Standing Committee & RB
June 2009 Standing Committee News
The Standing Committee of the General Synod met in Dublin on 16 June 2009. The meeting opened with a scripture reading and prayers. The Archbishop of Armagh noted that the meeting was the first of the new triennium and welcomed new members from each diocese. The Archbishop also informed Standing Committee of the recent election of the Rt Revd David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane, formerly Rector of Seagoe, Archdeacon of Dromore and longstanding member of the Standing Committee, as the new Primus of the Episcopal Church of Scotland; Standing Committee agreed to convey warmest good wishes and congratulations to him.
Honorary Secretaries’ Report
Mr Harper drew the Committee’s attention to the comparative figures for General Synod attendance from 2006 to 2009 and to the Church of Ireland’s representation at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Conference of the Methodist Church in Ireland and the Annual Meeting of the Society of Friends. The report of the Honorary Secretaries was adopted and ratified by the Standing Committee.
Election of Co-opted Members
Voting for the election of co-opted members to the Standing Committee closed on 8 June. The following people were elected: the Revd Canon P Comerford; the Ven GTW Davison; the Revd Dr MJ Elliott; the Revd AJ Forster; Mr AN McNeile; the Ven RB Rountree; and Ms CS Turner.
Appointment of Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers were appointed as Auditors of the accounts of the Representative Church Body for the year 2009. The terms are to be agreed by the RCB Executive Committee and reported to the Standing Committee.
General Synod – 2009 and 2010
The Archbishop of Armagh commented on the General Synod in Armagh, noting in particular the value of the daily act of worship organised by the Bishop of Limerick and the stimulating addresses from visitors. Standing Committee discussed the 2009 Synod arrangements and where it worked effectively or otherwise, as well as commenting on possibilities for future improvements.
Practical arrangements for the 2010 General Synod in Dublin were outlined and discussed. Standing Committee resolved that the General Synod in 2010 will be held on Thursday 6th, Friday 7th and Saturday 8th of May in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.
Anglican Covenant
The Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) met in Kingston, Jamaica from the 1st to the 13th May 2009. The Revd Dr MJ Elliott and Ms CS Turner represented the Church of Ireland. Dr Elliott and Ms Turner gave accounts of the deliberations and Dr Elliott submitted a report for the consideration of Standing Committee. The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill, was also congratulated on his appointment by the Archbishop of Canterbury to chair the Anglican Covenant Working Group.
Following the ACC meeting, the Archbishop of Canterbury sent a letter to the Anglican Primates asking Provinces of the Communion to further consider Section 4 of the Ridley Cambridge Draft of the Covenant for clarification purposes. In response, Standing Committee resolved that the following be appointed to a Church of Ireland Anglican Covenant Working Group to examine Section 4 of the Ridley Cambridge Draft of the Anglican Covenant and recommend a response to the Standing Committee in September 2009: the Bishop of Meath and Kildare (Chair); the Bishop of Cashel and Ossory; the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross; the Revd Dr MJ Elliott; the Revd Canon Dr IM Ellis; Canon Lady Sheil; and Ms CS Turner.
Interchangeability of Ministry Working Group
The Interchangeability of Ministry Working Group submitted an interim report for the consideration of Standing Committee. It was resolved that the Interchangeability of Ministry Working Group continue its work in consultation with its counterpart group in the Methodist Church in Ireland with the authority and encouragement of the Standing Committee.
Code of Duty and Conduct for Clergy
It was noted that the General Synod 2009 passed a resolution that Standing Committee report to General Synod, in 2010, on progress towards a Code of Duty and Conduct for ministering in the Church of Ireland. It was agreed that a number of people be approached by the Archbishops and Honorary Secretaries to undertake an initial overview/scoping exercise in this area.
Children’s Ministry
The Honorary Secretaries held a meeting on 26th May regarding children’s ministry in the Church of Ireland. Representatives from the Sunday School Society, the dioceses and others involved in children’s ministry attended. That meeting agreed that foundational work was necessary and that a sub-group would analyse the results of existing surveys of children’s ministry and extend this with a sample survey where there is none existing by the autumn 2009 to produce an overview of practice. Standing Committee resolved that the following be appointed to a working group to examine the practice of children’s ministry, and bring forward proposals to meet the needs of the Church to report to the Standing Committee in January 2010: Mr PJ Hamill; the Revd IM Jackson; Mrs VM Lynch; the Revd FJ McDowell; the Revd AE Taylor; Mrs J Wilkinson; and a representative of the House of Bishops.
Committees
The following appointments were made by Standing Committee for the triennial period 2009-2012:
Finance and Arrangements Committee
The Honorary Secretaries (ex-officio) and Mr WF Baker and the Revd TS Forster.
Legal Advisory Committee
The Honorary Secretaries (ex-officio) and the Hon Mr Justice Declan Budd; His Honour Judge T Burgess; the Rt Hon Sir Anthony Campbell; Mr MC Davey; the Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness; Mr WD Prentice; His Honour Judge RF Rodgers; the Hon Sir Benjamin Stephens; and Mr JW Wilson QC. Thanks were expressed to His Honour Judge JG Buchanan who has retired from the committee.
Budget Sub-Committee
Mr WF Baker (Chairperson); Mr SR Harper; Mr LV Johnston; the Revd FJ McDowell; Mr AN McNeile; and Mr HRJ Totten.
Church in Society Committee
The Archbishop of Armagh and the Archbishop of Dublin (ex-officio); Mr SR Harper; Dr R Corbett; the Revd KRJ Hall; the Revd WD Humphries; the Revd Canon WA Lewis; Dr K Milne; and the Very Revd FJG Wynne.
World Development – Bishops’ Appeal Advisory Committee
The Archbishop of Armagh; the Bishop of Cashel and Ossory; Ms R Handy; Mr W Kingston; Mrs A Rooke; Mr A Smallwoods; and the Revd JDM Pierce.
Broadcasting Committee
Ms R Buchanan; Mr R Childs; the Most Revd RL Clarke; the Revd EV Cremin (Chair); the Revd TW Gordon; and the Revd Dr R Tosh.
Literature Committee
Prof R Gillespie; the Revd PK McDowell; Dr K Milne (Chair); Dr R Refaussé (Honorary Secretary); the Ven RB Rountree; the Revd B Treacy; Ms C West; and the Very Rev SR White.
Internet Committee
Ms M Carter; Mr A Clements; the Ven RG Hoey (Chair); Mr N Hutchinson; Mr P Neill; the Revd AJ Rufli; and Ms S Wynn.
Central Communications Board
Standing Committee elected as its representatives Dr VA Jones and the Ven REB White.
PACT (Protestant Adoption Society)
Standing Committee elected the Revd Canon KM Poulton and the Revd GV Wharton as representatives of the Church of Ireland.
Court of the General Synod
The following ten lay judges were appointed to the Court of the General Synod (ref. Chapter VIII, Section 31 of the Constitution): the Hon Mr Justice Declan Budd; His Honour Judge T Burgess; the Rt Hon Sir Anthony Campbell; the Rt Hon Sir Paul Girvan; Mr LJW MacCann SC; the Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness; Mr RAM Robins; the Hon Sir Benjamin Stephens; Mr JW Wilson QC; and Mr Patrick Good. Thanks were expressed to His Honour Judge JG Buchanan and the Rt Hon Sir Donald Murray who have both retired.
Church of Ireland Pensions Board
The following members were re-elected to the Church of Ireland Pensions Board at the General Synod 2009: Mr LV Johnston; the Ven DS McLean; Canon Lady Sheil; the Revd ECJ Woods. Standing Committee appointed Mr W Oliver to the Board.
Issued by the Church of Ireland Press Office.
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