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TUESDAY'S NEWS
Methodist
President offers branch of hope to Synod
Presenting Archbishop
Robin Eames with a freshly sprouted shoot from the two beech trees
at Lambeg that were symbolically 'plaited' together by John Wesley
in the 18th century, Rev Harold Good, President of the Methodist
Church in Ireland spoke to the General Synod of the Church of
Ireland of his hopes for reconciliation and healing between the two
Churches.
The President's hopes were
later answered by a 'yes' vote in the Synod, which approved the
Joint Draft Covenant between the Church of Ireland and the Methodist
Church in Ireland. The Methodist Conference will vote on the Draft
Covenant later in the summer.
The Rev Good spoke of
shared roots, shared commitment to mission and obedience to the mind
and will of Christ in his address to the Church of Ireland Synod. He
explored the common heritage of the two Churches as they embark on a
journey that he suggested would lead to places of promise and new
opportunity.
Debate
In the debate on the Draft
Joint Covenant, the Proposer, the Right Reverend Harold Miller,
Bishop of Down and Dromore, commented on the need to move gradually
along the road together. He spoke of moving towards sharing in
ministry, but not of interchangeability at this stage. He said this
is partly because of Anglican concerns with Episcopal ordination and
also because of practical differences in the organisation of
ministry, with the Methodist itinerant model being very different to
the Church of Ireland model of beneficed clergy.
Canon Kenneth Smyth of the
Diocese of Down and Dromore, urged Church of Ireland members to
"do everything to strengthen the bonds" that exist between
the two Churches. He urged the Joint Theological Working Party to
hasten on in their work, which was initiated by the General Synod
and Methodist Conference in 1999. In closing the debate, Bishop
Miller said that the members of the Joint Theological Working Party
would attempt to set up an implementation group within a year if the
Draft Covenant was passed.
The vote was unanimously
in favour of the Draft Covenant.
Dean Peter Barratt of
Waterford, seconding the proposal, urged Irish Anglicans to
"continue the journey of rediscovery in Christ that has been
going on since the 1930s."
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Synod restructuring rebuffed
Synod today rejected a call to
restructure the General Synod of the Church of Ireland (Bill 11) by 187 votes against to 148 votes in favour.
The Private Members Bill was prepared by Canon Brian Courtney (Clogher) and Canon Philip
Patterson (Down and Dromore) who based their proposal on principles of achieving fair representation on a percentage basis across dioceses, rather than on the numbers basis that has been used since 1870.
"The figures for each Diocese were based on a ratio of two lay people for each clerical member, based on 10% of the serving clergy in each Diocese. The great flaw we inherited is that instead of building a percentage into our Constitution our forebears legislated on the basis of the numbers those percentages at that time resulted in," explained Canon Courtney, who presented the proposed Bill to Synod. Subsequent population changes mean that "for many years this Synod has become increasingly less representative of our Church," he added.
The proposed Bill would have sought to base representation on 50% of the cures in any Diocese, with no Diocese being allowed to have less than four clerical and eight lay representatives. Adjustments would have been made for subsequent increases or decreases in the number of cures in any Diocese. Canon Courtney estimated that on the basis of existing figures this would result in a net increase in Synod size of less than 10%.
In an emotive conclusion, Canon Courtney suggested that the Church is more inclined to criticise inequalities in other structures than to be self-critical. "Is sectarianism only something that exists towards others or is there a contrived sectarianism within our own Church?" he asked.
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Bishop John Neill (Cashel) spoke strongly in opposition to the proposal. Acknowledging the number-based fairness of the proposal, he replied: "In matters of Church representation fairness is an important concept but not an absolute. |
Offering the example of the Anglican Communion model he said: "In the Anglican Communion as a whole, the Anglican Communion allows the smallest province representation equal to the Church of England or the Episcopal Church of America.
He pointed out that in the Church of Ireland strength is found despite size. "A comparison between my diocese and one of our largest dioceses in the Church of Ireland, with almost three times the number of cures as my own, shows that we have at least two thirds as many confirmation candidates this year as the much larger diocese - in other words twice as many per cleric in the South East as in the North East."
In an equally emotive response to Canon Courtney's proposed Bill, he added: "If this balance is upset, then the next step would be an attempt to divide the Church is such a way that it could minister with integrity into the two different jurisdictions." The Bishop concluded that the proposed Bill would alter the Church of Ireland for the worse.
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Bills
update
Before the debates on the Liturgical Bills the Primate made a statement:
"I have been asked by a member of Synod whether it is ultra vires the preamble and declaration to replace the Book of Common Prayer 1662with the Book of Common Prayer 2004. As the lawful authority of the Church of Ireland the Church of Ireland General Synod created the Book of Common Prayer 1878 and the Book of Common Prayer 1926 the Book of Common Prayer 1662 has no authority in this Church, I therefore conclude that the Book of Common Prayer 2004 is NOT ultra vires the preamble and declaration.
Second I have been asked whether it is necessary to entertain a motion that "all references to the Book of Common prayer shall be interpreted as referring solely to the Book of Common Prayer 2004".
My opinion is that in the Church of Ireland the phrase "Book of Common Prayer" refers to the Book in its current edition as each revision of the Book of Common Prayer was precisely that, a revision.
Dates such as 1662, 1878, and 1926 are merely indicators to show that the text of an earlier edition is being referred to and do not have any continuing
authority."
+Robert Armagh
Bill No.
1
Traditional language marriage service was introduced by Canon R B Rountree as the service in the 1926 book unchanged.
An amendment to permit the bride to promise to "obey" her
husband was approved. The final stage will be taken on Thursday 16th and the text as revised will be in the new edition of the Book of Common Prayer.
Bills No.
2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9
In each case, Canon RB Rountree proposed and Dean MAJ Burrows seconded the proposal. The Bills were approved in principle and given a second reading. A vote was taken and the two thirds majority was achieved. The amendments were accepted and the 3rd reading of the Bills will take place on Thursday 16th May.
Bill No. 10 (matters of substance in advance of the Consolidation Bill 2003)
Proposed by Lady Sheil and seconded by the Rev Canon RD Harman.
The Bill was approved passed the first and second stages and will receive its third reading on Thursday 16th May.
Bill No. 11 (proposal for restructuring of General Synod diocesan representation)
Proposed by Canon BJ Courtney and opposed by Right Rev JRW Neill. The Bill did not pass its first stage.
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DEBATES
Bill No.1
Traditional language marriage service was introduced by Canon R B Rountree as the service in the 1926 book unchanged. Canon Jonathan Barry (Down) introduced amendments to permit the bride to omit the promise to "obey" her husband. This was resisted by the proposer and seconder on the grounds that to change one element in a service which admittedly reflects a different social understanding of the marriage relationship to that current in the modern world can upset the whole character of the rite.
Synod approved Canon Barry's amendments and the amended text received the full approval of Synod. The final stage will be taken on Thursday 16th and the text as revised will be in the new edition of the Book of Common Prayer.
Bill No.2
Marriage service in contemporary language was also introduced by Canon Rountree and the Dean of Cork. It was commended as a minimal revision of the service approved in 1987 with opportunity now given to the couple to recite a prayer together after their marriage, the involvement of family and friends offering support to those marrying. The Dean also pointed out the inclusion of an optional explicit thanksgiving prayer for the gift of sexuality. The bill was passed without dissent.
Bill No. 3
To carry into effect a Resolution of the General Synod 2001 to amend the Book of Common Prayer by including therein A Form of Prayer and Dedication after a Civil Marriage as set out in the schedule.
In proposing the Resolution Canon RB Rountree noted that the service shows clearly that the couple are already married. In the service there are no exchange of rings or signing of registers. Dean MAJ Burrows seconded the proposal.
Mrs J Hibbert (Connor) opposed the proposal making the suggestion that this service should be in the book of resources rather than in the BCP. She felt that it encouraged civil marriage as the norm and as an equal to church marriage.
Dean MAJ Burrows stated many people nowadays get married abroad in a civil ceremony. This service gives clergy an alternative that is different to the marriage service without standing equal to it to meet occasional need.
Bill No. 4
To carry into effect a Resolution of the General Synod 2001 to amend that part of the
Book of Common Prayer entitled The Order for the Burial of the Dead by substituting for the above mentioned part of the Book of Common Prayer, The Order for the Burial of the Dead as set out in the schedule.
Canon RB Rountree proposed the Resolution and it was seconded by Dean MAJ Burrows. The Bill was approved in principle and given a second reading. A vote was taken and the two thirds majority was achieved. The amendments were accepted and the 3rd reading of the Bill will take place on Thursday 16th May.
Bill No. 5
To carry into effect a Resolution of the General Synod of 2001 to amend the Book of Common Prayer by including therein The Funeral Services as set out in the schedule.
In proposing the Resolution Canon R Rountree pointed out the amendments now included a service for the burial of ashes and a fuller service of the burial of a child.
Bishop
Miller holding a proof copy of the new Prayer Book
Bill No.6
To carry into effect a Resolution of the General Synod of 2001 to amend the Book of Common Prayer by including therein Sentences of Scripture as set out in the schedule.
Bill No.10
The General Synod in 2001 authorised the Legislation Committee to prepare a Bill to consolidate enactments of the General Synod concerning the Constitution of the Church of Ireland so replacing the Statute of 1988. It is proposed to introduce such a Bill in the General Synod of 2003. Since a Consolidation Bill cannot include amendments of substance any such amendments to the Constitution, if they are to be included in the Consolidation Statute, must be made in separate legislation in advance of the Consolidation Bill.
Several such amendments have been brought to the attention of the Legislation Committee and accordingly the purpose of this Bill is to seek to make the said amendments in advance of next year's Consolidation Bill.
Bill 11
See Synod Structures report
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