The 2016 General Synod of the Church of Ireland got underway in the Royal Marine Hotel in Dún Laoghaire at 12.00 noon today (Thursday May 12). Prior to the commencement of business the Synod Eucharist took place in St Paul’s Church, Glenageary. The preacher was the Rt Revd Patrick Rooke, Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry. His sermon can be read here.

Synod proceedings opened with a reading from Scripture and prayer led by the the Rt Revd Kenneth Kearon, Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe.

Opening Synod 2016, the Primate of All Ireland and Archbishop or Armagh, the Most Revd Richard Clarke delivered his Presidential Address. He began by welcoming visitors to Synod from different Christian traditions and said he firmly believed that we get together, pray together, grow in mutual affection together in the love of Jesus Christ. “We who are members of General Synod need to remember that it is not all about us,” he stated.

He reminded members of Synod that on this island we are in the midst of the Decade of Centenaries. This year, 2016, was central to these commemorations as the centenaries of the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme fall within weeks of each other, he said. He suggested that neither event should be commemorated or interpreted through a single lens – they are both deeply symbolic and emblematic and we have all been shaped in different ways by them, he said.

Archbishop Clarke referred to the forthcoming referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union and said its outcome will affect people on the island of Ireland and on the Church. He also spoke of the refugee crisis and said we could not pretend that we have no moral responsibility for this situation but urged people to remember that Christ was more at home with the outsiders of society. “We cannot turn our backs on dire need before our eyes because we are all made equally before God,” he said.

The Church of Ireland must look beyond its own self interest and survival to the future to which we believe God is calling us, he stated. He spoke of the Long Term Church project and said that it is almost always as a local context that men, women and children could meet Christ and grow as his disciples. But he said that the Central Church could and should to is give structure and shape to the mission and that was where Long Term Church could come in.

The Archbishop paid tribute to Mr Adrian Clements, who retires Chief Officer and Secretary General of the Church of Ireland in the coming weeks, for his contribution and service to the Church of Ireland. He also thanked Robert Neill for all the work he does. He welcomed the new Chief Officer and Secretary General, Mr David Ritchie. He remembered all who served the Church of Ireland who have died in the last year.

The Archbishop’s full address can be read here.