CHURCH OF IRELAND PRESS OFFICE
Church of Ireland House, 61 - 67 Donegall Street, Belfast BT 2QH
Tel Belfast: (028) 90 232 909
 Press Officer Brian Parker (M): 07775 927 807

PRESS RELEASE

Press Facilities and Review of business at General Synod 2003

8 May 2003

The General Synod is open to the press and every effort will be made to help journalists access information, photographs, interviews and spokespersons over the three days.  The following sets out the basic arrangements and a general outline of this year’s business agenda.  It is hoped to stick to the timetable but some items may be carried over to the following day.

Venue: STILLORGAN PARK HOTEL, STILLORGAN ROAD, DUBLIN SOUTH

Dates: TUESDAY, 13 May to THURSDAY, 15 MAY

The Synod Press Centre is in the Priory Room on the ground floor.
Press Officer: Rev Brian Parker (m) 07775 927 807

Press Centre Numbers: Tel: (01) (003531) 2881621
Fax: (01) (003531) 2831610
E mail: Church of Ireland Press Officer

Reports and information will be posted daily on this website and there is also access to general background information on a range of topics and issues.

Synod Structure

The Synod consists of three Orders: the Bishops, Clergy and Laity.  These sit together as two Houses: the House of Bishops and the House of Representatives. The Archbishops and Bishops sit as the House of Bishops.  The diocesan synods elect the members of the House of Representatives, who hold office for a triennium.  The Archbishop of Armagh is President of the General Synod. The representation from the 12 dioceses numbers 216 clerical, 432 lay.

There will be a press conference on each of the three days in the Synod Press Centre in the Sandyford Room at 1pm.  The conference will cover the main topic of the day.  There will also be other opportunities to meet speakers and representatives at various times throughout the three days.

The Synod Press Centre will be open from 0830 hours each day. Diocesan Communications Officers will be available to deal with specific diocesan issues and arrange interviews.

Day 1, Tuesday 13 May

• President takes the chair at 11 am
   
• PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS: ARCHBISHOP ROBIN EAMES
   
• President’s Press Conference in the Synod Press Centre at 1pm
   
• Liturgical Bills/Business Motions/Liturgical Advisory Committee Report
  This is expected to mark the conclusion of work on the new Book of Common Prayer due to be published in the Spring of 2004.  Bishop Richard Clarke of Meath and Kildare, speaks of liturgy as ‘a weapon of mission’.  Canon Ricky Rountree is Central Liturgical Officer.  Canon Brian Mayne is Editor of the new book.  Bishop Harold Miller of Down and Dromore is chairman of the Liturgical Advisory Committee.
  Go to Report
  Go to Bills

• Pensions Board Report. Go to Report
   
• Establishment of Severance Fund for Clergy. Go to Report
   
• Mr Hilary Morrison, Diocese of Connor, will report on investment returns and improvements in pension benefits for clergy and widows over the last 27 years.

The General Synod Service will be held in ST PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL at 7.30pm. The celebrant will be the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd John Neill and the preacher will be the Rt Revd Michael Marshall, Incumbent of Holy Trinity, Sloane Square, London.

Day 2, Wednesday 14 May

• Business starts at 10 am
   
• Representative Church Body Report. Go to Report
   
• THE HARD GOSPEL
  UNIQUE SURVEY OF ATTITUDES TO SECTARIANISM
  Presentation of one of the most comprehensive pieces of research yet attempted into one church or denomination in Ireland and their attitudes to and experiences of sectarianism. Bishop Alan Harper of Connor is chairman of the Church’s Sectarian Education Project and Dr Gareth Higgins is author of ‘The Hard Gospel’.
  Go to Report
   
• Press Conference in the Synod Press Centre at 1pm.
  ‘The Hard Gospel’. Bishop Alan Harper and Dr Gareth Higgins
   
• Standing Committee Report. Go to Report
  Presented by Mr Wilfred Baker, Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.
  This includes:
  Synodical Reform, p162/p269;
  Sustainable Development, p235-242;
  Marriage Law Reform, p154;
  Church in Society, p201;
  Church of Ireland/Methodist Covenant/Covenant Council, p152/163/182;
  Disability Policy Statement, p155 (p77);
  New Book of Common Prayer, p160/190/264
  Bishops Appeal, p172
   
• Commission on Ministry
  Chairman is the Most Rev Richard Clarke, Bishop of Meath and Kildare
  Go to Report
  The Rt Rev Ken Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, will review progress since the Commission was set up in 1996 and stress the high calling of the ordained ministry.
   
• Church’s Ministry of Healing. Go to Report

Day 3, Thursday 15 May

• Business starts at 10 am
   
• Bills as ordered on the first day. Go to Bills
   
• EDUCATION
  The Most Revd Dr Robin Eames, Archbishop of Armagh is chairman of the Board of Education (NI) and the Most Rev John Neill, Archbishop of Dublin, is chairman of the Board of Education (RI).
  
  The Rt Revd Ken Clarke, Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh, will address issues in education in RI, including teacher training and the schools building programme. Mr Wilfred Young, Diocese of Armagh, will speak on current educational issues in NI including comments on the post-primary review.
  Go to Report
   
• Council for Mission in Ireland. Ms Mavis Gibbons sounds a warning that if we do not fulfil our purpose of mission then we have little future.
  Go to Report
   
• Council for the Church Overseas. Go to Report
   
• Press Conference in the Synod Press Centre at 1pm
  The importance of the Church of Ireland in education at both primary and secondary levels. The Most Rev John Neill, Archbishop of Dublin; Canon John McCullagh, Education Office (RI) and Rev Ian Ellis, Education Officer (NI).
   
• Youth Ministry. Go to Report
   
• Christian Unity. Go to Report
   
• Marriage Council. Go to Report
   
• Board of Social Responsibility. Go to Report
   
• Church Buildings. Go to Report

The General Synod will next meet in the Armagh City Hotel on 11 - 13 May 2004