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.
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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.
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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."
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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.
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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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