The Report of Standing Committee was presented to Synod this afternoon. The report highlighted some significant matters dealt with over the past year including the significant work carried out on the registration of dioceses and parishes as charities in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, an analysis of the Census undertaken in November 2013 and the continuing work on the development of the Hymnal Supplement.

Other aspects of Standing Committee’s work covered in the report include: the Bishops’ Appeal Advisory Committee, the Board for Social Responsibility, the Census, the Central Communications Board, charities legislation, the Children’s Ministry Network, the Church and Society Commission, the Clergy Pensions Levy, complaints and disciplinary procedure, the Historical Centenaries Working Group, the select committee on Human Sexuality in the Context of Christian belief, the Irish Churches Peace Project, Long Term Church, the Moravian Church of Great Britain and Ireland, the Northern Ireland Community Relations Working Group, the Parish Development Working Group and the Working Group on Disability.

In proposing the report the Archdeacon of Derry, the Ven Robert Miller, thanked all who had served on Standing Committee over the last three years and those willing to serve in the new triennium. He highlighted key aspects of the report.

“Standing Committee has been presented with many challenges and yet I am grateful that this report illustrates how, as a church, we are seeking to address these challenges together. The work of Standing Committee makes a difference. Standing Committee plays a strategic part, in shaping the church God wants us to be in the long–term future, and in seeking to make a difference in the world. This is especially true where there is the potential for conflict, pain and distress,” the Archdeacon stated.

The report was seconded by Hazel Corrigan (Cashel, Ferns and Ossory) who highlighted further aspects of the work of Standing Committee. She spoke further of the further work carried out by Standing Committee including the growing friendship with the Moravian Church. She announced that, following discussions at Standing Committee, General Synod 2016 would take place in the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire from May 12 to 14. She thanked all the staff of Church House and the Honorary Secretaries for their work towards the development and mission of the church.

During the debate on the report the following points were raised:

• Speaking on the report, Bishop Patrick Rooke, chairperson of Bishops’ Appeal, spoke about Global Poverty and the Churches’ Response, a new leaflet which highlights the gross inequality in the world, what the Bible has to say about that and what our response should be. The leaflet offers advise and guidelines to ensure the best possible standards for responses to global poverty. He hoped the leaflet would start discussions on global poverty and responses to it. He appealed to all members to ensure that each parish have a retiring collection for the Nepal earthquake if they have not already done so.
• The Revd Adrian Doran spoke about the Church and Society Commission and an proposed motion on a Green Charter for the Church of Ireland.
• Canon Crookes spoke about the Limerick Ardfert and Aghadoe succession list.
• Dean John Bond, the Dean of Connor, recalled the year Synod met in Galway and the address given by the then President of Ireland, Mary McAleese. He wondered in following up if anything had happened on his suggestion to extend an invitation to a senior Royal to attend Synod.
• Archdeacon Ricky Rountree (Glendalough) spoke about the Dignity in Life Charter and said that people often in the life of the Church stoically suffered the slings and arrows of others and continued their ministry. He said a charter should include guidelines of acceptable behaviour in the church and have sanctions for trespassers outside those guidelines.
• Roy Totten (Connor) spoke on the Priorities Fund and drew members’ attention to Priorities News. He said that in the past two years Priorities had funded seven new church plants for pioneer ministry. He hoped this could continue but said he did not think Priorities Fund was big enough to handle it. He spoke about peace and reconciliation and of a project involving St Anne’s Cathedral in Belfast and three local primary schools.
• Several members thanked Priorities Fund for their financial support during the year.
• The work of the Committee for Disability was highlighted.
• Bishop Michael Burrows thanked Mr Sam Harper for the work he had contributed to General Synod as Honorary Secretary.
• There was also a suggestion on the presentation of names of those elected to Standing Committee.

Archdeacon Miller responded to points raised and the report of Standing Committee was received and adopted.

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