Day 1
Bill to Recognise and Authorise Licencing for Pioneer Ministers
A Bill which, if passed, will recognise and authorise the licensing of clergy or laity as Pioneer Ministers and the establishment of a Pioneer Ministry at diocesan and parochial level was proposed at General Synod meeting in Armagh today (Friday May 10).
A Bill which, if passed, will recognise and authorise the licensing of clergy or laity as Pioneer Ministers and the establishment of a Pioneer Ministry at diocesan and parochial level was proposed at General Synod meeting in Armagh today (Friday May 10).
Pioneer Ministry is a movement within the Church of Ireland which was launched in February 2023 with the aim of reaching those with little or no connection to church.
The aim of the Bill, in particular if a Pioneer Ministry has its own income or property, is to amend the Constitution to enable the ministry to register as a charity with the constitution of the Church of Ireland as its governing document.
Proposed by the Ven Barry Forde and the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Bill seeks to amend Chapter V of the Constitution.
Archdeacon Forde explained that having achieved consensus establishing Pioneer Ministry and with new ministries due to commence this September, with new pioneers to be trained and deployed, the Bill recognised the need to make provision for the regulation, governance, recognition and delivery of Pioneer Ministry.
He said there was a great variety of pioneer ministries emerging. “Already we are seeing examples of such variety grow from the ground up. From September we plan to resource a pioneer ministry as a diocesan initiative on spiritual tourism, a church plant within a parish, a church plant by agreement across parishes, and a church renewal proposal to grow a new community of faith alongside the provision of a separate ministry to care for an aged and declining small parish community. We plan to commence training for four further pioneers already in ministry within centres of mission, cathedral renewal, and working with refugees. If it is possible to be excited about Bills and Regulations, then we should be excited about this Bill for this Bill will give space, recognition, support, and affirmation to these pioneers, and these ministries,” he commented.
Archdeacon Forde said that the Bill creates space for new ministers and ministries to be recognised and governed within the Church of Ireland, recognises that terms of reference and training patterns may develop and change, creates space for parishes and dioceses to shape new models for mission, encourages innovation to emerge and have the endorsement of the church.
“Will this Bill cover every eventuality? If we are truly pioneering, then we should expect to find new opportunities and problems we have not yet thought of. If, on occasion, we need to come back to Synod to amend this chapter further, well, what would the first day of Synod be without a Bill to chew on. Yet it is also hoped that the permission–giving space created by this Bill will allow for pioneer ministry to grow, adapt, and to flourish, to be recognised, supported and properly governed, as we all share in our God given mission to reach those with little or no connection to church,” he stated.
The Bill passed its preliminary stages and will receive its third reading online on Tuesday.