Introduction
The Church of Ireland General Synod again met in person for two days followed by the business of day 3 being held online over two evenings. The first two days were held in the Armagh City Hotel, Armagh (10 and 11 May) with day 3 taking place remotely on the evenings of 14 and 16 May. In his presidential address, the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Rev’d John McDowell, recommitted himself to reconciliation and encouraged us all to live out a life of reconciliation.
There were eleven bills passed by Synod.
Terminology of Bills Process
One bill (in conjunction with a motion) amended Chapter I of the constitution to simplify the terminology of the bills process at General Synod. The aim is to make the bills process easier to understand and thus encourage greater participation of members.
Dioceses and Diocesan Organisation
Two changes were made to Chapter II of the constitution. An anomaly in the constitution was amended to ensure that those who are elected by a parish to act as diocesan synod members are parishioners of the parish for which they are elected. The age to which an archdeacon may retain office was aligned with the retirement age for clergy (previously this office was retained until the age of 70 while the retirement age for beneficed clergy is 75).
Parishes and Parochial Organisation
Two changes were made to Chapter III of the constitution relating to Select Vestries. An amendment was made to enable revision (additions or deletions) of the register of vestrypersons at other times during year rather than solely at the annual review of vestrypersons. An addition was made to authorise a Select Vestry to co-opt additional registered vestry members onto the vestry when the Easter General Vestry had failed to elect a full complement of select vestry members, provided that the number of co-opted members was less than the number of elected members.
Pioneer Ministry and Episcopal Electoral College
As pioneer ministry has been established in the Church of Ireland, a bill amended Chapter V of the Constitution to recognise and authorise the licensing of clergy or laity as pioneer minsters within the Church of Ireland and the establishment of pioneer ministry at diocesan or parochial level.
Following the revision of the episcopal electoral college process in 2016, this was reviewed and, in light of this, some amendments and additional regulations were added to Chapter VI of the Constitution.
Clergy Pension Fund
Three bills made amendments to Chapter XIV of the Constitution. One closed the Church of Ireland Voluntary Contribution Scheme for clergy pensions (relating to schemes operating before June 2013) and transferred all monies held in the scheme with the appointed pension providers for the Clergy Defined Contribution Pension Schemes. One inserted a definition of the Clergy Permanent Health Insurance Scheme into the Constitution and included an express reference to the scheme in the Constitution’s definition of service in the Church of Ireland. The third amended the Constitution to allow for the future administration of the Church of Ireland Defined Contribution Schemes under the rules of master trusts (i.e. retirement benefits pension schemes used by multiple employers or deemed employers).
Book of Common Prayer
There was one special Bill (two-year process) which amended the Book of Common Prayer to observe the Second Sunday in November as Remembrance Sunday.
Moravians
Several speakers at synod enthusiastically mentioned the ecumenical moment held in March to mark the Armagh Agreement with the Moravian Church in Britain and Ireland. The liturgical celebration began in St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Ballymena and concluded in Gracehill Moravian Church.
