Bill Number 5 – Seconder’s Speech for the Second Reading

Mr Denzil Auchmuty – Tuam

YOUR GRACE CLAUSES 3 AND 4 OF THIS BILL FOCUS ON THE METHOD OF ELECTING REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL SYNOD AND ELIGIBILITY FOR ELECTION.

AMONGST THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THIS COMMITTEE IN ITS FIRST REPORT TO GENERAL SYNOD IN 1999 IT STATED AND I QUOTE:

‘IT IS ESSENTIAL TO SCRUTINISE PATTERNS OF REPRESENTATION AT EVERY LEVEL OF CHURCH LIFE AND TO ENSURE, WHERE POSSIBLE, THAT ALL GROUPS ARE ADEQUATELY INVOLVED AND REPRESENTED: LAY/CLERICAL; MALE/FEMALE AND YOUNG/OLD. THE METHOD OF VOTING AND ELECTION AT EVERY SYNODICAL LEVEL OF THE CHURCH SHOULD BE EXAMINED AND REVIEWED IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT SUCH A BALANCED REPRESENTATION IS ATTAINED.’

CLAUSE 3 OF THIS BILL SEEKS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BY REQUIRING THAT REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL SYNOD BE ELECTED BY DIOCESAN SYNOD ON A SYSTEM OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. IT IS WIDELY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE SYSTEM OF PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION IS A VERY FAIR ELECTORAL PROCESS ALLOWING FOR A WIDER SPREAD OF REPRESENTATION IN A PARTICULAR CONSTITUENCY.

ONE GLANCE AROUND THIS SYNOD GATHERING CONFIRMS THAT THERE ARE A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER OF MALES IN THIS ROOM COMPARED TO THE NUMBER OF FEMALES WHO OCCUPY THE PEWS OF THE MAJORITY OF OUR CHURCHES. LIKEWISE THE NUMBER OF YOUNGER PEOPLE REPRESENTED HERE IS SMALL – THEY ARE THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH AND THEY SHOULD HAVE THEIR VOICE HEARD. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION, WHILE NOT GUARANTEEING THAT THESE IMBALANCES WILL BE FULLY CORRECTED, SHOULD GO SOME WAY TO REACHING THAT OBJECTIVE. IT IS USEFUL TO KNOW THAT PR IS USED BY THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN ITS ELECTORAL PROCESS. SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE WHICH CAN BE EASILY ADAPTED FOR OUR PURPOSES.

CLAUSE 4 PROVIDES FOR AN UPPER LIMIT OF 75 FOR CLERGY ELIGIBLE FOR ELECTION TO THE GENERAL SYNOD.

YOUR GRACE THIS COMMITTEE HAS WORKED VERY HARD AND VERY DILIGENTLY OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. WE HAVE FULLY REPORTED OUR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. WE HAVE INVITED AND WELCOMED DEBATE PRIOR TO THE VOTES ACCEPTING OUR TWO PREVIOUS REPORTS IN 1999 AND 2000. THESE VOTES HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEE AS AN ENDORSEMENT OF OUR WORK AND OUR APPROACH TO SYNODICAL REFORM IN THE CHURCH OF IRELAND. IN THIS COMMITTEE’S REPORT TO YOU IN 1999 WE QUOTED CANON JLB DEANE IN HIS REPORT TO GENERAL SYNOD IN 1994 - THAT HIS SUGGESTIONS FOR A REDUCTION IN THE SIZE OF THE GENERAL SYNOD WOULD RESULT IN ‘ONE HITTING ONE’S HEAD AGAINST A WALL’ - IF THIS BILL IS NOT PASSED WE WILL ALL HAVE BEEN HITTING OUR HEADS AGAINST A WALL FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.

IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I SECOND THIS BILL.