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The following draft Bill will be debated during this years General Synod. For further information on amendments and passage through General Synod please email the General Synod Press Officer.

BILL NO 7

Explanatory Memorandum

This Bill, which comes before General Synod at the request of the Commission on Ministry, seeks to implement the main proposals contained in that Commission's White Paper on Pastoral Breakdown brought before General Synod in 2000.

Sections 1 and 2 provide for the establishment, in June 2002, of two Provincial Mediation Panels each with power to make recommendations to a Bishop concerning any case of pastoral conflict which that Bishop has referred to it being a case which he deems incapable of resolution at local level within the Diocese.

In Section 3 details of the composition of the panels are set out; one ordained priest and one lay person shall be appointed for three years by the Diocesan Council from each Diocese, upon the nomination of the Bishop, and shall be eligible for up to two further re-appointments.

The need for sensitivity and absolute confidentiality in all matters concerning pastoral breakdown is recognised in Section 4 which details the manner in which the Mediation Teams established by the Panels will operate.

Section 5 provides that where permanent cessation from stipendiary ministry is the agreed course of action the Representative Church Body shall be so notified by the Bishop and in Section 6 that Body is empowered to make regulations concerning severance terms and other related matters.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

REV CANON JAA CONDELL
VEN KR GOOD

BILL

To provide for the establishment of Provincial Mediation Panels and to make further provision concerning mediation in conflict resolution and related matters.

WHEREAS it is expedient that provision be made for the establishment of mediation procedures for the assistance of Bishops in the resolution of conflict within Dioceses and to make further provision in relation to mediation and related matters;

BE IT ENACTED by the Archbishops and Bishops and the Clergy and Laity of the Church of Ireland in General Synod assembled in Dublin in the year 2001, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

1. With effect from 1 June 2002 a Provincial Mediation Panel (hereinafter referred to as 'the Panel') shall be established within each of the Provinces of the Church of Ireland to which any Bishop within that Province may, when he considers it appropriate, refer any case of pastoral conflict which he deems to be incapable of resolution at a local level within the Diocese.
   
   
2. The Panel shall have power to make recommendations to a Bishop upon all matters referred to it by that Bishop and in particular to make recommendations under section 4 below.
   
   
3. (i) The Panel shall comprise one ordained priest and one lay person from each Diocese in the Province who shall, in each case, be appointed by the Diocesan Council upon the nomination of the diocesan Bishop from among the licensed clergy and the laity thereof and shall hold office for three years from the date upon which they are appointed.
   
   (ii) Each member of the Panel shall receive training in conflict resolution prior to taking up office.
   
   (iii) Each member of the Panel shall be eligible for reappointment but no member shall hold office for longer than nine years from the date of that member's first appointment to the Panel.
   
   (iv) The Panel shall at its first meeting and thereafter triennially elect a Chairman and Honorary Secretary from among its own members.
   
   (v) The Chairman shall have a casting as well as an ordinary vote on all questions. Casual vacancies in either of the offices referred to in subsection (iv) above may be filled, by election, at any meeting of the Panel, the person so elected to hold office until the next triennial election.
   
   
4. (i) Upon a reference being made under section 1 above by a diocesan Bishop the Panel shall appoint a Mediation Team (hereinafter referred to as 'the Team') of four of its own members none of whom shall be appointees from the Diocese concerned.
   
   (ii) The Team shall have power to co-opt not more than two additional members being persons with relevant experience and expertise in conflict resolution.
   
   (iii) The Team shall have access in absolute confidence to all records of previous attempts within the Diocese concerned to resolve the matter which is the subject of the reference.
   
   (iv) The Team shall be entitled to meet the parties concerned, each of whom may be accompanied at any such meeting by an adviser of their choice.
   
   (v) The Team shall have power to recommend a particular course of action within the Parish or Diocese concerned or to make such other recommendations as it may, in the circumstances, consider appropriate.
   
   (vi) Upon completion of its work the Team shall report its recommendations in writing to the Chairman of the Panel who shall, within twelve months of the first reference having been made under subsection (i) above, forward them to the Bishop concerned.
   
   
5. Where a recommendation under section 4 (v) above is made by the Team and that recommendation includes permanent cessation from stipendiary ministry, and where the minister concerned agrees with the recommendation, the Bishop shall notify the Representative Church Body.
   
   
6. Regulations may be made by the Representative Church Body concerning severance terms and all other related matters.

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