Standing Committee & RB28 Jun 23

Standing Committee News

The Standing Committee of the General Synod met on Tuesday, 20th June 2023, in an online format.  Canon Malcolm Kingston opened with a Bible reading from Matthew chapter 5.  In his opening prayer, Canon Kingston asked the Church would be known for its graciousness and making the love of the Christ better known, and for an end to the war in Ukraine and other conflicts, bearing in mind World Refugee Day which was being marked on the day of the meeting.

The report of the Honorary Secretaries noted that a plan of action for the next church–wide Census, to be held in 2024, will be brought to the September meeting of the Standing Committee, to allow for a simpler and less time–invasive format for parishes and dioceses.

The Standing Committee appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers as auditors of the accounts of the Representative Church Body for the year 2023.

A discussion on the general implications of the proceedings of the General Synod took place.  The 2024 meeting of General Synod will be held in the Armagh City Hotel on Friday, 10th May, and Saturday, 11th May, with an online session on Tuesday, 14th May, and, if required, on Thursday 16th May.

The Standing Committee approved the amended Clergy Permanent Health Insurance Policy for inclusion in the Dignity in Church Life Charter.

On the recommendation of the Central Communications Board, the Standing Committee approved the provision of a grant of £45,000 to provide for the reprinting of 4,000 copies of the large–print pew edition of the Church Hymnal by Oxford University Press.

The Standing Committee approved a change to the membership arrangements for the Priorities Committee, to allow for a maximum of two of its eight members (who are elected triennially) to be drawn from the membership of General Synod.  The change is intended to enable the committee to tap into a wider range of expertise and perspectives and to ensure a continued balanced representation from across the Church of Ireland.  The remaining six members will continue to be elected from within the Standing Committee’s membership.

The Standing Committee appointed Ms Judith Cairns to the Disciplinary Panel and Ms Claire Callanan as Chair of the Disciplinary Panel.

On the recommendation of the Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue, the Standing Committee agreed to the nomination of the Revd David White to represent the Church of Ireland at the Annual General Meeting of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), and appointed Canon Stephen Fielding as the Church of Ireland contact person for the Porvoo Communion, succeeding Canon Helene Steed.

The meeting closed with the Grace.