19.10.2012
Day Two of Dublin and Glendalough Diocesan Synods
The Diocesan Synods of Dublin and Glendalough continued on Wednesday October 17 in Taney Parish Centre with another busy agenda. The evening’s proceedings got underway with the Archdeacon of Glendalough, the Ven Ricky Rountree reading a passage of scripture and leading members in prayer. Resolutions which had been passed by General Synod were communicated to the members by Canon Neil McEndoo.
Church’s Ministry of Healing
The Revd Stephen Farrell (Zion) proposed the report of the Diocesan Committee of the Church’s Ministry of Healing. He said that since he had joined the committee he was regularly asked two questions: 1) What is it you do? and 2) Does it actually work? “As a committee we are a motley enough bunch and were we all to descend upon your sickbed the result would not necessarily be a positive one,” he stated. However, he pointed to the ministry’s mission statement: Empowered and blessed by God and compelled by Christ’s love, we are passionately committed to serve and support the Church in her mission to preach, teach and heal so that lives are transformed in body, mind and spirit, to the Glory of God.
Mr Farrell said the diocesan committee wished to encourage parishes in the laying on of hands and anointing with oils as part of the regular worship of the parish. He stated that the committee supports the healer prayer union in each parish. He also highlighted the Church’s Ministry of Healing phone line (01–8727876) through which and prayer requests could be left and passed to intercessors. The new website would have a virtual prayer room, he added. In the coming year the committee is planning to work closer with hospital chaplains and are looking into how they can help people facing the end of their lives.
Seconding the report Cathy Hallissey (Taney) said she had attended two Saturday training days in Christ Church Cathedral in the summer. She spoke of the benefits of prayer ministry and said the current training programme had already started and would run until May. The overall aim was that prayer ministers would work along side their rectors and having been trained they could help in the process of healing others, she said.
The Revd Mark Wilson (chaplain to Tallaght Hospital) said a lot of work had been undertaken in Tallaght Hospital on the care of people as they approach the end of their lives and of their families. He said that the Ministry’s work in this area was going to be vital and suggested consulting the Hospice Friendly Hospitals on the matter.
The Revd David Gillispie (St Ann’s and St Stephan’s) praised the Ministry for their commitment and dedication. Joan Kirk (Councils) pointed out that no mention had been made of people in nursing homes and asked that they be considered. Susie Hall (Malahide) praised the work of the Ministry and said she had personal experience of their work.
The report was received by Synods.
Diocesan Council for Mission
The report of the Diocesan Council for Mission was proposed by Revd Ken Rue (Wicklow and Killiskey). He highlighted the work of members of the Council for Mission in the International Eucharistic Congress during the summer. He reported that they were warmly welcomed as speakers, St Ann’s was one of seven city churches included on the Camino Walk, Discovery Gospel Choir performed in the main arena, 3Rock Youth were instrumental in running the youth space and he added “Who would have thought that it was possible that a Church of Ireland archbishop would take a service at the International Eucharistic Congress?”. Looking ahead he said they had co–opted a Methodist to the committee and were seeking ways to strengthen the covenant as well as other new ways to serve the dioceses.
The report was seconded by Revd Martin O’Connor (St Ann’s and St Stephan’s)
Philip McKinley (Councils) commended the united dioceses for responding so generously to the invitation from the Archdiocese to participate in Congress. The length we have come is unbelievable. “I think a standard has been set and the ball is in our court,” he commented.
Canon Roy Byrne (Drummond, North Strand and St Barnabas) thanked the council for mission for helping the dioceses engage with the Congress and said it had reignited the spirit of ecumenism.
Ken Stanley (Castledermot with Kinneagh) pointed out that interchurch ecumenism was happening even at the outer reaches of the dioceses.
The report was received by Synods.
Diocesan Councils
David Caird (Councils) was given time to correct what he called a distortion of information. He said that Diocesan Councils had always been willing to engage with parishes who found themselves in difficulties. He said that Councils had given assistance in a number of areas but it was up to the parishes to ask for assistance and once they received advice it was up to them to decide what they would do with it.
Ron Condell proposed a motion of thanks to Taney Parish, the rector and the organisers for making their excellent facilities available to Diocesan Councils once again and for ensuring that Synods ran smoothly.
Social Action Committee
The Diocesan Committee for Social Action presented two perspectives of the rejuvenated committee. Graham Jones (St Catherine’s Core and Solas Project) said that the group focussing on social action in an urban context had been established this year and was given a mandate to work with people on the margins of the community, initially focussing on the city centre. In the first instance they planned to focus on the Solas Project in order to generate a strong and longstanding impact.
He explained that Solas was an independent registered charity which aimed to tackle early school leaving and youth crime. Their vision was to see communities invigorated through education and sport. “In the next 12 months the group would like to see 10–14 parishes engage with the work of Soles Project and we understand that this will depend on our ability to communicate with those in the diocese and also the willingness of leadership within parishes to get behind this drive.”
Seconding the report of the social action committee, Revd Isaac Delamere (Narraghmore and Timolin with Castledermot and Kinneagh) said the more targeted level of engagement and interest in addressing real social needs was not solely confined to the city. He said the committee of which he was chair had been asked to assess the social needs of rural communities in the diocese of Glendalough. To this end he said that the committee intended to hold meetings in east and west Glendalough to which clergy and parishioners from rural communities will be invited to attend. Ruth Handy has agreed in principle to act as a facilitator at these meetings, he added.
“It will be an exercise in listening on the part of the committee as we seek to identify the social issues effecting rural communities and consider how the church might respond to these issues,” he explained. He added that at the moment the committee was updating the list of support agencies and this would be distributed to clergy and included on the Diocesan Website. They are also compiling a database of social action initiatives being undertaken in parishes throughout the dioceses.
Canon Ted Ardis (Donnybrook with St Matthew, Irishtown) said he was undertaking a Bible study of the Revised Common Lectionary in the context of social action and social concern and offered to make it available to the committee.
Robert Neill (Councils) said poverty was on everyone’s minds with people struggling to by food and fuel. He highlighted the plight of the invisible poor – the self–employed and those running small businesses. “On the outside everything looks OK but behind the façade they are all drowning in debt,” he said appealing to members of Synod to be aware of those behind closed doors.
Arthur Vincent (Protestant Aid) spoke of the huge demands on their funds asked all members of the Church of Ireland to contribute to help alleviate the difficulties of austerity. Sunday November 18 has been designated by the bishops as Protestant Aid Sunday and he urged people to give generously when they saw the envelopes to help improve the lives of others.
Revd Norman Gamble (Malahide) was delighted to hear of the rejuvenation of the Diocesan Committee for Social Action but wondered why there should be two bodies with the one name. He also asked them to remember that there were rural areas north of the Liffey also.
Canon Robert Deane (Swords) spoke of the Protestant Orphan Society which seeks to provide for children or students where one or both parents have died. He said he was indebted to those who had responded to the organisation’s annual appeal and urged those who hadn’t yet given to consider them. He thanked the members of the committee for their ongoing work.
The report of the Diocesan Committee for Social Action was received and Synods formally approved the change in focus of the committee.
Visitor from Hong Kong
Synods concluded with an illuminating presentation and discussion with Dr Gareth Jones, Principal of SKH Ming Hua Theological College in Anglican Province of Hong Kong and Macau. He spoke about the history of the province, which has only existed since 1998 when Hong Kong was made a special administrative region of the People’s Republic of China. He also talked about the influence that 100 million Chinese Christians would have on Christianity.
He said his diocese was in a complex situation politically and religiously and that they were keen to forge links in the wider Anglican Communion. He said that Hong Kong was a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China until 2047 which gave the people of Hong Kong more liberty. He explained that different denominations of Christianity existed in Hong Kong where people could be Anglican, Lutheran or Methodist for example. However, in China people could be protestant – with a small p – or catholic – with a small c.
He said that since 1997 the character of Anglicanism and the cathedral had changed as the number of old English families in Hong Kong had reduced. He said the theological college was for Chinese people and the days of shipping in clergy from England had finished.
Dr Jones suggested the people could better understand Chinese communities in Ireland by improving their knowledge of China. He pointed out that people thought of China as one big monolith but it was a hugely diverse country. He added that Chinese Christianity was not like the European models. They don’t do Western prescriptive teach but their belief is based on love as a practical outreach and they were very evangelical and charismatic.
“I think we’re on the verge of realising that what’s going on in Chinese Christianity as it goes through 100 million people is akin to reformation – it will never be the same again. There are already nearly twice as many Christians in China as there are Anglicans in the rest of the world. They are going to change the way we think about what it is to be Christian. There is no need to fear it. They’re not aggressive,” he stated.
He concluded by warning that it was his belief that the Chinese economy would not refloat the world’s economy – they save money rather than spend it as is the practice in the West. However, he said they could hope that Chinese politicians would address the situation of the worldwide recession humanely. He said Chinese people were not interested in world domination.
Geoffrey Perrin drew Synods to a close by thanking Archbishop Jackson for his good humour and efficiency in his presidential work and echoed the Archbishop’s presidential address saying the dioceses were deeply proud to have him as their bishop.
The Archbishop responded that it was a joy to be in the dioceses and a joy to remain here.