The 2009 General Synod of the Church of Ireland opened today in the Armagh City Hotel, Armagh, meeting over a weekend for the first time and occurring at a time of great challenge and opportunity for the Church. 

Rt Rev Trevor Williams, in his role as the most newly appointed Bishop, led the opening act of worship. The Rt Revd Dr Donald Patton, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, led the address.

The Archbishop of Armagh and President, the Most Revd Alan Harper, then welcomed Synod members and guests to Armagh.

Mr Lyndon McCann SC was selected as Assessor of the Synod. The Assessor's role is to ensure that the rules governing Synod are followed and to make rulings on any points of order that arise.

The Rev John McDowell was elected as a clerical honorary secretary to succeed Rev Canon Dr Ian Ellis, who resigned after a number of years of rich contribution to the Church.

Six bills are this year being laid before Synod for consideration; two special bills and four ordinary one-year bills. 

Bill No.1 seeks to insert in the Book of Common Prayer the Declaration first adopted by resolution of the Synod in 1999, and concerned with whether negative statements against other Christians in our historic formularies represent the spirit of our church today.

Bill No. 2, in the name of the Archdeacon of Glendalough and the Bishop of Cashel and Ossory seeks to bring our Marriage liturgies into better harmony with the changed civil law of marriage in both jurisdictions. 

Bill No. 3 seeks to increase the rates of members and parochial/diocesan contributions to the Clergy Pensions fund.

Bill No. 4, in the name of the Dean of Ferns and Mr W.F. Baker concerns the disbanding of the Commission on Church Buildings.

Bill No. 5 is a response to a resolution of last year’s Synod, seeking to make provision for the payment in certain circumstances of clergy in the Auxiliary Ministry.

Finally, Bill No. 6 aims to tidy up an inconsistency in the Constitution as it pertains to St Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin, seeking to restrict appointments of ecumenical canons to those resident on the island of Ireland. 

In addition to these bills, reports from the various committees and boards of the Church will be received and debated. The impact of the recession on the church and on society at large is certain to dominate much of the discussion this year.