The General Synod of the Church of Ireland today debated a special bill seeking to insert in future publications of the Book of Common Prayer, the Declaration first adopted by resolution of the Synod in 1999, concerning the Articles of Religion.

The 1999 declaration states that while the historical formularies form 'an important part of the inheritance of the Church', it adds that 'negative statements towards other Christians should not be seen as representing the spirit of this Church today'.

The Bill, which was introduced following the approval of the 2008 General Synod, is in the name of the Dean of Armagh and Mr D.B. O'Callaghan and was substantially debated on the floor of the Synod.

Archdeacon Patterson (Down) raised a point of order, in respect of the form of the Bill. This point was answered and the Synod agreed to give the Bill a second reading.

The House went into committee and the amendment tabled by Archdeacon Patterson was presented. An extensive debate ensued and among the points considered were the place of the historic formularies, the context in which they were written and the doctrinal implications of incorporating the Declaration with or without amendment, into the material contained in the Book of Common Prayer. Several speakers on both sides of the debate reiterated the commitment of the church to positive ecumenical engagement and there were also references to the context of the Hard Gospel Project through which the Church had addressed the issue of living with difference. When put to the vote, the amendment was accepted.

Following this, standing orders were raised with the agreement of Synod to enable a clerical error in the Bill to be corrected. This amendment also passed. The Synod then considered the whole of the amended Bill, which passed in a vote by orders, by more than the two-thirds majorities required.