Standing Committee & RB
January 2004 meeting
STANDING COMMITTEE
JANUARY 2004
YOUTHWORK 2004
The Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD) is to develop various youth projects around the findings of ?The Hard Gospel? and in tandem with the introduction of the new Book of Common Prayer 2004. In a report CIYD outlines its aims to support and resource Diocesan Youth Councils and develop the CIYD staff team.
CIYD will this year launch the first Church of Ireland Youthwork Training School in partnership with the Church of Ireland Theological College, Dublin. David Brown, Youth Ministry Co-ordinator, says: ?This will provide clergy, lay people and young people with a unique opportunity to receive training in emerging Youthwork issues.?
In June 2004 CIYD, together with the Methodist Youth and Children?s Department and the Presbyterian Youth Board will organise a three-day National Youth Leaders Convention for volunteer youth leaders and clergy.
Youth Leaders are to visit the Middle East with the Church Mission Society. The visit will present opportunities to discuss issues of reconciliation and peacemaking with Christians in Israel and Palestine and others from Asian, Afro-Caribbean and English backgrounds. This is part of CIYD?s response to ?The Hard Gospel? study on sectarianism and living with difference within the Church of Ireland.
Diocesan Youth Council members in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are to go camping in October 2004.
CIYD will be taking part in the Labyrinth Four Provinces Cathedral Tour youth event visiting the Anglican Cathedrals of Belfast, Dublin, Cork and Limerick. The event is described as ?an interactive, multi-sensory prayer experience? that is expected to attract 1500 teenagers.
Other CIYD events this year include ?The Big Event? training day on 19 June in Belfast; Youth Ministry Training and Resource Fair at Summer Madness 2- 6 July; Training and Retreat Residential for Voluntary Youth Leaders from Cork, Cashel, Limerick and Tuam Dioceses 26-28 March; ?Mind the Gap? two-day conference with Bishop Graham Cray, exploring models of youth ministry for 21st century mission and culture 16-17 Nov.
DELEGATES APPOINTED
The Rev Canon W A Lewis and Mr HRJ Totten will attend the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church to be held in Belfast 7-11 June 2004.
The Rt Rev KH Clarke and Mr G Clarke will attend the Conference of the Methodist Church in Ireland to be held in Dublin 11-15 June 2004.
The Very Rev TR Lester will attend the Yearly Meeting of the Society of Friends to be held in Newton School, Waterford 14-18 April 2004.
The Most Rev JRW Neill will attend the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church to be held in Edinburgh 10 - 12 June 2004.
THE PORVOO COMMUNION
The Porvoo Contact Group, representing the Anglican and Lutheran Churches of the Nordic, Baltic and Iberian countries along with the Anglican Churches of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England, met in Edinburgh 7-11 October 2003 with the Third Meeting of the Primates and Presiding Bishops on 9 October.
The Contact Group noted the growing pattern of exchange of ministry and that the Church of Iceland has a surplus of trainee clergy who may finish their training in Anglican Churches with mutual advantage to each.
The Contact Group welcomed the growing relationship between Anglicans and Methodists in England and Ireland. It was noted that informal contacts between the Evangelical Church in Russia and other states (ECLROS) and representatives of the Church of England and the Diocese of Europe.
A Theological Conference is planned for 23-27 September 2004 in Iceland. The emphasis will be on ?tools for discipleship?.
The Contact Group will meet in Oslo 10-13 Oct 2005.
The Church Leaders Meeting is planned for 16-20 April 2006 in Wales. This meeting will mark the 10th Anniversary of the Porvoo Agreement and will provide an opportunity for evaluating the Porvoo process.
NEW ?HARD GOSPEL COMMITTEE?
A new committee ? The Hard Gospel Committee (HGC) ? is to oversee and develop a Church of Ireland initiative to nurture outreach and ministry with reference to the findings of ?The Hard Gospel? study on sectarianism in the church. The initiative will challenge the Church of Ireland to deal positively with difference in both church and society. The HGC will consider current policies and practice in both central institutions and parish communities and make dealing with difference a priority in understanding ministry and allocating time and resources.
In its proposals the Sectarianism Education Project Committee (now dissolved) said: ?Dealing creatively with sectarianism and with other forms of difference requires faith, courage, generosity, knowledge and skill. It is our view that the Church of Ireland and other churches in Ireland should be ready and able to address sectarianism. We believe that this is of fundamental importance to the future of Ireland and of Christianity in Ireland.?
Meanwhile a programme of study material has been issued to clergy linking the main themes of ?The Hard Gospel? study with appropriate passages of scripture.
HGC will examine responses to the scoping study from Diocesan Synods and from Boards and Committees with a view to developing a strategic vision.
HGC will consist of twelve members. It will form two sub-committees to tackle central issues and engage with clergy and laity at diocesan and parish level. It is to seek funding for two staff/co-ordinators.
Members appointed to HGC for the period 1 February 2004 to 31 January 2007 are: Mrs Joan Bruton, Archdeacon David Chillingworth, Rev Eileen Cremin, Rev Kenny Hall, Ms Ruth Handy, Rev Michael Parker, Rev Earl Storey, Ms Kate Turner, Mrs Elaine Way, Rev Canon Trevor Williams, Lady Sheil (Nominee of the Honorary Secretaries) and a Nominee of the House of Bishops.
?NURTURING MARRIAGE?
The Church of Ireland Marriage Council is to launch a PowerPoint presentation entitled ?Nurturing Marriage?. This will be available to parishes and dioceses. It is planned to train 50 facilitators to present and discuss the subject.
ECUMENICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
The Committee for Christian Unity is to review by 1 June 2004 all contributions to ecumenical organisations. This follows a request from the World Council of Churches for an increase in contributions.
SYNODICAL REFORM
The Synodical Reform Working Group is authorised to ask diocesan councils to use an agreed standard form, approved by Standing Committee, for the collection of appropriate statistics, with the intention that the same statistics be used by the working group and by such other central committees, as may be designated by the Standing Committee.
MARRIAGE LAW
The Reform of Marriage Law Working Group, in consultation with the archbishops and bishops of the Church of Ireland, is to make urgent representations to the Inter-Departmental Committee on Reform of Marriage Law in the Republic of Ireland concerning the proposed marriage clauses of the Registration Bill.