The following draft Bills and Motions will be debated during this
years General Synod. For further informstion on amendments and passage
through General Synod please contact the General
Synod Press Officer.
Bills 1 |
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Motions 1 | 2
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BILLS
The following four Bills were lodged with the Honorary Secretaries
of the General Synod before 3 April 2000:
BILL NO 1
Explanatory Memorandum
In 1999 the General Synod approved, by the requisite majorities,
a resolution granting leave for the introduction of this Bill and
accompanying Schedule in 2000. This Bill incorporates material from
the Book of Common Prayer of 1926, makes minimal changes in The
Order for Morning Prayer daily throughout the year, The Order for
Evening Prayer daily throughout the year, The Litany, and the Appendix
containing Alternative Forms of Evening Prayer (MCMXXXIII) by removing
anachronisms and updating rubrics; but other than changing the "which"
form to "who" in the Lord's Prayer and "Ghost"
to "Spirit", preserves the traditional language of that
book. This is part of the process of making a revision of the Book
of Common Prayer, 1926.
REV CANON RB ROUNTREE
REV CANON JAB MAYNE
(at the request of the General Synod)
To carry into effect a Resolution of the General Synod of 1999
to amend parts of the Book of Common Prayer.
WHEREAS a Resolution to amend those parts of the Book of Common
Prayer entitled respectively The Order for Morning Prayer daily
throughout the year; The Order for Evening Prayer daily throughout
the year; The Litany; and the appendix containing Alternative Forms
of Evening Prayer (MCMXXXIII) [which is sanctioned upon occasions
approved by the Ordinary] by substituting for the above-mentioned
parts of the Book of Common Prayer the order MORNING PRAYER Daily
throughout the year; the order EVENING PRAYER Daily throughout the
year; THE LITANY; and AN ORDER FOR COMPLINE as set out in the accompanying
schedule was duly passed in full Synod assembled in Dublin in the
year 1999 by the required majorities, and was duly transmitted to
the Secretaries of all Diocesan Synods;
AND WHEREAS it is expedient that the said Resolution shall be carried
into effect by a Statute;
AND WHEREAS in accordance with the provisions of Section 26(1)
of Chapter I of the Constitution leave was given for the introduction
of a Bill in the General Synod of 2000;
BE IT ENACTED by the Archbishops and Bishops and the Clergy and
Laity of the Church of Ireland in General Synod assembled in Belfast
in the year 2000, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
In the Book of Common Prayer for those parts entitled respectively
The Order for Morning Prayer daily throughout the year; The Order
for Evening Prayer daily throughout the year; The Litany; and the
appendix containing Alternative forms of Evening Prayer (MCMXXXIII)
[which is sanctioned upon occasions approved by the Ordinary] there
shall be substituted the order MORNING PRAYER Daily throughout the
year; the order EVENING PRAYER Daily throughout the year; THE LITANY;
and AN ORDER FOR COMPLINE as set out in the Schedule.
Bills 1 |
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Motions 1 | 2
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BILL NO 2
Explanatory Memorandum
In 1999 the General Synod approved, by the requisite majorities,
a resolution granting leave for the introduction of this Bill and
accompanying Schedule in 2000. This Bill incorporates material from
the Alternative Prayer Book 1984, amended in the light of practical
usage and of recent liturgical scholarship. These services will
thus be part of the new edition of the Book of Common Prayer.
REV CANON RB ROUNTREE
REV CANON JAB MAYNE
(at the request of the General Synod)
To carry into effect a Resolution of the General Synod of 1999
to amend the Book of Common Prayer by including therein the forms
of service as set out in the accompanying Schedule.
WHEREAS a Resolution to include in the Book of Common Prayer the
forms entitled MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER Daily throughout the year;
THE LITANY in contemporary language; A LATE EVENING OFFICE; and
Weekday Intercessions and Thanksgivings as set out in the accompanying
Schedule was duly passed in full Synod assembled in Dublin in the
year 1999 by the required majorities, and was duly transmitted to
the Secretaries of all Diocesan Synods;
AND WHEREAS it is expedient that the said Resolution shall be carried
into effect by a Statute;
AND WHEREAS in accordance with the provisions of Section 26(1)
of Chapter I of the Constitution leave was given for the introduction
of a Bill in the General Synod of 2000;
BE IT ENACTED by the Archbishops and Bishops and the Clergy and
Laity of the Church of Ireland in General Synod assembled in Belfast
in the year 2000, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
In the Book of Common Prayer there shall be included the forms
entitled MORNING AND EVENING PRAYER Daily throughout the year; THE
LITANY in contemporary language; A LATE EVENING OFFICE; and Weekday
Intercessions and Thanksgivings as set out in the Schedule.
Bills 1 |
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Motions 1 | 2
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BILL NO 3
Explanatory Memorandum
In 1999 the General Synod approved, by the requisite majorities,
a resolution granting leave for the introduction of this Bill and
accompanying Schedule in 2000. This Bill provides the basic structure
with introduction, notes and guidelines, known as "Service
of the Word", for inclusion in the new edition of the Book
of Common Prayer. Examples of using that structure, approved by
the House of Bishops, have been published. Resource material authorized
by the House of Bishops may be
used to work out other forms based on the structure.
REV CANON RB ROUNTREE
REV CANON JAB MAYNE
(at the request of the General Synod)
To carry into effect a Resolution of the General Synod of 1999
to amend the Book of Common Prayer by including therein the basic
structure for a SERVICE OF THE WORD as set out in the accompanying
Schedule.
WHEREAS a Resolution to amend the Book of Common Prayer by including
therein the basic structure and guidelines known as SERVICE OF THE
WORD the
Structure of the Service [for occasional use with the approval of
the Ordinary] as set out in the accompanying Schedule was duly passed
in full Synod assembled in Dublin in the year 1999 by the required
majorities, and was duly transmitted to the Secretaries of all Diocesan
Synods;
AND WHEREAS it is expedient that the said Resolution shall be carried
into effect by a Statute;
AND WHEREAS in accordance with the provisions of Section 26(1)
of Chapter I of the Constitution leave was given for the introduction
of a Bill in the General Synod of 2000;
BE IT ENACTED by the Archbishops and Bishops and the Clergy and
Laity of the Church of Ireland in General Synod assembled in Belfast
in the year 2000, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
In the Book of Common Prayer there shall be included the basic structure
and guidelines known as SERVICE OF THE WORD The Structure of the
Service [for occasional use with the approval of the Ordinary] as
set out in the Schedule.
Bills 1 |
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Motions 1 | 2
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BILL NO 4
Explanatory Memorandum
The General Synod in May 1999 requested the Commission on Church
Buildings
to take steps to widen its terms of reference to enable it to recommend
grants (within its existing budget and where recommended by Diocesan
Council) to make safe ruined or redundant church buildings which
are either of historic or visual significance in a local landscape.
In accordance with this request the Commissioners now present a
Bill amending Section 6 of Chapter I of 1986 by the addition of
section (4) (b), thereby extending its terms of reference to take
this request into account. If passed, any requests for a grant would
have to be made through the relevant Diocesan Council and would
apply only to such buildings as are still vested in the Representative
Church Body.
VERY REV JMG SIRR
MRS DM BURNS
(at the request of the General Synod)
To amend the Statute of the General Synod, Chapter I of 1986.
WHEREAS it is desirable that the objects of the fund established
by the Statute, Chapter I of 1986, should be enlarged;
AND WHEREAS for that purpose it is necessary to amend the said
Statute;
BE IT ENACTED by the Archbishops and Bishops and the Clergy and
Laity of the Church of Ireland in General Synod assembled in Belfast
in the year 2000, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
1. For sub-section (4) of Section 6 of Chapter I of 1986 there
shall be substituted the following sub-section:
(4) Without prejudice to the provisions of sub-section (3) above,
the commissioners may also recommend to the Representative Body,
and the Representative Body may make, grants from the fund:
(a) towards the development of churches which remain open in a
benefice following a final determination, provided artifacts used
in such development come from a church which was closed subsequent
to that final determination;
(b) towards making safe ruined or redundant church buildings which
are either of historic or visual significance in a local landscape.
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDA ON BILLS AND THEIR PASSAGE THROUGH GENERAL
SYNOD
This section contains those Bills which were lodged with the honorary
secretaries at least six weeks before the first day of the session.
A Bill is a proposal for legislation which, if passed, will become
a Statute, binding on all members of the Church of Ireland. The
procedure is designed to ensure that the proposed legislation is
considered carefully, both in principle and in detail, and that
there is a day's interval for reflection before final approval is
given.The Bills will be taken into
consideration in the order in which they appear in this pamphlet,
unless the Synod directs otherwise. On the first stage, the proposer
moves "That leave be given to introduce Bill no. __" unless
leave has been given in the previous session. This is a formal motion
which is normally put to the Synod without debate, but in certain
circumstances one speech in support of the motion, and one in opposition
to it, may be permitted.
If that motion is passed, the Synod proceeds to the Second Reading,
when the principles of the Bill are open to debate. At the conclusion
of the debate on this stage, the motion "That the Bill be approved
in principle and given a second reading" is put to the Synod.
If this motion is passed, indicating that the Synod approved the
Bill in principle, the Committee stage follows.
In the case of Special Bills leave to introduce such a Bill may
only be given at an ordinary session of the Synod; leave having
been given, the Bill shall be deemed to have been read a first time,
but it shall not be processed further until the next ordinary session
when it will come before the Synod for second reading.
On the Committee stage, the Bill is considered in detail, the clauses
being put to the Synod one by one for debate and decision. The clauses
are taken first in their order; then, the schedules (if any); and,
finally, the Preamble (the introductory matter). Amendments, notice
of which was given to the honorary secretaries not later than the
Friday before the session, will appear on the agenda paper for the
first day; no other amendment may be moved on Committee stage except
with the leave of the Synod. An amendment is taken on the clause
to which it relates, and is disposed of before the clause itself
is put to the Synod.
In the case of Special Bills, an amendment can be moved on Committee
stage only if notice has been given in the previous session except
for any dealing with omissions or grammatical errors.
When the Committee stage has been concluded, the Bill is reported
to the Synod, and a day - usually the third day - is fixed for the
remaining stages.
On the third day the Report stage is taken. Any amendments which
have been odged with the honorary secretaries before the close of
business on the second day will appear on the supplemental agenda
paper for the third day. After these amendments have been disposed
of - or immediately if there are not any amendments - the Synod
proceeds to the Third Reading. At this stage, debate is confined
to the provisions of the Bill, and at its conclusion the motion
"That the Bill be now read a third time and passed" is
put to the Synod.
A simple majority of the House of Representatives is required to
pass any and every motion during the passage of a Bill through the
Synod, except when a vote by orders has been requisitioned by ten
members of either order (which may be done on any motion), in which
case a simple majority of each order, voting separately, is required;
a two-thirds majority of each order, voting separately, is required
to pass the Second Reading and the Third Reading of a Bill which
proposes a modification or alteration in the articles, doctrines,
rites, rubrics or formularies of the Church.
For fuller information on Bill procedure reference should be made
to Part II of Chapter I of the Constitution and to the Standing
Orders. A leaflet on Bill procedure is available on application
to the honorary secretaries.
Bills 1 |
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Motions 1 | 2
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MOTIONS
Motions received by the Honorary Secretaries of the General Synod
not less than one month before the day appointed for the opening
of the session of the Synod at which the motion is to be moved (Standing
Order 31).
1. LADY SHEIL
That (i) For Standing Order 3 of the Standing Orders of the General
Synod there shall be substituted the following:
3. The hours for the Synod when in ordinary session shall be
as follows:-
First day: 11.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.; 2.00 p.m. to 6.30
p.m. or, if the first and second readings of all Bills sent to
the members with the summonses have not then been concluded, until
such later hour as the Synod shall determine.
Second day: 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.; 2.00 p.m. to 6.30
p.m.
Third day: 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.; 2.00 p.m. to 4.30
p.m. or such other hour as the Synod may determine.
Provided that the Synod by Resolution assented to by at least
two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives present
and voting thereon may (unless the Bishops present by a majority
object) prolong the period of any sitting to such hour as may
be named in such Resolution.
The hours for the Synod when in special session shall be specified
in the notice convening the meeting.
That (ii) In Standing Order 56 for the words 'on the Tuesday, following
the President's address' there shall be substituted 'on the first
day at such time as the President shall deem appropriate and in
any event not later than 12 noon'.
2. THE HONORARY SECRETARIES
A motion or motions to allocate the time available between the
items listed on the agenda Paper (Standing Order 56). (See Timetable
Motion on separate sheet.)
3. MOTION ON PROCEDURE
THE HONORARY SECRETARIES
That the Reports of the Board of Education and the Secondary Education
Committee be taken together, that the first part of the debate be
confined to matters mainly concerning education in the Republic
of Ireland, being introduced by two speeches, one on behalf of the
Board of Education and one on behalf of the Secondary Education
Committee; that the second part of the debate be confined to matters
concerning education in Northern Ireland, being introduced by one
speech, on behalf of the Board of Education, and that the time allotted
to each part of the debate be at the discretion of the President,
but not to exceed a total of one and a half hours.
Bills 1 |
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Motions 1 | 2
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4. REV CANON PF PATTERSON
AND MR DJ AUCHMUTY
That the General Synod:
- welcomes and receives the report of the
Working Group on Synodical Structures of the Standing Committee
- welcomes the presentation of the legislative
proposals contained in the report
- encourages the Standing Committee to present
the legislative proposals as a Bill to the General Synod in 2001
and
- requests the working group to continue its
work on related areas in order to present the necessary resolutions
and legislation to fulfil the other recommendations listed in
its report to General Synod in 1999.
5. THE ARCHBISHOP OF DUBLIN
AND THE BISHOP OF KILMORE
This Synod acknowledges the progress made towards the cancellation
of the debts of the world's most highly indebted poor countries.
Synod calls on the countries represented at the G8 Summit at Okinawa,
Japan on 21-23 July 2000 to continue the process of debt cancellation,
so lifting the burden on the world's poorest people.
Synod recognises that without changes in the system of international
trade poor countries will slip back into indebtedness and calls
on the Summit to address those elements within international trade
agreements that disadvantage poor countries.
Synod requests the Honorary Secretaries to convey this resolution
to the host of the G8 Summit, the Prime Minister of Japan, through
the Japanese Ambassadors of Ireland and the UK.
6. THE REV CANON PF PATTERSON
AND THE VERY REV DR CHILLINGWORTH
In light of the Bishop of Meath's communiqué published in
The Church of Ireland Gazette of 18 February 2000 on the establishment
of a Theological College Council, the Representative Church Body
is requested to seek the opinion of the Legal Advisory Committee
as to whether:
- The episcopal constitution of the Church
necessitates that the Theological College and the Theological
College Council are accountable only to the bishops.
- The episcopal constitution of the Church
precludes General Synod having any legislative or administrative
power in relation to the Theological College.
- The Representative Church Body as trustee
owner holds title to the Church of Ireland Theological College
for the House of Bishops as beneficial owners.
The Representative Church Body is further requested to communicate
the opinion of the Legal Advisory Committee to the next meeting
of General Synod.
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Motions 1 | 2
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7. THE REV CANON JE McCULLAGH
AND THE REV CANON RD HARMAN
That, as recommended by the Secondary Education Committee, the
General Synod of the Church of Ireland approves the incorporation
of The Secondary Education Committee Limited, a company limited
by guarantee and approves the Memorandum and Articles of Association
of the said Company, copies of which are available for inspection.
Note: Copies of the Memorandum and Articles of Association may
be obtained from the Secondary Education Committee, 15 Belgrave
Road, Rathmines, Dublin 6 (Telephone Dublin 4975034) or Church of
Ireland House, Rathmines, Dublin 6 (Telephone Dublin 4978422).
8. THE BISHOP OF TUAM
That the General Synod be asked to amend the Constitution at Cap
2 Part 2 to provide that where a Bishop considers it necessary for
the proper administration of the diocese, the diocesan council of
such diocese shall be entitled to appoint from its members a standing
committee to deal with a specified range of minor matters which
would otherwise require to be dealt with in plenary session. Such
standing committee would be chaired by the Bishop or by a senior
cleric from the area in which such minor matters arise and would
report in full to the Diocesan Council.
9. THE HONORARY SECRETARIES
That the Honorary Secretaries be instructed to publish with as
little delay as possible, the Journal of the Proceedings of the
Synod during this session, with such appendices as they think expedient.
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Motions 1 | 2
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