Bill No. 5 , in the names of Mr W.F. Baker and the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe 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.

During the year the Commission on Ministry appointed a sub-group to address this issue and a survey of the Diocesan Secretaries was conducted to examine the number, deployment and reimbursement of non-stipendiary ministers currently within the Church of Ireland. It was also noted that this will be a finite population as the new Ministry Formation does not differentiate between stipendiary and non-stipendiary training.

The Commission on Ministry received the recommendations from the sub-group and agreed on a proposal which was then sent to the House of Bishops. The House of Bishops stated they were satisfied with the proposal that draft legislation be brought to General Synod 2009.

Proposing the report, Mr Baker said 'This is an injustice and is clearly seen to be so in the parishes where auxiliary, or as they are now called, non-stipendiary clergy, are so highly valued.  Many parishioners are extremely uncomfortable that such huge demands are being made on unpaid people'.

Seconding the report, the Bishop of Derry added 'Passing this Bill would enable the RCB and the Standing Committee to devise detailed rules which would govern the arrangements under which payment could be made to NSMs in certain limited circumstances'.

The Bill was substantially debated on the floor of the Synod. Concerns were raised as to where the funding for payment would be sourced and the role of Diocesan Bishops in the discernment of allocations. It was also noted that clergy continue to be office holders, not employees.

The Bill was agreed and will receive its third reading on Sunday.