REPORTS ON WEDNESDAY'S BUSINESS
From the Revd Gregg Ryan,
Irish Correspondent of the Church Times

SYNOD HEARS OF MEDIATION PANELS

A Bill to legislate for problem clergy and problem laity has gone forward for a final reading unopposed at the Church of Ireland's general synod meeting on Wednesday in Dublin.

It provides for a system of mediation panels to resolve intractable disputes between clergy and laity at parochial level.

The Provincial Mediation Panels Bill has been prepared by the Commission on Ministry through Green and White papers over the past two years in order to provide a framework for conflict resolution.

Canon Joe Condell of Killaloe Diocese, proposing the Bill, said while many disputes in parishes could be resolved in the short or even long term, there were instances where every local avenue had been exhausted and it was impossible to deal with the issues.

"In the Church of Ireland from time to time there are clergy who for whatever reason make life intolerable for their parishioners and there are parishes which for whatever reason make life intolerable for their clergy. Sometimes these situations are temporary and a way forward of living together is found but there are some situations which become protracted and bitter and are beyond resolution locally despite every effort being made at parish and diocesan level", he said.

The Bill aims to provide for severance packages where it is agreed between both parties that a ministry in the stipendiary priesthood should end. This will preclude the cleric involved from any stipendiary position within the C of I in the future, but would allow for ministry of some kind for which out-of-pocket expenses might be paid.

In the Church of Ireland, 'parsons freehold' as a concept does not exist and neither is there a contract of employment for most of the clergy. Instead there is a covenant relationship with those whom they serve as bishop, rector or curate assistant, Canon Condell said.

"In an era of transparency and openness the clergy of the Church of Ireland are not beyond accountability, and neither are the parishes in which they serve. If no resolution is found to these matters which the Commission has called 'pastoral conflict' the result is a parish which becomes discouraged and a ministry which lacks fulfillment and becomes disillusioned. In the long run the Church, where it matters most and where it has most to give at a parish level, could be destroyed."

He said the Bill if passed will enable the church to establish two mediation panels, one in each Province, with members appointed by the Diocesan Councils on the nomination of the bishop, comprising one priest, one lay person from each Diocese of the Province and training will be provided in conflict resolution prior to taking up office.

Canon Tom Haskins of Clontarf (Dublin) expressed the concern that clergy who might be affected by the measure might have no training for anything else if their ministry ended, and suggested that it was at selection and during training that serious problems with individuals might first become apparent.

Peter Reid, Killaloe Diocese, spoke of the normally very strong bond of friendship which exists in the C of I between bishop, clergy and laity, and he urged that the new measure be pursued with great discretion and sensitivity.

Seconding the Bill, Archdeacon Ken Good of Dromore assured Synod that the concerns of clergy and laity would be fully taken into account. However, he said it was unlikely that 95% of parishes and clergy would be affected in any way by the new Bill.

From the Revd Gregg Ryan,
Irish Correspondent of the Church Times

SYNOD APPROVES SEE HOUSE SALE

A four-year controversy over the disposal of an historic See House ended at General Synod when a motion calling for disapproval of the disposal of the Bishop's Palace at Kilkenny in the Diocese of Cashel, Ossory and Ferns was defeated by an overwhelming majority of 110 votes.

The motion in the name of Mr. John Couchman stems from a decision by the Representative Church Body to go ahead with the hotly debated transfer to the Irish Government Heritage Council, which is based in Kilkenny city, in return for the building of a new bishop's residence within the existing grounds of the Cathedral Close.

Mr. Couchman said Kilkenny had the last remaining Cathedral Close in Ireland, and the palace pre-dated the fall of Constantinople. He described it as "an icon of the Church of Ireland in the area" and said that while Christ did not have houses, cathedrals or other structures, at an emotional level many people were deeply affected.

"We have this feeling of constantly going backwards. We should stop this withdrawal all the time, we should be positive and go forward."

The Synod, having heard that $ 1 million had been spent on the building in ongoing maintenance since 1990 and a further $800,000 would be required to put the palace on a modern footing with ongoing further costs down the line, decided that positive action should be an end of the debate and voted to reject the motion 209 to 99.

From the Revd Gregg Ryan,
Irish Correspondent of the Church Times

BISHOP WARNS OF CYNICAL CULTURE IN CHURCH

The breakdown in trust evident in Irish political life has now translated to church affairs, the Bishop of Meath and Kildare Dr. Richard Clarke told General Synod.

Seconding the report of the Representative Church Body, Bishop Clarke said that underneath the veneer of pleasantries which existed at synod, the prevailing view in the secular world that politicians and people in authority generally were 'up to no good' and could not be trusted, is now visible in the relationship between members of the Church of Ireland and their administrative bodies.

"I see it as a problem that has become far more serious even within the past couple of years," he told synod on Wednesday.

"It is a new culture of cynicism and hostility towards others within the Church administrative structures. There seems to be a basic assumption that people with whom we may differ could not possibly be acting in good faith, or be competent or even be as honourable in their intentions."

"I truly believe that this is a way that Satan will destroy this Church if we continue along our present course. Most people do act in good faith; most people are acting honourably and without hidden agendas. Surely it is not part of our Christian calling to assume the worst of those with whom we may not be in agreement?"

Defending the Representative Church Body against the popular image in some quarters as a faceless body pulling strings, he went on: "The RCB is a body with trust responsibility in law, but for the most part democratically elected from the different dioceses of the Church of Ireland."

"It is meaningless to refer to the RCB as a kind of faceless "establishment", shadowy figures pulling strings. The members of the RCB are not characters in some Kafka novel. They are elected, as is this synod, and they are as removable at election time as are the members of this synod. Please remember that many of them have given unselfish, gifted and dedicated service to this Church over many years."

He added that it was even more unworthy to speak in ungenerous terms of the staff of Church House, who cannot reply to abuse.

"Many of the staff of Church House in the current job market could do a great deal better for themselves, working elsewhere. I believe that we owe them our courtesy, our friendliness, and most certainly, our appreciation."

From the Revd Gregg Ryan,
Irish Correspondent of the Church Times

COLLEGE PLEA

The Principal of the Church of Ireland Theological College, Dr. John Bartlett, who is retiring, made an impassioned plea to general synod to expand the services of the college to cater for lay people as well as clergy.

Dr. Bartlett said that theology is no longer the private preserve of the clergy. "Many lay people here today have just as keen an interest in theology as their clergy - indeed, often a keener interest - and I seriously commend that point to the College Council and those who come after me."

He urged the Church to guard the status of the College and its emphasis on theology in a changing Irish Anglican scene.

"The College is called the Theological College, and that matters. We are not simply training clergy to behave in clerical ways. Training is what you do to make dogs jump through hoops. We are educating the future clergy theologically, we are there to give them a theological basis for their ministry. If clergy do not understand their belief from its origins upwards, they will not have any solid base for their preaching. Nonsense talked about God, as someone said, is still nonsense."

This is especially true in the context of the changing profile of ordinands. Dr. Bartlett reminded synod that the traditional background of Irish Anglican ordinands had altered in recent times.

""We are introducing future clergy to the liturgical and pastoral and spiritual traditions of the Church of Ireland. I say introducing, because not all our students were reared in them; Anglicanism was not always their birthright. This work is important if the traditions of the Church of Ireland are to continue."

Canon Bartlett was Principal of the college for twelve years and presided over its modernisation and academic advancement at a time of major change in the Church and the approach to education generally.

From the Revd Gregg Ryan,
Irish Correspondent of the Church Times

DRUMCREE COULD BRING 'CIVIC MELTDOWN'

The time for talking and passing resolutions over Drumcree has passed and it is now time for action, the Archdeacon of Down, Ven. Gregor McCamley, told General Synod.

He said that the integrity of the Church was at stake and it was no longer acceptable to argue that everything that could have been done within legal and constitutional bounds. Action should include giving a bishop wider powers, if that was what was necessary.

During the discussion which took place in a debate on the Standing Committee Report, Canon Cecil Hyland, Dublin Diocese, said that at almost every church gathering throughout Ireland, the Drumcree issue came up and the church continued to be seriously damaged.
The impression was going out that the Church of Ireland was morally moribund when a message that "all that could be done has been done" is conveyed.

Mr. David Bleakley, Down Diocese, said the people opf Northern Ireland are "walking on very thin ice. We could have civic meltdown over the next few weeks", he said, though he hoped this would not happen.

Mr. John Richardson, Connor Diocese, told the synod: "The Egyptians had the boils and locusts, we in the Church of Ireland have Drumcree."

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