The Report of Standing Committee was presented to General Synod in Dún Laoghaire this afternoon (Thursday May 12). The report highlights the Dignity in Church Life Charter as one of the most significant issues since the last General Synod. 

Among other work under this report, it is noted that the Royalties Fund funded the production of the Church Hymnal supplement, Thanks & Praise, the Guide to the Conversation on human sexuality and a range of other publications. The Priorities Fund allocated €630,000 including generous support for rural ministry (€169,000), education (€115,000), and outreach (€107,000). Bishops’ Appeal generously supported projects which helped Syrian refugees in the Middle East and Europe and also responses to emergencies in Nepal and the Central African Republic. The Central Communications Board is refreshing the Church of Ireland website: www.ireland.anglican.org.

An important and substantial report from the Charities Registration Monitoring Working Group shares much of the learning gained during the process of registration for the assistance of parishes and church bodies. This contains much of value to contribute to the wider life of the Church.

The Church and Society Commission responded to a diverse range of issues, including climate change, public prayer, homelessness and internet awareness for parents. Some restructuring of the Commission is being considered in order to enhance its capacity to consider a growing number of moral and ethical issues.

The report notes that 2016 is a significant year for the Historical Centenaries Working Group which marked the centenary of the Easter Rising at a special event in Christ Church Cathedral. A similar event is planned to mark the Battle of the Somme’s centenary.

Proposing the report, the Ven Adrian Wilkinson, paid tribute to Mrs Ethne Harkness who stood down as one of the Honorary Secretaries of the General Synod in June 2015. “During her time in this position, her commitment, attention to detail and professional legal expertise was very evident to us all, both at General Synod and at meetings of the Standing Committee. While her involvement continues in other spheres of church activity, we thank Ethne for all she has done to further the work and witness of the Church of Ireland through her role as an Honorary Secretary of the General Synod,” he said adding his congratulations to Mr Kenneth Gibson who succeeds her. He also paid tribute to Mr Garrett Casey who resigned as Synod Officer in September 2015 and wished him well in his legal career and welcomed Dr Catherine Smith to the role.

Referring to the Centenaries being marked this year and in years ahead, the Archdeacon highlighted the special liturgy was written to mark the centenary of the Easter Rising. “The Bidding Prayer included in that service states that ‘in remembering the events of one hundred years ago, we, the Church are called to give voice to shared suffering, silenced and untold stories, the many and nuanced narratives, bravery and heroism, and commitment to ideals that were underpinned by shared and common aspirations’. Obviously considerable challenges lie ahead as we in this part of the Ireland prepare to mark the centenary of events that occurred during the Irish War of Independence. I suggest that the wording of this prayer may be a useful template for our reflections. Given the work of the Historical Centenaries Working Group to date, we can have confidence that we are in good hands as we chart our way through some complex historical waters,” he said.

In seconding the report, Mrs Pauline High spoke of the people who served and worked for Standing Committee during the year. But she also spoke of the importance of all the members of General Synod who make the decisions that shape the Church. She thanked everyone for the time and effort they put in working for Standing Committee and urged members of Synod to ensure they felt supported and encouraged in their work.

Discussion on the report covered the following areas:

·         Bishop Patrick Rooke, chairman of Bishops’ Appeal, thanked parishes and dioceses across the Church for their contribution to Bishops’ Appeal. In the past year he said Bishops’ Appeal had been drawn into relief and support of issues closer to home with flooding and the refugee situation, he said. He suggested that a separate committee should be set up to deal with home issues. In terms of the refugee situation in the Republic of Ireland, Bishops’ Appeal education officer, Lydia Monds, has written two articles on how people can give practical help. The small ROI group have met the government task force for refugees, he said.

He gave information on what happens to refugees when they arrive in Ireland. He said the taskforce envisages that church groups and other community groups will be asked to get involved in welcoming refugees in coming months. We need to press the new government into doubling its efforts on behalf of migrants, refugees and those who have gained refugee status, he concluded

• Dean Catherine Poulton, a member of the refugee working group, said that we often wondered what parishes could do. She said they found that people were coming from the camps to stay in a hotel in Waterford for about 12 weeks. She said over Lent they had sought donations to help the people who arrived in Waterford with nothing. The money goes to buy vouchers, to fund art therapy projects. They also sought donations of shoes and wellingtons. She urged people who find refugees are arriving in their areas to think small and locally and ask people on the ground what they can do to help.
• Bishop Ken Good (Derry and Raphoe), who chairs the Northern Ireland sub group, said the numbers arriving in Northern Ireland are small. He outlined the UK refugee process. He said that when they arrive their identity is protected and therefore it has been difficult for the church to find a way in to assist. He said that 2,000 refugees would come to Northern Ireland and he hoped it would then become apparent how churches can become involved.
• Trevor Sergant (Cashel, Ferns and Ossory) talked about Bishops’ Appeal and its profile. He said Bishops’ Appeals appeals were often by retiring collections and money was donated by people who know what Bishops’ Appeal is – ie that it is not pocket money for Bishops. He said he had learnt from politics that ‘when you’re explaining you’re losing’ and suggested that the huge efforts are made in raising money which goes to Bishops’ Appeal needed to be looked at given that the name is misunderstood by people who don’t know what Bishops’ Appeal is.
• Joanne Martin (Connor) refugees have been present in Northern Ireland for the last 20 years. She said that outreach could not only help refugees feel welcome but also help them to get to know the church.
• The Revd Mark Lennox (Derry and Raphoe) spoke about the refugee crisis and said they had packed up a van with sleeping bags and provisions and brought it to a drop off point in London. He added that the Anglican Church in Napal had grown by 3000 as a result of the appeals.
• Canon Horace McKinley (Dublin) said that the UNHCR website revealed that each day 42,500 new people in the world become refugees, asylum seekers or displaced persons. He said that good social researchers were saying that the refugee crisis and movement of people is here to stay.
• Bishop Pat Storey (Meath and Kildare) paid tribute to the members of the Central Communications Board. She said it had been a busy year. She unveiled the new Church of Ireland website. She said it was an excellent way of getting stories out to the country – you are an integral part feeding those stories into the press office. She paid tribute to Janet Maxwell and Paul Harron for their work in communications. She urged everyone to enjoy the new website and asked people to give them reasons to continue communicating good news and the Good News.
• Archdeacon Leslie Stevenson (Meath and Kildare) spoke about Charities Legislation. He thanked all who were involved in parish registrations.
• The Revd Adrian Dorian (Down) spoke about a recent homelessness seminar organised by the Church and Society Committee. He said the committee was putting together a number of discussion papers which would go live on the new website soon. He said they were intended to give people in parishes who have questions about Church in Society a starting point to their discussions. He thanked Peter Cheney, assistant press officer, and Caoimhe Leppard for their support.
• The Revd Simon Lumby spoke about Laudato Si.
• The Very Revd Dr Norman Hamilton former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church brought greetings of the Presbyterian Church to Synod. He said he was fascinated with the release of funds from redundant church buildings but he said they needed to examine the shape of new ministry. He also asked where we stand in relation to activist, high profile lobbying. “If we are not lobbyists in the public square, what are we doing in the public square?” he asked. He said he was of the view that we are to be the pastors of our community, at council level, parliament level and at legislature level. He also said that there was not space for a Methodist, Church of Ireland and Presbyterian view on education in the Republic and much could be gained from working together.
• Wendy Donaghy (Raphoe) welcomed the addressing of end of life issues.
• Archdeacon Robert Miller said it is important that we maintain a focus on the Northern Ireland Community Relations Working Group.
• Ken Gibson (Connor) said that we needed to remember that a number of Northern Ireland’s problems had not gone away. He spoke about a man who was beaten but was afraid to divulge who did it.
•  The Revd Colin Hall Thompson (Connor) spoke about parish development and said that those who are working in parish development are not being highlighted. He also spoke about the Wunderland comic and recommended it as a parish resource for children. He said there was one for each member of clergy present and urged them to take one.
• Roy Totten (Connor) drew Synod’s attention to Priorities News.
• The Revd Stephen Neill (Killaloe) spoke about the Select Committee on Human Sexuality in the Context of Christian Belief and the topics under its remit. He said that he expressed concern at the equating further issues, including domestic abuse and violence, with same sex issues. He urged the church not to recriminalize people who are same sex attracted by associating them with sexual abuse and human trafficking and other criminal matters.
• Tim Jackson (Cork) spoke about the disability working group. He said they were putting information on their website about disability and what people in different areas of the community need.

In reply Archdeacon Wilkinson thanked everyone for their contributions.

Synod received and adopted the report of Standing Committee.