Day 3
Eleven Bills Pass Final Stages as General Synod Resumes Online
Eleven Bills which passed their first and second stages on Day 1 of General Synod meeting in Armagh on Friday, passed their final stages when they were given a third read this evening (Tuesday May 14) when Synod met online.
Bill No 1 to amend the Book of Common Prayer to observe the Second Sunday in November as Remembrance Sunday was passed.
Bill No 2 amends the Constitution to ensure that those who are elected by a parish, parochial district, union or group of parishes to act as diocesan synod members are part of the parish for which they are elected.
Bill No 3 addresses an anomaly in Chapter II of the Constitution and aligns the age at which an archdeacon main retain office (which was 70 years of age) with the retirement age for clergy (currently 75 years of age).
Bill No 4 amends Chapter V of the Constitution to recognise and authorise the licensing of clergy or laity as Pioneer Ministers and the establishment of a Pioneer Ministry at diocesan and parochial level.
Bill No 5 amends the Constitution 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.
Bill No 6 amends Chapter III of the Constitution to authorise a Select Vestry to co–opt an additional registered vestry member (or members) onto the select vestry where the Easter General Vestry has failed to elect a full complement of select vestry members, provided that the total number co–opted was less than the number elected.
Bill No 7 amends Chapter I of the Constitution which, in tandem with a Motion, aims to make the bills process at General Synod easier to understand.
Bill No 8 will result in amendments to the Episcopal Electoral College process as contained in Chapter VI of the Constitution.
Bill No 9 will close the Church of Ireland Voluntary Contribution Scheme for clergy pensions (relating to schemes operating before June 2013) and transfer and re–invest all monies held in the scheme with the appointed pension providers for the Clergy Defined Contribution Pension Schemes.
Bill No 10 will insert a definition of the Clergy Permanent Health Insurance Scheme into the Constitution and include an express reference to the scheme in the Constitution’s definition of service in the Church of Ireland.
Bill No 11 amends the Constitution to allow for the future administration of the Church of Ireland Defined Contribution Schemes under the rules of master trusts (i.e. retirement benefits pension schemes used by multiple employers or deemed employers).