“Despite the Celtic Tiger in southern Ireland and the country being awash with money it’s hard to believe that there is no real will or effort to combat poverty by any government agencies,” he said.

Proposing the Report, Revd David Catterall (Elphin & Ardagh) spoke of the “grass roots, hands on” nature of the Board and urged the Synod to consider how the Church of Ireland can meet the needs that have been identified by the Board.

The Board also reported a significant change in membership over the past year, with Cllr Leonard Hatrick (Armagh), Revd Nancy Gillespie (Cashel & Ossory), Revd David Frazer (Meath & Kildare) and Revd David Catterall (Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh) joining. The Board also expressed its gratitude to Archdeacon Derek Johnston and Mr Jim McGaffin, both of whom retired during the year. Their commitment and enthusiasm for the work of the Board was very much appreciated.

The Board has drawn up a strategy for the future with regard to this area and an action plan for implementation throughout the Church. A presentation of the Draft Strategy was made to the House of Bishops and was well received.

The Chief Executive of the BSR (NI) is a member of the Inter-Church Addiction Project which is currently carrying out a study of the needs of those from 15-18 years of age with drug and alcohol problems. The Board is also raising awareness on drug-related issues with a variety of initiatives.

Other projects undertaken by the Board during the year include: Marriage counselling training for clergy in the Diocese of Down and Dromore (with the Marriage Council); Training for Parents (with the MU and CIYD); involvement in a child contact centre; The Board issued a response to Children are Unbeatable.

In 2005, 17 couples attended information evenings held by the Church of Ireland Adoption society. Six couples attended the training course for people who apply to adopt. Adoption orders were granted in respect of two children. A post-adoption service provides support and information to adult adoptees, birth relatives of adoptees and adoptive parents. Some 115 enquiries were received in 2005.

The fertility counselling service received 224 new referrals during the year. The Board places emphasis on maintaining up-to-date skills and at present both counsellors are receiving additional counselling and training.

Pastoral services to the deaf, hearing impaired and disabled continue to be provided by Canon Bill Murphy, who also adopts an awareness raising role.

Proposing the report of the Board of Social Responsibility NI to Synod, the Rt Revd Alan Harper expressed his gratitude to Mr James McGaffin who recently resigned from the Board after many years service. The Bishop also made a plea for help in identifying other individuals with wisdom and passion who could contribute to the work of the Board. “The existing members of the Board would welcome others of equal passion (but perhaps more time and expertise than I have) to shape and drive the work we do in giving practical expression to the love of God in Christ”, he said.

Established by the General Synod in 1996, the role of the Commission is to make recommendations concerning the Christian Ministry, both lay and ordained. This year the Commission has considered ways of mobilising lay ministry, the training and deployment of clergy as well as a more collaborative approach to ministry throughout the Church.

Mr Paul Gilmore (Down) told Synod that it was time for the funding of full-time stipendiary curacies to be centralised. Training, he said, is not just a benefit for the parish but for the church as a whole and should be recognised as such. He put three questions to members: What sort of ministry does the Church require? How will it train for that ministry? And how will it resource this training?

Regarding the issue of in-service training, the report recommends that the rector becomes the main trainer of a new curate. However, Mr Brian Brown (Dublin) suggested that this system be reviewed as oftentimes a rector might not have the skills to be able to undertake such training.

Closing his speech, Canon Abernethy spoke of the challenging times ahead. “This is a very exciting time for the Church because we have to face difficult questions but we have some very important things to say and do,” he said. “We will need to think outside the box and have the courage to be innovative.”

In commenting on the quality and creativity of entries, Archbishop Eames said, “I am delighted once again to encourage communication within the church which keeps us all informed and up-to-date with developments at local, diocesan and national levels. And each year I have been conscious that the high standard has not only been maintained but is increasing.”

The Church of Ireland congratulates all winners and acknowledges the hard work and commitment of all those who took part.

The competition is sponsored by the Down, Dromore and Connor Board of Education.

Magazine and website competition results 2006
Parish magazine category
1st Taney News – Taney Parish (Dublin) – Editor: Ms Jean Dolan
2nd Together – Immanuel & Trinity parishes (Connor) – Editor: Canon Trevor Williams

Diocesan magazine category
1st Connor Connections (Connor) – Editor: Archdeacon Stephen McBride
2nd n:vision (Derry & Raphoe) – Editor: Mr William McSparron

Highly commended
Newslink (Limerick, Ardfert, Aghadoe, Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, Kilmacduagh and Emly) – Editor: Canon Bob Hanna

Website Competition Winners 2006

Parish:
Magheragall Parish (Connor) – www.magheragall.connor.anglican.org
Editor: Mr Bobby Cunningham

Taney Parish (Dublin) – www.taneyparish.ie
Editor: Ms Jean Dolan

Highly commended
Castleknock (Dublin) – www.castleknock.dublin.anglican.org
Editor: Mr Philip Good

Castlerock, Dunhoe and Fermoyle (Derry) – www.castlerock.derry.anglican.org
Editor: Mr Andy Sloan

Diocesan website
Down & Dromore – www.downanddromore.org
Editor: Mrs Mary Coles

Church of Ireland general
Church of Ireland youth department – www.ciyd.org
Editorial team: Mr Shane Tucker, Mr David Brown and Ms Barbara Swann

The World Council of Churches met in Porto Alegre, Brazil in February 2006. The Church of Ireland was represented by Ms Yvonne Naylor and the Revd Daniel Nuzum and issues such as economic justice, Christian identity and religious plurality, and youth overcoming violence were addressed.

Regarding Inter-Faith issues, a sub-group was established to advise the Church of Ireland on this area. Chaired by the Rt Revd Michael Jackson, this group hopes to have drawn up a series of guidelines on inter-faith issues by early 2007. Mr George Woodman (Connor) highlighted the importance of Christian-Jewish dialogue, saying that it deserves strong attention and should be a high priority for the Church.

During the year, the Committee also produced a response to the recent ARCIC statement Mary: Grace and Hope in Christ. This response appears as Appendix D to the Standing Committee Report. To read this report, please click here.

Musical Art and Liturgical Space
This group has made substantial progress in the development of a sample Psalter for use with The Book of Common Prayer. This Psalter will provide new ways of approaching and singing the traditional psalms. It is intended that a sample CD and Psalter will be available by early 2007.

Liturgical Resources
A companion pack to accompany the BCP has been developed by this group and will be circulated to all members of the clergy in due course. This folder will include resources such as emergency baptism, Holy Communion for the sick and the Committal at a graveside and of ashes.

Electronic Liturgy
Following on from the successful launch and training sessions for Visual Liturgy during the year, this sub-group hopes now to focus on the circulation and dissemination of electronic resources, mainly via use of the web and multimedia. Proposals for the provision of an electronic version of the hymnal are also being considered.

Proposing the report to the Synod, the Very Revd Michael Burrows (Cork) emphasized the importance for the Church of Ireland to abide by copyright rules, reminding Synod that a breach of copyright is a breach of the law. The Liturgical Advisory Committee continues to encourage that clergy gain copyright permission before using any material that requires it.

The Revd Canon Ricky Rountree (Glendalough) reminded Synod of the importance of the work of the Diocesan Liturgical Officers as a resource that should be encouraged. He asked that Bishops try to ensure that their Diocesan Liturgical Officers are recognised and to enable the whole of the diocese to make full use of these Officers.

This year, the Liturgical Advisory Committee has also devoted a significant amount of time to the revision of the liturgy for the Institution of an Incumbent. These revisions were brought as a Resolution to the Synod on Tuesday, will lead to a Bill coming before the General Synod in 2007. To read this Resolution in full, please click here.

Bill No 2 includes an additional Chapter in the Constitution to make provision for Ministry with Children

During the debate on this Bill, the Revd Canon Patterson (Down & Dromore) called for Synod to think again before passing this Bill. While supporting the ideal of the bill, Canon Patterson said that the legislation was an irrelevance. If there is any significant breach of child protection, it is against both canon law and state law, he said. If a charge of such nature were proven in a civil domain, that would be enough for the ecclesiastical church to impose sanctions. Canon law does not need to shadow the law of the land he said. Canon Patterson described the Bill as “overkill, ill-conceived and unnecessary”.

Canon Brian Johnston (Derry & Raphoe) again asked for this Bill to be brought forward for another year or so. He agreed that such a code should be constitutional. However, he said, as it stands there are issues within the code that are entirely impracticable, particularly in the smaller parishes. He requested that the House turn down the Bill.
Archdeacon Andrew Forster (Elphin) told Synod that he would prefer to see some of the principles of the code enshrined in the Constitution, rather than the Code itself. He emphasized the struggle that many parishes have in implementing this code and he asked that the Proposer and Seconder look at the Bill again. However, Archbishop Eames told the House that it was not possible to amend the Bill at this stage, but just pass it or reject it.

The Very Revd Des Harman (Dublin) accepted that some people may have reservations, but expressed his desire for this Synod to send the message that it is serious about the protection of children.

The Revd Daniel Nuzum (Cork) agreed that if this Bill was not passed, it would not send a good message to the outside world. Parishes, he said, have no option but to implement the code and, if they can’t, then they should review their whole system of ministry to children within that parish. He added that the Church owes it to its volunteers to offer them the support and protection that this legislation would provide.
In response to this debate, the Bishop of Cork told Synod that the beauty of the Bill is that it enshrines the principle of good will, and not the detail. The Code itself is constantly changing, based on people’s experiences within parishes. This legislation allows this evolving work to continue, he said.

Bill No 2 was passed.

Bill No 3 makes provision for the funding of Child Protection Officers

Mr Peter Read (Killaloe) told Synod that there is currently no diocesan treasurer that isn’t struggling already without this extra expense. He reminded members that many dioceses are already funding youth officers and said that the Church should be cautious of asking for such extra money from hard-pressed parishioners.

Mr Gordon Bradley (Cashel) agreed that members of the church are finding it very hard to make ends meet and noted that the figure suggested in the Bill is not specific enough. Mr Des Wallace (Cashel) suggested that these posts be non-denominational and perhaps the Church of Ireland could enter into an agreement with other Churches in the local areas.

John McCullagh (Dublin) explained to Synod that the appointment of these Officers was a necessity and a reality faced by the Boards of Education week by week. As part of their role, the Officers would be constantly reviewing the Code, training, supporting parishes and dioceses, monitoring implementation, and evaluating parishes to see what further support they require. The hiring of such experts would ensure that everyone, children, volunteers and paid youth workers, are kept safe.

Bill No 3 was passed.

Bill No 4, seeking to create a Dean’s Vicar in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin thus providing a clerical member of staff in addition to the Dean, was passed.

Bill No 5, simplifying procedures relating to the admission and installation of a new Dignatory or new Prebendary into the Chapter of Saint saviour, Connor, in Lisburn Cathedral, was passed.

Legislation Committee:

His Honour Judge JG Buchanan
The Honourable Mrs Justice C McGuinness
Mr GC Richards
The Honorary Secretaries of the General Synod

Record Committee:

His Honour Judge JG Buchanan
The Honourable Mrs Justice C McGuinness
Mr GC Richards
The Honorary Secretaries of the General Synod

Standing Orders Committee:

His Honour Judge JG Buchanan
The Honourable Mrs Justice C McGuinness
Mr GC Richards
The Honorary Secretaries of the General Synod

These suggestions would, of course, require the approval of General Synod and discussions are ongoing.

Regarding the use of Local Covenant Partnership guidelines, Revd Dunne emphasized the need for a proper legal framework in this area. The Council feels that the use of a temporary or informal set of guidelines for use in joint projects would be most appropriate until such time as the Church of Ireland can develop the relevant ecumenical canons.

The Bishop of Down and Dromore suggested that Standing Committee take the opportunity to seriously review the technicalities involved in the development of ecumenical canons before proposals are brought to Synod. The Primate put this suggestion formally to the House and it was agreed.