Standing Committee & RB21 Nov 24

Standing Committee News

The Standing Committee of the General Synod met in an online format on Tuesday, 19th November 2024.

Ms Hazel Corrigan opened the meeting with a reading from Deuteronomy chapter 22 and in prayer, giving thanks for all that God has given us, seeking His forgiveness for our toleration of injustice and poverty, and asking for His guidance for all in the process of politics in their decision–making.

Presenting the Honorary Secretaries’ report, Mr Ken Gibson stated that it was the intention of the Honorary Secretaries to return to the Standing Committee in January 2025 with a proposal that a review group be established to review the Church of Ireland Constitution with a view to its potential consolidation.

Dr Niall Moore, Safeguarding Officer for the Republic of Ireland, made a presentation to members on the Church of Ireland Safeguarding Strategy for 2024 to 2026, as requested by the Standing Committee at its September meeting.

The Standing Committee considered a report from the Church Response to Humanitarian Crises Working Group, arising from the related resolution approved at General Synod 2024.

The Standing Committee approved a proposal on the funding of curacies from the Funding of Curacies Working Group.

Appointments

The following appointments were made:

• Mr Richard Codd and the Revd Canon Ruth West to the Church of Ireland Theological Institute Governing Council;
• The Revd Ruth Elmes and Mrs Joan Bruton to the Working Group to Review Clergy Tenure;
• Lord Justice Benjamin Stephens, His Honour Judge Alastair Devlin, Mr Lyndon MacCann SC, His Honour Judge Tom Burgess, Mr Patrick Good KC, Mr Charles Galloway, Ms Jenny Ebbage, Mr Alex Hoffman, and Mr Philip Gilliland as lay judges of the Court of the General Synod;
• Bishop Ferran Glenfield (as Chair), Ms Iris Suitor (as Honorary Secretary), the Revd Canon John Ardis, the Revd Claire Henderson, Ms Claire Holmes, the Revd Canon Jono Pierce, Ms Gillian Purser, the Revd Faith Sithole, and Dean Niall Sloane to the Bishops’ Appeal Advisory Committee;
• The Revd Natasha Quinn–Thomas, the Revd Aaron McAlister, the Revd Canon Jono Pierce, Mr Simon Malley, Ms Naomi Swattridge, Ms Hannah Daly, and Ms Rachel Kenny to the Consultative Group on Disability;
• The Revd Suzanne Cousins as the Church on Ireland representative on the Churches’ Forum on Inter–Religious Relations, as part of the work of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland;
• Ms Linda Rainsberry and Mr Garrett Casey JC to the Disciplinary Panel;
• The Revd Billy Burke and the Revd Dr Leonard Madden to the Marriage Council.

The meeting concluded with the Grace.