General Synod 2003: Thursday's News

This is a thumbnail image of the Archbishop of Armagh speaking at General Synod

This is a thumbnail image of the Archbishops, Bishops, Honorary Secretaries and Members at General Synod

This is a thumbnail image of Members voting at General Synod

This is a thumbnail image of the Archbishops' table at General Synod

THURSDAY'S NEWS

Sixteen Bills become Statutes
(from Elaine Whitehouse, Communications Dept, RCB)

Sixteen of the seventeen bills before this year’s Synod have now passed the final stages of consideration and will become statutes.

The passing of Bills Nos 1-13 marks the end of the legislative process providing material for inclusion in the new Book of Common Prayer to be published in 2004.

Bill No 6, providing service material for “Ministry to the Sick”, was amended so that the title of the service will now be “Ministry to Those who are Sick”. The Rev Canon John McKegney, proposing the amendment, said that he found the term “the sick” offensive and would rather talk of “sick people” or “those who are sick”. Bill No 12 listing the order of offices in the new book was also amended accordingly, as was one prayer.

Rev Canon John McKegney (Armagh)

Very Rev Michael Burrows, Dean of Cork

The Very Rev Michael Burrows, Dean of Cork, seconding ten of the liturgical bills, told Synod that perfection was never attainable, but he felt that the “atmosphere, sense of compromise and positive approach” of the Synod to the liturgical material over the past years had brought the Church of Ireland’s prayer book nearer to perfection. The Rev Canon Ricky Rountree, secretary to the Liturgical Advisory Committee and proposer of eleven of the bills, also thanked Synod for its help.

The Most Rev Robin Eames, Primate and President of the General Synod paid tribute to Canon Rountree and Dean Burrows for their skill in guiding the Synod through the process of liturgical revision, adding that the preparation of liturgical bills involved “precision and a great deal of hard work”.

Bills Nos 14 and 15 consolidating the Constitution were passed unanimously, while Bill No 16 establishing a levy to fund financial settlements to clergy in cases of pastoral breakdown was passed by a large majority following a short debate during which concern was expressed at the size of the financial burden to be carried by the dioceses.

The final bill before the Synod, which had sought to allow boards of nomination to meet before parishes became vacant, fell at the last hurdle. Bill No 17 was voted on by orders following a request from the requisite ten members and was defeated by the clergy, 62 of whom voted “no” compared to a “yes” vote of 54.

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