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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 contact the General Synod Press Office.

BILL NO 14

Explanatory Memorandum

In 2002 the General Synod approved by the required majorities a resolution granting leave for the introduction of this Special Bill in 2003.

The General Synod of 2001 authorised the preparation of a Bill to consolidate the Constitution of the Church of Ireland so replacing the statute of 1988 and that Bill is Bill No 15 of 2003. In order that inclusive language may be used throughout the Constitution, Bill No 15 will include, as does the Statute of 1988, certain definitions.

One such definition, to replace the definition in section 2(1)(b) of the Statute of 1988 will be that the term ‘member of the clergy’ or ‘clergy’ shall, unless otherwise specifically provided, mean a deacon or priest of the Church of Ireland or of a church in full communion with that Church.

Chapter IX of the Constitution contains the Canons of the Church of Ireland and since an amendment to any of the Canons which concern the ‘Articles, Doctrines, Rites, Rubrics or Formularies of the Church’ requires a Special Bill, under section 26(1) of Chapter I of the Constitution, this Bill is now before the General Synod of 2003 so that the amendments therein, to ensure inclusive language, may be included in the consolidation of the Constitution in 2003, as found in Bill No 15 and the Schedule thereto.

LADY SHEIL
THE HON MRS JUSTICE C MCGUINNESS
(at the request of the General Synod)

Bill

To carry into effect a Resolution of the General Synod of 2002 to amend, in Chapter IX of the Constitution, Canons 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 16, 26, 31 and 32 (hereafter referred to as “the said Canons”) of the Canons of the Church of Ireland by substituting, for the said Canons, the Canons set out in the accompanying Schedule.

WHEREAS a Resolution, to amend in Chapter IX of the Constitution the said Canons by substituting, for the said Canons, the Canons set out in the accompanying Schedule, was duly passed in full Synod assembled in Dublin in the year 2002 by the required majorities, and was duly transmitted to the Secretaries of all Diocesan Synods;

AND WHEREAS it is expedient that the said Resolution shall be carried into effect by a Statute;

AND WHEREAS in accordance with the provisions of Section 26 (1) of Chapter I of the Constitution leave was given for the introduction of a Bill in the General Synod of 2003;

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 2003, and by the authority of the same as follows:

1. In this Statute Chapter IX means Chapter IX of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland.
2. In Chapter IX for the said Canons there shall be substituted the Canons set out in the Schedule to this Statute.

Click here for the Schedule to Bill No. 14

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