23.10.2014
Changes to Dublin and Glendalough Synods Make it More Relevant and Focused
The changes to Dublin and Glendalough’s Diocesan Synods were heralded in the report of Diocesan Councils to the gathering in Taney Parish Centre on Tuesday October 21.
As a result of a review of the annual proceedings, Diocesan Synods took place on one evening for the first time this year as opposed to two as was done previously. Proposing the report of Diocesan Councils, Derek Neilson (Councils and Calary) explained that the changes were designed to make Synods more relevant, to give more time for people to participate and to ensure that discussion was focused.
He added that they hoped to make it easier for working families to attend and hoped that over the short to medium term, a greater balance in age, gender and race would be seen within those elected to Synods
“None of us goes to a meeting for its own sake, we go because we have an interest or commitment in the subject or the organisation and this Synod is no different. We come because we have a commitment to the Church of Ireland in these United Dioceses. We therefore want to encourage as many people as possible to participate and to hear their views and that includes those from people who are attending these Diocesan Synods for the first time,” Mr Neilson commented.
He said that Synod was a vital connection between the dioceses and the Church of Ireland and urged those present to bring back news of the meeting to their parishes.
Members’ attention was drawn to the Assessment Review which had been carried out by the Glebes and Finance Committee; the Mission Plan setting out draft values and principles; and the challenge of marrying traditional forms of worship, the ethos of the Church of Ireland and new forms of worship.
To read Derek Neilson’s report in full click here.
The report was seconded by Canon Fred Appelbe.
In the ensuing discussion Geoffrey Perrin (Councils) highlighted the report of the Diocesan Development Group in which he said the plea to everyone was to go back to their parishes to see what fresh expressions and new ideas for development could be found that were relevant to their own areas. Referring to the hymn ‘We Have a Gospel to Proclaim’ he stated: “Let’s not just sing it, let’s adopt it”.
Mary White (Kilternan) expressed her hope that volunteer help would be reinstated in Cowper Care, Kilternan, subject to vetting and Michael Webb (Councils and Glenageary) said volunteers would always be welcome at St John’s Home.
David Caird (Councils) addressed the Mission Plan. He said there had been huge changes to discipleship and church attendance over the last decade and the Church needed to change to reflect this. He said this could be done without changing the Church’s ethos but a balance needed to be achieved between that and recognising the massive change around us and the need for new forms of ministry. “It should not be a case of either but both old and new forms of ministry working alongside each other. It is now time to find consensus on the way forward, hence the Mission report. This document sets out draft values and principals for discussion and needs to be agreed. This is your time to have your say,” he stated.
Geoffrey McMaster (Celbridge and Straffan with Newcastle–Lyons) said mission demanded action, otherwise the plan would get left on the shelf and suggested a name change to ‘Mission Action Plan’. Canon Horace McKinley (Councils and Whitechurch) supported the principals and values in the mission plan document. He said sections of it were prophetic and had the potential to open new doors.
Keith Dungan (Councils) said clergy had gone five years without an increase in stipends and suggested a raise.
Ruth Handy (Bishops’ Appeal and Greystones) thanked parishes who had supported Bishops’ Appeal in their appeal for Gaza and Iraq and said people could now donate to the appeal to support those on the frontline of the fight against ebola.
The Revd Adrienne Galligan highlighted the role of the Rural Deaneries. Apart from their constitutional roles, she said they had a wider scope to be a source of unity and provide a sense of direction for an area as well as an opportunity for sharing resources. Parishes continued to have their own identity and authority but there was an opportunity to work collaboratively in the Deanery context, she added.
Canon Patrick Comerford (CITI) said he would like to see a Methodist representative address next year’s diocesan synod following the resolution on Interchangeability of Ministry between the Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church in Ireland at last year’s General Synod.
Referring to the Growth Group Report, the Revd Stephen Farrell (Councils and Zion) said there was a danger that we could be a dioceses divided by a common language. Citing the phrase “the parish is a unit of mission” he pointed out that if mission was not something a parish was thinking about then surely inclusion was. He added that people may baulk at the idea of change but suggested that most would be interested in improvement. He urged members to get over the linguistic difficulties.
Photos: Derek Neilson, David Caird and Ruth Handy.