Day 1
Business Continues on Day One of General Synod 2024
The opening session of General Synod 2024 continues in the Armagh City Hotel. The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd John McDowell has welcomed members of Synod and Synods ecumenical guests.
The opening session of General Synod 2024 continues in the Armagh City Hotel. The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd John McDowell has welcomed members of Synod and Synods ecumenical guests.
Guests this year include: The Revd David Turtle President of the Irish Methodist Church, Thomas Wilson of the Irish Methodist Church, Rt Revd Lena Cockcroft of the Non–Subscribing Presbyterian Church of Ireland, the Revd Karen Campbell of the Irish Council of Churches, Rt Revd Sarah Groves of the Moravian Church, Archbishop Eamonn Martin (on Saturday) of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Michael Router of the Roman Catholic Church, Dr Joan Back of the Irish Episcopal Conference and Tommy Burns of the Irish Episcopal Conference.
The President of the Methodist Church in Ireland brought greetings on behalf of the Methodist Church. He spoke of the relationship between churches and the Covenant between the Methodist Church and the Church of Ireland. He looked for to the continued partnership in the Gospel.
The list of members of the General Synod was laid on the table. The Archbishop nominated Mr Lyndon McCann to be his assessor. The Honorary Secretaries of General Synod were elected. Canon Gillian Wharton and Canon Malcolm Kingston were reelected as Clerical Honorary Secretaries. Ken Gibson and Hazel Corrigan were reelected as Lay Honorary Secretaries.
There were a number of procedural announcements and Motion 1 on the timetable was passed. Motions 2 to 7 concerning the Standing Orders Committee, Petitions Committee, Elections Committee, Record Committee, Bills Committee and Legislation Committee have been passed and the report of the Election to Standing Committee has been heard. Motions 8 and 9 dealing with General Synod 2025 have been passed. Motion No 8, seeks to avoid a clash between General Synod deadlines and Holy Week while Motion No 9 reduces the amount of time allowed in the timetable for the reports of Standing Committee and the Representative Church Body.
Canon Gillian Wharton gave notice of communications received from diocesan synods and new diocesan rules and regulations.
Members will now consider 11 Bills.