Day 1
Requirement to Affix Notices to Church Doors May be Removed from Constitution
Requirement to Affix Notices to Church Doors May be Removed from Constitution
The requirement to affix a notice of the revision of general vestry members or notice of the Easter Vestry to the principal door of a church will be removed from the Constitution of the Church of Ireland if members pass a Bill presented to General Synod today (Friday May 12).
Bill No 2 contends that being mindful of more effective means of communication in the modern age, the need to put a notice on the church door should be removed from the Constitution.
The Bill, in the name of Hon Secs of Synod Canon Malcolm Kingston and Hazel Corrigan, seeks to amend Chapter III of the Constitution.
Proposing the Bill, Canon Malcolm Kingston said: “Parishes should be encouraged to utilise whatever organs of communication that they have at their disposal to offer notice of both meetings. Naturally, parishes who wish to maintain the tradition of communicating by signs on the doors are very much welcome to do so. But many parishes, I believe, would prefer to use alternative means that don’t involve pinholes on church doors!”
The Bill passed its first and second stages and will receive its third reading when General Synod meets online on Tuesday May 16.