Standing Committee & RB
Standing Committee News - June 2005
When the Standing Committee of the General Synod met on 14 June, the Archbishop of Armagh introduced a review of the General Synod held in Dublin in May.
Among the items discussed were the logistical difficulties with the venue and concerns over parking, and attendance figures. This raised questions about the timing and location of General Synod. The question of how business is conducted, information presented - including the format of reports, the use of technology and the need to ensure that all the material appearing in the Standing Committee report is adequately discussed - prompted a range of contributions and ideas. Committees and Boards were urged to use resolutions proactively to focus their work for Synod. There was further discussion on the Windsor Report and the President’s call for a Forum on Poverty was well received, and endorsed by the Standing Committee. The Archbishop said that he was very much encouraged by the range of positive responses he had received
The Windsor Report 2004
It was noted that the General Synod of 2005 passed the following resolution:
In the light of the fact that the preliminary response to the Windsor Report (25th January 2005) describes itself as “only an interim reaction to the Windsor Report from the Church of Ireland�, the General Synod asks the Standing Committee to establish a Working Group to study the Windsor Report and subsequent relevant material in detail, and to reflect on it.
The Working Group should be representative of different theological strands in the Church of Ireland, and is asked to make an initial report to the General Synod in 2006.
The Standing Committee appointed Rev Canon Dr IM Ellis, Rev Dr BA Follis, Ms GM Hibbert, Rev FJ McDowell, Rt Rev HC Miller, Rev JC Munyangaju, Ms CS Turner, Mr HW Young as members of the Windsor Report Working Group
Guidelines and Protocols for Local Covenant Partnerships
The Standing Committee considered the implications of the amended resolution on Guidelines and Protocols for Local Covenant Partnerships passed by the General Synod and considered whether a submission should be made to the Covenant Council by 30 November 2005. It was agreed that a working group should be asked to produce a preliminary response for the Standing Committee in September, with a view to producing a final report for the November meeting.
The following were appointed to the working group: Rev T Dunlop, Rev TS Forster, Rt Rev HC Miller, Most Rev JRW Neill and a representative of the Representative Church Body.
Consultation on the Diaconate
The Very Rev SR White was appointed to attend a Consultation on the Diaconate, organized by the Porvoo Contact Group, in January 2006, to be held in London.
Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission
The Standing Committee referred the Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission document Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ to the Christian Unity Commission to prepare a response.
Irish Inter-Church Meeting
The Rt Rev MGStA Jackson was appointed to represent the Church of Ireland on the Irish Inter-Church Committee of the Irish Inter-Church Meeting
Irish Council of Churches
The Rt Revd MGStA Jackson and the Revd DR Nuzum were appointed to represent the Church of Ireland on the Irish Council of Churches.
Commission on Ministry
Mr HRJ Totten was appointed to represent the Standing Committee on the Commission on Ministry for the three year period to June 2008. Mr Totten replaces Mr J Richardson, who is no longer a member of the Standing Committee.
The Church in Wales
The Rt Rev WP Colton was appointed to represent the Church of Ireland at the meeting of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales, to be held in Lampeter on 21 and 22 September 2005.
Church of Ireland Pensions Board
In accordance with Section 12(2) of Chapter XIV of the Constitution, the General Synod elects two members who are members or spouses of members of the Fund and three other members of the General Synod to the Church of Ireland Pensions Board.
A vacancy has occurred on the Pensions Board among the three other members of the General Synod due to the resignation of Mr DG Hannon. Mr LV Johnston was elected as a member of the Church of Ireland Pensions Board for the period ending 8 May 2006, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr DG Hannon:
Work and Families – Consultation Document
The Department of Trade and Industry (UK) has produced a Consultation Document entitled Work and Families – Choice and Flexibility. The Standing Committee noted a response, prepared by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Chairperson of the Social Justice and Theological (NI) panel of Church in Society Committee), the Rev FJ Mc Dowell (Chairperson of the Church of Ireland Marriage Council) and Mrs P Wallace (President of the Mothers’ Union). Due to a deadline for submitting responses, the response was submitted to the DTI on 27 May 2005. The response may be read on the Church of Ireland website at www.ireland.anglican.org under ‘Latest Additions’.
Auditors appointed
Pricewaterhouse Coopers were appointed to audit the accounts of the Representative Body in 2005.
General Synod 2007
The Honorary Secretaries reported on the conference facilities at the Lyrath Estate Hotel, Kilkenny and Standing Committee agreed that the General Synod would be held there on 8th-10th May 2007.