22.04.2016
The People of Dublin and Glendalough Say a Resounding ‘No’ to Boundary Changes
Members of Dublin and Glendalough’s Diocesan Synods have voted overwhelmingly in favour of bringing a motion to the General Synod of Church of Ireland calling on the Commission on Episcopal Ministry and Structures to withdraw their Bill. The Bill, if passed would see changes to the diocesan boundaries of Dublin and Glendalough as well as to the Dioceses of Tuam, Kilalla and Achonry, Limerick and Killaloe, and and Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh. The commission proposes to transfer six parishes from the Diocese of Glendalough to the Diocese of Meath and Kildare.
A second motion (in the event that the first fails) was also passed almost unanimously by synods people. It calls on the Commission for Episcopal Ministry and Structures to delete the section of their Bill that relates to Dublin and Glendalough.
The votes took place at an extraordinary meeting of Dublin and Glendalough’s Diocesan Synods on Wednesday night, April 20, in St Michael’s Church, Athy. Over 270 people attended, filling the church and its gallery. Of the many passionate speakers, the vast majority were opposed to the CEMS proposal although some acknowledged that there was a need to take the future of the wider Church of Ireland into consideration and said they had nothing against their neighbours in Meath and Kildare.
Among the reasons they gave for their opposition were that the commission had failed to consult those in the six affected parishes or in the wider dioceses on the specifics of the proposal. They felt the commission had acted in an undemocratic fashion and in a way which was not in line with how the Church of Ireland generally operated. They questioned how the move was mission focused, suggesting that the Bill was about numbers and viability rather than Bishops and mission.
Members of the parishes affected, dubbed by one speaker as the Glendalough Six, expressed their gratitude to those from the rest of the dioceses for coming out in such large numbers to support them. They spoke of feeling disappointed and let down by the process. They expressed concern about the implications for the parishes of being used to prop up the Diocese of Meath and Kildare. Some feared that if the commission proceeded with what they described as a flawed Bill, it would damage the Church and “vandalise” Dublin and Glendalough. A sense of belonging was also invoked – the people of the affected parishes feel part of the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough, not of Meath and Kildare.
The Rector of Booterstown, the Revd Gillian Wharton, who is one of the Honorary Secretaries of the Church of Ireland and a member of the Commission on Episcopal Ministry and Structures, also addressed the meeting. She said that everyone there had the dioceses at heart but must also consider the wider Church. She said that she was delighted that the conversation was taking place and added that CEMS had consulted widely with every diocese in the Church of Ireland. However, she felt that the people of Dublin and Glendalough had not engaged with the guiding principals of CEMS which were presented to General Synod last year. She had also urged that more time be allotted to discussing the matter at Diocesan Synods last October.
The meeting started with a Service of Holy Communion at which Archbishop Michael Jackson preached. He also delivered an address at the start of business. Both can be read at: http://dublin.anglican.org/news/2016/04/Huge-Turnout-For-Extraordinary-Diocesan-Synod-to-Discuss-Proposed-Dublin-and-Glendalough-Boundary-Changes.
The Glendalough parishes included in the proposal are: Leixlip and Lucan; Celbridge and Straffan with Newcastle–Lyons; Blessington and Manor Kilbride with Ballymore–Eustace and Hollywood; Donoughmore and Donard with Dunlavin; Narraghmore and Timolin with Castledermot and Kinneigh; and Athy, Kilberry and Fontstown with Kilkea. The change, if approved by General Synod, would come into effect at a date to be determined – but not before the General Synod of 2017. [The full text of the CEMS Bill is available by clicking here]
The motions agreed by members of diocesan synods are:
1. That the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough calls upon the Commission for Episcopal Ministry and Structures to withdraw Bill No. 2 of 2016.
2. That two members of General Synod from the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough, to be chosen by the Archbishop, be mandated to present a motion to general synod to amend Bill No. 2 of 2016 as follows:
“That Section 6 be deleted and that all subsequent sections be renumbered accordingly.”