Standing Committee & RB
Standing Committee News September 2026
The Standing Committee was convened in person in Church House, Rathmines at 2pm on Tuesday 15 September 2026. The Rev Canon Malcolm Kingston opened the meeting with a reading from scripture.
The Archbishop of Armagh welcomed members to the meeting, particularly the Ven. Andrew Orr on his election as Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. He also paid tribute to Mrs Hilary McClay as she prepares to step down from her role as Education Advisor to Bishops’ Appeal.
Mr Ken Gibson delivered the report of the Honorary Secretaries. He noted that as requested by the Standing Committee the Honorary Secretaries were carrying out a review of invitees from other Christian denominations to the General Synod, and were consulting with the Commission on Christian Unity and Dialogue. It was also reported that owing to his election to the See of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Ven. Andrew Orr leaves a casual vacancy on the Standing Committee.
Recommendations from the Representative Body relating to changes to MAS, and the pensionable stipend were received and passed. Recommendations from the Budget Sub–Committee were also received and passed. It was also noted that the Clergy Pension Fund solvency levy was to be reduced to 0% from January 2027.
Changes to the Clergy PHI Policy, which came as a recommendation from the Representative Body, were received and passed.
Canon Malcolm Kingston presented proposed guidelines for making a Statement of Serious Concern, and for a Committee of Inquiry, pertaining to the clergy tenure bills which were passed at the General Synod in May. These were received and passed.
A Policy for the Publication of Judgments and Orders from Disciplinary Tribunal was received and passed. This follows on from a resolution in June taking into account the advice of the Legal Advisory Committee to the Honorary Secretaries to produce a publication policy.
The Rev Natasha Quinn–Thomas was welcomed to the meeting, where she gave a short presentation on the ongoing work of the Consultative Group on Disability and how parishes can further the work of the group.
A resolution to amend Standing Order 8, made provision for the appointment of a Deputy Assessor by the President of the General Synod, should the services of one be required at any point.
The following appointments were made to the Priorities Fund Working Group: Rt Rev Adrian Wilkinson, Rev Adrian Dorrian, Ms Hazel Corrigan, Mr Quentin Teggin, Ms Jill Lester, Ms Joyce Clingan and Mr Melvin Beamish. Two new members of the Safeguarding Board were also approved: Catherine Irwin, and Sue Talbot–Braisby.
Bishop George Davison is to replace Bishop Michael Burrows on the Armagh Agreement Reference Group. This group deals with the relationship between Church of Ireland and Moravian Church in Ireland.
The Archbishop of Armagh noted the success of the recent meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council in Belfast and thanked the staff of the RCB for their work.
The meeting closed with the Grace.