by Jim Neill, St Paul’s, Lisburn, and seconded by the Rev Emma Carson, Ballymena and Ballyclug.
The Diocesan Council Report included updates on the diocese during the coronavirus pandemic, ordination anniversaries, diocesan administration, the development team, communications, youth ministry, children’s ministry, the North Belfast Centre of Mission, and diocesan accounts.
Lay Secretary Ken Gibson thanked Diocesan Development Team members for all the work they had done during lockdown.
Notices of Motion were all passed unanimously. They related to the approval of changes to Diocesan Regulations, proposed by Archdeacon Forde and seconded by Canon Carson; Agreement that the Diocesan Fair Share should remain at 9.5 per cent, proposed by Cynthia Cherry, Antrim Parish, and seconded by the Rev Canon Kevin Graham; and a report from the Down and Dromore Diocesan Board of Education, proposed by the Rev Dr Andrew Campbell, Skerry, Rathcavan and Newtowncrommelin, and seconded by Raymond Gilbert, Carrickfergus.
In discussion of the Council Report, Bishop George highlighted the report by Diocesan Warden of Readers, the Rev Peter Jones. “We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our readers, both diocesan and parish,” the bishop said. “They are a vital part of the ongoing ministry of the diocese and a huge support to the clergy they serve.”
The Diocesan Council report was adopted by Synod.
Synod then heard a proposal from the Council for Mission that the diocesan partnership with the Diocese of Yei in South Sudan be extended for a further two years to June 2023, when the formal partnership, which began in 2007, will conclude.
The motion, proposed by the Ven Paul Dundas, Archdeacon of Dalriada, and seconded by Ken Gibson, was passed unanimously after some debate.
Closing Synod, Bishop George thanked everyone in attendance for helping to get through the business of Synod. “Zoom is a challenging platform at times, it is not the same as meeting in person,” he said.
For further information please contact:
Diocesan Communications Officer, Connor
07766 103880
Mrs Karen Bushby
dco@connordiocese.org