The final report by the Church and Society Committee to General Synod was approved today by General Synod on the final day of the Synod. The Committee will be replaced by a Board for Social Theology in Action which will also incorporate the Board of Social Responsibility (NI) (which will retain its own legal identity) and the Board for Social Responsibility (Republic of Ireland).

Dermot O’Callaghan (Down) apologised for going “into too much graphic detail” on the first day of General Synod. Turning to the content of the report he recalled the death of his mother. He remembered he and his sister being asked by the ambulance men whether or not it was appropriate to continue trying to revive her. The Revd Janice Elsden (Connor) recalled being with her husband being with a lady dying in a nursing home but noted that “so often people die in the midst of a busy hospital ward and there is no possibility of a side ward...surely we need to speak out about this...surely we all need to know that our loved ones...will die in dignity and peace surrounded by those we love.” The Bishop of Clogher said that while the Church in Society will no longer exist but hoped that the spirit would continue. He said he would like to think that whatever structure followed would also be respected and given the scope to say something on behalf of the Church. He urged people to take home the last publication of the committee, Broken Trust.

Following this debate the Synod also considered the report for Social Action (Northern Ireland). Proposing the report the Archbishop of Armagh said it was a very active committee with a committed team of professional employees.

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