Day 1
Bill Seeks to Allow Year–Round Updates to Register of Vestry Persons
A Bill to allow for amendments to the register of vestry persons during the course of a year rather than solely at the annual review of vestry persons was introduced at General Synod in Armagh today (Friday May 10).
A Bill to allow for amendments to the register of vestry persons during the course of a year rather than solely at the annual review of vestry persons was introduced at General Synod in Armagh today (Friday May 10).
Bill No 5 seeks to amend the Constitution which, when first drafted, did not conceive the degree of mobility in the general population as is now the case. When the Constitution was drafted additions to or deletions from the register of vestry persons would largely relate to those coming of age or departing this life. As the Constitution stands someone moving into a parish the month after the register is reviewed cannot be considered for a parochial office or select vestry for another 12 months.
Bill No 5 was proposed by Quentin Teggin and Robert Syme. Mr Teggin explained: “The option to fill such positions will lie solely with the Select Vestry and they may or may not choose to exercise this option. They can also decide how many unfilled positions to address.
In that the Easter Vestry has entrusted the Select Vestry to manage the affairs of the parish, albeit at reduced numbers, and the decision to co–opt or not lies solely with the Select Vestry, the co–option of additional select vestry members simply serves to spread the workload and introduce different and potentially valuable perspectives and expertise to Select Vestry discussions”.
The Revd Sam Johnston (Down) urged caution about the Bill because he said that it diluted the power of the diocesan council. He also suggested that the Bill does not solve the problem as it must be resolved one month before the Easter General Vestry. He said it was a matter best left to diocesan councils.
The Bill passed its first and second stages and will receive its third reading online on Tuesday evening.