The General Synod of the Church of Ireland will take place from Thursday 12th May to Saturday 14th May at the Armagh City Hotel, Friary Road, Armagh.
The Synod is scheduled to commence in the conference centre of the hotel at 10am on Thursday 12th and to finish at 4.30pm on Saturday 14th.
The Synod Service will be held in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh on Thursday 12th at 7.00pm.
The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Alan Harper, will deliver his presidential address shortly after 10.00am on the first day, Thursday 12th.
Synod website
The General Synod’s website – which will provide useful information and materials on a rolling basis – can be found at: http://synod.ireland.anglican.org/2011
Synod business
The C of I correspondent to the Irish Times writes today:
“As is usual much of the Synod’s time will be occupied with considering reports from the Standing Committee, the committees and commissions which report to it, and from the Representative Church Body. Among the bodies whose work will be debated this year are the Pensions Board, Board of Education, Youth Department, Commission on Ministry, Marriage Council, Covenant Council, Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue, Council for Mission and the Liturgical Advisory Council
“There will be legislation to consider relating to the provision of a prayer for Northern Ireland in the Book of Common Prayer, the regulation of local ecumenical partnerships, committee membership, stipends and the chapter of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. In addition there will be motions for debate on education in Northern Ireland, a code of conduct for clergy, and the implementation of the Hard Gospel project. However, the most considerable matter for debate is likely to be the Anglican Covenant and whether or not the Church of Ireland should subscribe to it.
“Associated with the Synod will several ancillary events. On Friday Changing Attitude Ireland will host a lunchtime talk in Armagh City Hotel by Mr Paul Rowlandson on ‘Parents Speak: My Child is Gay’.
At the same time the Primate will launch a new on-line publication from Church of Ireland Publishing. The Book of Common Prayer (2004) Commentaries, by Canon Michael Kennedy, is a comprehensive treatment of all the authorized services in the BCP which is intended as an aid, especially for those in training for ministry, to deepen understanding of the Church’s liturgical heritage. Since liturgy is constantly evolving the online publication will readily facilitate further additions and modifications to keep it up to date and constantly relevant. Another publication to be launched is The Extra Mile, a guide to community engagement and development for churches. This has been written by the Revd Earl Storey and the Revd Robert Miller for the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe. On Saturday evening the Council for Mission will host ‘Making the Most of Back to Church Sunday’, a world wide initiative which began in Manchester in 2004. The principal speaker at this event will be Michael Harvey, World Co-ordinator of Back to Church Sunday.”
Opinion
See Opinion section of this site on Archbishop William Temple’s criteria for church meetings.
Article
See Articles this site – the Anglican Covenant.