A resolution to alter the wording of the marriage service in The Book of Common Prayer was discussed and passed by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland today.

Amongst other parts of the service, it would remove the part where the priest asks anyone in the congregation who might know a reason why the couple cannot legally be married to “now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold (their) peace.”

The Civil Registration Act 2004 placed the responsibility to vouch for the legality of a marriage upon the couple getting married, and many consider it unnecessary and improper to request the congregation to volunteer such information.

It was proposed by the Revd Canon Ricky Rountree (Glendalough) and seconded by the Bishop of Cashel, the Right Revd Michael Burrows.

Pleading with the members of the General Synod to take the resolution at face value, the Bishop explained how “we are required to say that ‘we are required to by law’ when we are not required by law for another year.”

“We do not want to go on inviting members of the public if they know of any legal reason for why a couple cannot be married for, as the civil law now has it, they have no legal entitlement to do this.”

Section 26(1) of the Church of Ireland Constitution requires that any change to the articles, doctrines, rites, rubrics or formularies of the Church must undergo two stages.

The reform must be laid out and passed as a resolution and then as a bill the following year. At both stages two thirds support is required from both orders (clerical and lay) of the House of Representatives of the General Synod. 

A special bill can now be presented at the 2009 General Synod that, if passed, will amend the text of The Book of Common Prayer.