Standing Committee & RB
Standing Committee News - April 2006
The Standing Committee of the General Synod met on Tuesday 4 April 2006.
The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Dr Robin Eames, congratulated the Dean of Cork, the Very Revd Michael Burrows, on his appointment as Bishop of Cashel and Ossory.
Dr Eames paid a special tribute to Mr Gordon Bradley who was attending his final meeting of the Standing Committee after some 30 years of service. The Archbishop thanked Mr Bradley for his contributions to the Standing Committee, other committees and his service to the Church of Ireland over such a long period of time.
At a later meeting Lady Shiel also acknowledged Mr Bradley?s tireless effort to the work of the Finance and Arrangements Committee.
Review of Committees
The Standing Committee in November 2005 authorised the Honorary Secretaries to request each committee or board of the General Synod to submit a statement of purpose and an outline of its objectives in the next two to three years.
When a majority of contributions has been received the Honorary Secretaries will bring proposals to the Standing Committee.
Priorities Fund
The Priorities Fund Committee reported that some grant recommendations had been reconsidered and these were approved.
The full list of grants will appear in the Standing Committee report to General Synod.
Windsor Report 2004
The Standing Committee noted that the Windsor Report Working Group would report its response directly to General Synod 2006.
UN Commission for the Status of Women
The Standing Committee received a report from Mrs Joan Bruton who, on behalf of the Church of Ireland, attended the 50th Session of the UN Commission for the Status of Women. The meeting was held in New York from 27 February to 10 March 2006.
Liturgical matters
Copyright:
Copyright issues are a matter of great concern within the Church of Ireland and as part of its exploration into the issue the Standing Committee received a presentation and report from Christian Copyright Licensing International (CCLI). Following a wide discussion the Standing Committee set up a small group to consider the possibility of a block licensing arrangement on copyright for the whole Church of Ireland. The members are Mr Michael Davey, Revd Canon Philip Patterson, Revd Canon Ricky Rountree, Revd Alan Rufli and Lady Shiel.
The Book of Common Prayer:
The Standing Committee approved the production by Columba Press of a large print edition of the Holy Communion pages with the Collects and Postcommunion Prayers of The Book of Common Prayer.
Electronic Church Hymnal:
The Standing Committee authorised the Liturgical Advisory Committee to explore further with the Oxford University Press the possibility of producing an electronic version of the Church Hymnal.