19.08.2019
In Case You Missed It: General Synod 2019 – A Brief Review
This article was written for the Church Review, the diocesan magazine of Dublin & Glendalough and first appeared in the June 2019 edition.
Members of the Church of Ireland from all over the island were warmly welcomed to Derry/Londonderry for the General Synod which took place in the Millennium Forum.
Over the course of three days members considered a wide range of legislation and heard a variety of reports in what was a very productive gathering.
In this year of commemoration of the Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland Archbishop Richard Clarke focused on the themes of history, populism and how the lives of human beings are valued in today’s world in his presidential address to Synod.
BILLS
Three Bills were passed and enacted at General Synod 2019.
Bill No 1 provides for the provision of a service of Holy Communion by Extension for persons unable to be present at the public celebration.
Bill No 2 provides for the Service of Prayer and Naming and the Funeral Service in cases of miscarriage, stillbirth and neonatal death.
Bill No 3 provides for the alteration of the territorial boundaries of the Provinces of Armagh and Dublin and unite the dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry and Limerick and Killaloe.
YOUTH MINISTRY FUND
In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Act of Disestablishment and to support the Church of Ireland ministry in the future, the Church of Ireland Youth Department has established a new youth ministry fund. The fund has been created with the support of the Priorities Fund and the Fabric and Church Development Fund.
The ‘Young Leaders in Ministry Fund’ is an Ireland wide project that will support young people over a period of three years.
Aimed at Church of Ireland young people aged from 15 to 25 years who are actively involved in church life, the fund will offer grants for training and development courses, mission teams, leadership opportunities and placements that can be shown to: significantly develop the faith of the young person; grow the skills of the young person especially, but not confined to, leadership skills; and be of significant use to the ministry of the Church of Ireland following the completion of the opportunity.
Further information and application forms are available on the CIYD website www.ciyd.org
MISSION
The Council for Mission Report posed a question to members of Synod asking: ‘How can we proclaim the unchanging Gospel message in and ever–changing world?’ For the next five years the council will be focusing its work on the Five Marks of Mission of the Anglican Communion (which have been central to Dublin & Glendalough’s discipleship programme for the last number of years). It is encouraging parishes to engage with the Five Marks as a way to better understand and engage with the mission of the Church and to develop strategies to share the good news of Christ.
GENERAL SYNOD REPRESENTATION
Following on from a Private Members Bill which was moved at General Synod 2018, a working group of Standing Committee was set up to see how General Synod representation could be reformed. Standing Committee presented its findings to Synod in Derry/Londonderry. The committee’s findings will form the basis of a Bill at General Synod in Dublin next year. Full information on this is available in the 2019 Book of Reports under Appendix K of the Standing Committee report (p245 to 251). This can be viewed online at www.ireland.anglican.org/synod/2019/book-of-reports
NEW SEASONAL SERVICES
The new blue edition of the Book of Common Prayer and the new Seasonal Service Booklet were highlighted at Synod. The new edition of the Book of Common Prayer includes minor emendations made by Synod over the years, as well as Morning and Evening Prayer for use on Sundays as passed by Synod last year.
Morning and Evening Prayer for use on Sundays: Seasonal Services is produced alongside the BCP and contains the order of service, with five worked out seasonal versions, based on materials agreed by the House of Bishops for experimental use. These are for: Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent and the Season of Easter.
A new church music hub has been created aimed a supporting church musicians. The hub of music resources can be accessed at www.music.ireland.anglican.org
EDUCATION
Proposing the report of the Board of Education (RI) Canon Brian O’Rourke reflected on the role and context of Church of Ireland schools in the community. He stated that Church of Ireland primary schools were embedded in towns and villages across the Republic of Ireland while second level schools, despite being few, are recognised as centres of educational excellence.
VOCATION SUNDAY
The Commission on Ministry launched a new video which is to be used on Vocation Sunday, September 15. The video, entitled ‘It’s Your Call’ is aimed at nurturing vocations and gives a snapshot of the wide range of ministries available in the Church of Ireland. Canon David Gillespie, Vicar of St Ann’s, Dawson Street, said: “The Church of Ireland needs to stop waiting for people to come to us with vocations and be more proactive in its approach.”
PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS
A motion calling on General Synod to acknowledge the rapidly increasing levels of the persecution of Christians worldwide and requesting that Standing Committee would explore ways in which this issue could be brought more fully to the attention of Synod in 2020 was agreed at Synod.
Full details of General Synod 2019 can be found on the Synod website https://www.ireland.anglican.org/synod/2019/
