Standing Committee & RB10 Nov 08

November 2008 Standing Committee News

18 November 2008

The Standing Committee of the General Synod met in Dublin on 18 November 2008. The meeting opened with a scripture reading and prayer.

Church of Ireland Theological Institute (CITI)

In accordance with the governance structures of the CITI, the Archbishops and Bishops requested that one clerical and one lay member of the Standing Committee be nominated to serve on the Governing Council: the Revd AM Wilkinson and Mr HRJ Totten were appointed respectively.

Courts and Tribunals

Following changes to the Constitution resulting from the General Synod 2008 on matters of ecclesiastical discipline and the system of courts and tribunals, a number of appointments were agreed upon.

Mr Andrew Walker BL and Mr Patrick Good BL were appointed to the Complaints Committee from January 2009 and also appointed as chairperson and vice-chairperson respectively.

The Disciplinary Panel will be composed from January 2009 of: the Revd AJ Forster; Ven PHA Lawrence; Ven SR McBride; Revd Canon NG McEndoo; Ven DS McLean; Revd DS McVeigh; Revd Canon JO Mann; Revd EME Murray; Ven DA Pierpoint; Revd S Pragnell; Revd Canon T Scott; His Honour Judge T Burgess; The Rt Hon Sir Anthony Campbell; Mr P Cross; Mrs K Erwin; Mr C Galloway; The Rt Hon Sir Paul Girvan; Ms R Handy; The Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness; Mr WD Prentice; The Hon Sir Benjamin Stephens and Mr JW Wilson QC. The chairperson of the panel will be The Rt Hon Sir Anthony Campbell and the vice-chairperson is to be The Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness.

Ms E McClenaghan was appointed to the honorary position of Complaints Administrator.

It was agreed that the names sent by the Diocesan Synods for the Complaints Committee be endorsed by the Archbishops and Honorary Secretaries on behalf of the Standing Committee.

Further Resolutions

The Revd Canon DTS Clements will attend the International Anglican Women’s Network  and 53rd Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in New York in February and March 2009.

The Revd Canon I Ellis was appointed to attend the 32nd German Protestant Kirchentag in Bremen, Germany in May 2009 as the Church of Ireland’s official representative.

The names of Bishop Burrows, Mrs E Aalen and Lady Eames are to be forwarded to the Christian Aid nominations committee with a view to representing the Church of Ireland on the Boards of Christian Aid Ireland.

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland has established four networks to address the issues of racial justice, international student concerns, inter-religious affairs and global mission. The following were appointed to represent the Church of Ireland on the first three of these respectively (global mission still to be appointed): the Very Revd FJG Wynne; the Revd DM McCallig and the Revd OC Ulogwara.

Finances

A report from the Budget Sub-committee was received and adopted, to be forwarded to the Representative Church Body Allocations Committee. Allocations have been reduced in the region of 8 per cent overall in light of the current economic and financial circumstances which are equally affecting the Church.

General Synods 2009 and 2010

A proposed timetable for the 2009 General Synod in Armagh due to take place over the weekend 8-10 May was presented for consideration by the Honorary Secretaries. The timetable reflects the new approach being taken designed to place greater emphasis on proactive motions. The Honorary Secretaries will further refine the Synod arrangements and are open to receiving specific comments from Synod Standing Committee members in writing.

It was agreed that General Synod will now be held on a rotational basis in Armagh and Dublin and that the 2010 General Synod will be held in Christ Church Cathedral, with the cathedral serving as the base for Dublin General Synods during the next two triennia. While there will be some up-front costs relating to making the necessary arrangements for holding synods in Christ Church Cathedral, spread over two further synods the result will be long-term economic savings. The General Synod Service will be held in St Patrick’s Cathedral.

Church Hymnal

€44,375 is to be made available from the General Synod Royalties Fund for the printing of 3,500 copies of the large-print pew edition and 1,500 copies of the presentation edition of the Church Hymnal (2000), which requires a reprint. Sales are likely to recoup the sum in due course.

Anglican Communion Covenant

The Anglican Covenant Response Group presented an initial draft response on behalf of the Church of Ireland to the proposal for an Anglican Covenant. It was agreed that this required further deliberation before being submitted to the Anglican Communion Office early next year. A final draft response will be brought to the Standing Committee in January 2009.

Charities Legislation

A report on new legislation to regulate charities was received. This will require all charities (including Churches) to register and to provide annual financial and other reports to a Regulatory Authority from April 2010. The Standing Committee asked that further consultation should be carried out into the options for Church of Ireland registration – central, diocesan or parochial, or a combination of these in a ‘mixed economy’.