Standing Committee & RB
November 2004 meeting
STANDING COMMITTEE
NOVEMBER 2004
Dean Cassidy
Dean Herbie Cassidy has resigned as Honorary Secretary. In reluctantly accepting his resignation Archbishop Robin Eames said the Dean had been a most diligent and faithful steward. He added: ?I have known Herbie for many, many years and have come to rely utterly on his integrity, hard work and friendship.? On behalf of the Honorary Secretaries Lady Sheil thanked the Dean for his immense contribution to the work of the Church of Ireland. In a warm tribute she highlighted his ?gentle and persuasive way? and described the Dean as a ?caring priest and pastor, a lovely colleague to work with.? The Dean responded by explaining that ?the time had come to shed a little bit of the load? and expressed his thanks to members for all their help and co-operation. The Dean had been a member of the Standing Committee since 1976 and an Honorary Secretary since 1990.
The Windsor Report 2004
In introducing the Windsor Report which had been circulated to members in advance of the meeting, Archbishop Eames stressed that it was not a report on sexuality issues. He said he had been amazed at the ferocity around the debate and the ?unchristian? attitudes displayed from time to time. He said the report was not set in stone but was part of a process ? a road map ? to help the Anglican Communion come together in fulfilling its mission in the world. He said the Standing Committee was the appropriate body to look at the report and to formulate the Church of Ireland?s response for presentation to the Primates of the Anglican Communion meeting in Northern Ireland next February. It was agreed that a small working group will prepare a draft response for consideration by the Standing Committee at its meeting on Tuesday, 25 January 2005. The members of the working group are Rt Revd Alan Harper, Bishop of Connor; Very Revd Michael Burrows, Dean of Cork; Venerable David Chillingworth, Archdeacon of Dromore; Mr Wilfred Baker, Cork; Mr Wilfred Young, Armagh and Ms Kate Turner, Connor.
Marriage Law ?Northern Ireland
The Marriage Law Reform Working Group is to prepare Bills to amend Chapter 3 and Chapter 9 of the Constitution for approval by Standing Committee in January 2005 and submission to the General Synod in May 2005. This follows the introduction of new marriage legislation in Northern Ireland in January 2004.
Bishop?s Appeal
The Bishops? Appeal Advisory Committee held its 200th meeting recently and in paying tribute to the work of members over the years the chairman, Rt Rev Michael Mayes, Bishop of Limerick, said everyone was deeply indebted to them for their hard work and for the significant role they played in the mission of the church. Honorary Secretary Sam Harper said the committee had reached a milestone and its work was a credit to the Church of Ireland.
Mrs Alison Rooke was elected a member of the World Development ?Bishops? Appeal Advisory Committee.
The Porvoo Communion
Dean Desmond Harmon, Christ Church Cathedral, presented a report on the Second PorvooTheological Conference held in September 2004. He highlighted the opportunities now becoming available for young people to take part in interchange visits with the Lutheran Churches. He said resources were well developed for this kind of activity and also in the area of pilgrimage for adults. Further information may be obtained on the Porvoo website which may be accessed through the Church of Ireland website www.ireland.anglican.org
Christian Unity Committee
Revd Patrick Comerford was elected a member of the Church Unity Committee.