Six Bills have been approved by the General Synod, on the final day of its meeting in Armagh.  In accordance with Constitutional procedures, all six Bills were introduced and debated in detail on the first day of the Synod session, and have now been given their final readings and approval.
 
Bill No 1 provides for the inclusion of a prayer for Northern Ireland in the Book of Common Prayer.
 
Bill No 2 introduces an "ecumenical Canon" in Chapter IX of the Constitution to provide for the regulation of local ecumenical partnerships.
 
Bill No 3 amends Chapter I of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland to provide that Synod members will in future assume office on the day preceding the Synod session, rather than in January.  The Bill includes transitional provisions and also provides for members of the Standing Committee to be elected by the incoming “members-elect” of Synod in order to preserve the existing timeframe in that regard.
 
Bill No 4 amends Section 51(1) of Chapter IV of the Constitution to reduce the delay between approval and implementation of levels of Minimum Approved Stipends (MAS) for clergy, by authorising the Standing Committee to approve MAS levels on behalf of the General Synod.
 
Bill No 5 amends Section 2 of Chapter XIV of the Constitution to reduce the delay between approval and implementation of levels of Pensionable Stipend by authorising the Standing Committee to approve MAS levels on behalf of the General Synod.
 
Bill No 6 amends certain provisions relating to the regulation and management of the Cathedral Church of St Patrick, Armagh, including introducing provisions for the appointment of Ecumenical Canons, a Succentor and two Cathedral Wardens.