Following a wide ranging discussion the report of Standing Committee has been adopted by General Synod. The debate was chaired by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Revd Alan Abernethy.

Dean Raymond Ferguson proposed the report of Standing Committee. He referred to developments on the work of Standing Committee on Human Sexuality in the Context of Christian Belief, the Irish Inter–church Peace Programme, development of the link with the Moravian Church of Great Britain and Ireland, the Church of Ireland submission to the Joint Oireachtas hearings on Abortion and the working group’s deliberations on abortion, the Central Communications Board’s work in spreading the Good News and the work of the Press Office.

He also raised the report by the working group on issue of the Single Farm Payment Scheme and the crisis facing the farming and rural communities as a result of a year of bad weather. He also highlighted the work of Soulwaves Radio.

The report was seconded by Ms Ruth Handy, a newcomer to Standing Committee, who gave her first impressions of the committee. “Initially it is somewhat forbidding and it strikes one as being very hierarchical with the bishops and VIPs sitting around the vast board table while the rest of us cluster around the walls. However it soon becomes clear that that is not quite the story. People are given the opportunity to speak, in the main it is very courteous and friendly, there is the occasional exchange of banter with mentions of individuals being follicly challenged, etc and, somewhat like the Synod, the mood can switch from humour to complete seriousness in a moment. It is a very large group so the skill of the chairman is vital and we are blessed in that respect,” she commented.

She highlighted the lack of a data base. She said that accurate figures helped to formulate and analyse strategic options. To that end a Census Form is being sent out this year to be returned by November 2013. She also observed that reduced funding had affected the Priorities Fund and Bishops’ Appeal. “We may feel poor in the present times, but we have unimaginable wealth in comparison to a widow trying to raise her own and possibly her orphaned grandchildren in somewhere like Ethiopia. We must continue to follow the gospel teaching to stand alongside the poor,” she said.

The continuing development of the Children’s Ministry Network was praised. She noted that, if approved, the Board for Social Theology in Action was proposing a name change to CASC – the Church of Ireland Church and Society Commission with the tagline ‘Putting Faith into Action’. Likewise she said that the Parish Development Working Group was changing its remit.

Discussions included contributions on a range of subjects including:

• The successions of Deans of Cork to high office – the Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin are both former Deans of Cork.
• The achievements of the Children’s Ministry Network.
• An appeal to promote the work of Bishops’ Appeal and tributes were paid to Bishop Michael Burrows, outgoing chairman of Bishops’ Appeal.
• The need to reflect more seriously on the Doctrine of God.
• The proposed changes to the Single Farm Payment.
• The suitability of Christ Church Cathedral as a venue for Synod and appeals to find an alternative venue for Synod in Dublin.
• General Synod Royalties Fund and the LAC Hymnal Supplementary.
• Recollections of the visit of President McAleese to Synod in 2008 and hoped that aspirations to follow up with a Royal visit had not been lost sight of.
• The plight of members of the farming community.
• The shortage of female members on Church of Ireland committees.
• The Irish Inter Church Peace Programme as well as the flags protest in Belfast and the churches’ engagement around that.
• The Human Sexuality debate and the mental health issues inherent in this conversation and an appeal to consider the human faces, the human lives and the human tragedies that underlie the debate.
• The Church of Ireland’s submission to the Oireachtas Hearings on Abortion and the response of the Church to the Heads of Bill on Abortion.
• The contribution of the Mothers’ Union Away From it All Fund to the lives of families under pressure in Ireland.
• The continued absence of a Green Environmental Charter for the Church of Ireland.
• The proposal to abolish the Seanad from the Oireachtas and the Church’s responsibility to speak out in support of a bi–cameral government.
• Diocesan youth workers.
• Changes to the Farm Assist Scheme.
• The importance of representation of members of the immigrant community on Synod.

Dean Ferguson thanked everyone for their wide ranging contributions to the debate and said that they would be fed into Standing Committee. He said a number of speakers referred to next year’s venue of Christ Church Dublin. He said that 2014 would be the last year of the three year agreement with the Cathedral and people could look forward to a rethink.

He proposed that the report of the Standing Committee be adopted. It was agreed.