Press Releases04 May 04

General Synod 2004 in Armagh - Briefing

CHURCH OF IRELAND GENERAL SYNOD 2004

BRIEFING NOTES

FIRST TIME IN ARMAGH FOR GENERAL SYNOD - COME AND JOIN US!

The Church of Ireland General Synod will this year meet for the first time in Armagh from Tuesday, 11 May to Thursday, 13 May 2004. The Synod opens on Tuesday at 11am and on Wednesday and Thursday at 10am.

The venue is the Armagh City Hotel at Friary Road and for three days some 500 representatives of parishes and church organisations will hear reports and discuss a broad range of topics and issues.

Press facilities are available throughout the three days and these include a press conference opportunity on each of the three days in the Press Centre at 1pm.

The hotel offers a wireless broadband facility and this is available in the main concourse area. Anyone with a wireless adapter for their laptop can use this service. The charges are £15 per day for a block of 24 hours continuous access or £6 per hour, continuous access.

The hotel will route calls to the press centre. The number is (028) 37518888. Fax (028) 37512779. E-mail: The Press Officer

The Church of Ireland Media Officer is Rev Brian Parker (m) 07775 927 807.

Reports will be posted on the General Synod website http://synod.ireland.anglican.org

Draft Order of Business

Includes page references to the Book of Reports (BR)

Day 1 - Tuesday, 11 May

11.00 am to 1.00 pm

Presentation of the new Book of Common Prayer 2004. Editor is Canon Brian Mayne.

Archbishop Eames speaks about the work of the Lambeth Commission and the divisions in the Anglican Communion, the prospects of political progress in Northern Ireland and the future shape of the church?s ministry in the twenty-first century. The Archbishop will hold a press conference in the Press Centre at 1pm.

Synod welcomes special guests
the Most Rev Sean Brady, Archbishop of Armagh,
Rev Dr Ivan McKay, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland,
Rev W James Rea, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland
the Venerable Arfon Williams from the Church in Wales.

Press Conference with Archbishop Eames - Press Centre 1pm

2.00 pm to 6.00 pm

Report of Pensions Board: Book of Reports (BR) pp109

The Most Rev Dr John Neill, Archbishop of Dublin, reviews provisions for clergy pensions and gives an assessment of future prospects.

Mr Hilary Morrison, Connor Diocese, a long-serving member of various central committees retires this year.

BILL ? the only one at this year?s Synod ? introduced to seek amendments to the contribution scheme for clergy pensions.

Report of the Council for Mission in Ireland/Council for Church Overseas. Proposals to unite in mission the Council for Mission in Ireland and the Council for the Church Overseas.

Report of the Committee for Christian Unity. BR pp 353

Rt Rev Peter Barrett, Bishop of Cashel and Ossory, looks at progress on the ?unity pilgrimage? including the Anglican/Methodist dialogue. He reflects on the nature of inter-cultural and inter-racial Ireland.

Ms Andrea Wills, Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, looks at the integration of refugees ??a two way street? ? and describes the trafficking in women as ?the most dramatic human rights violation?.

Report of the Liturgical Advisory Committee. BR pp 365. Rt Rev Harold Miller, Bishop of Down and Dromore, and chairman of the Liturgical Advisory Committee, assesses the impact of the new Book of Common Prayer 2004 on the worship and mission of the Church.

6.30 pm - GENERAL SYNOD SERVICE IN ST PATRICK?S CATHEDRAL, ARMAGH
Preacher is the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Dr Rowan Williams. See separate note on press facilities and photo opportunities prior to the Service.

Day 2 - Wednesday, 12 May

10.00 am to 1.00 pm

Report of the Representative Church Body (RCB) BR pp 3

Mr Geoffrey Perrin, Dublin Diocese,chairman of the Representative Church Body Executive Committee, calls for ?vision and mission rather than the management of the status quo?. He highlights the need to tackle real practical issues and welcomes the introduction of a major information management system in Church House ? CHIMP.

Archdeacon Gordon Linney, Dublin Diocese, retires this year and wins praise for his ?apposite and incisive contributions? as a member of various central committees.

Report of the Church of Ireland Youth Department. BR pp 341. Church of Ireland Youth Department is engaged in a major review of its organisation and strategies.

1.00 pm - PRESS CONFERENCE WITH THE MOST REV DR RICHARD CLARKE, BISHOP OF MEATH AND KILDARE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION ON MINISTRY, IN THE PRESS CENTRE

2.00 pm to 6.30 pm

Presentation by the Commission on Ministry. BR pp381

The Church of Ireland Commission on Ministry has been consulting with parishes and dioceses about the future shape of ministry.

Report of the Standing Committee. BR pp 161

Andrea Wills, Diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, suggests that ?many exciting projects are springing up in all parts of the Church?. There are now more opportunities for people to get involved and if anyone wants to volunteer there is a ?TALENT BOX? available in which to post your name and area of interest.

Report of the Church of Ireland Marriage Council. BR pp 395

Report of the Board of Social Responsibility (NI). BR pp 409

Report of the Board of Social Responsibility (RoI) BR pp 421.

Day 3 - Thursday, 13 May

10.00 am to 1.00 pm

Report of the Board of Education. BR pp 313

Board welcomes increased Government funding and prospects for new schools in developing parishes. There are concerns about provision for pupils with special needs and the failure of the Government in the Republic to extend the vetting procedure to all school employees.

Churches welcome the Costello Report on the arrangements for post-primary education in Northern Ireland. The Board calls for discussion about ethos in education particularly within the controlled sector. There are also references to the impact of the introduction of university ?top-up? fees, especially upon socially disadvantaged students.

Report of the Secondary Education Committee. BR pp 337

The impact of the standardised school year and its impact on Boarding Schools are up for discussion. Welcome for the recent reassurance by Minister Dempsey that the ?Block Grant? scheme will not be altered.

Report of the Church in Society Committee. BR pp 269

Rt Rev Dr Michael Jackson, Bishop of Clogher, says the Church has no automatic place in today?s Ireland. On the contrary we seem at times to be dancing to the tune of our own agenda. The Bishop calls for active participation in the life of society-politics, legislation, medical ethics, human rights and the environment.

1.00 pm in the Press Centre - PRESENTATION BY ARCHBISHOP EAMES OF ?THE OSCARS? FOR BEST PARISH MAGAZINE, BEST DIOCESAN MAGAZINE, BEST PARISH WEBSITE AND BEST DIOCESAN WEBSITE.
Results of the Church of Ireland Magazine and Website Competition 2004.

The judges were Rev Dr Bert Tosh, Head of Religious Broadcasting BBC (NI), Mrs Rosemary Rogers, Head of the School of Communication, University of Ulster; Mr
Rodney Miller, Chartered Designer, and Mr Jonathan Martin, Managing Director, J Martin Associates.

2.00 pm - 4.30 pm

Report of the Commission on Ministry BR pp 381

Report of the Church?s Ministry for Healing. BR pp 401R

Report of the Commission on Church Buildings. BR pp 399.
Daily Reports will be carried on the General Synod website http://synod.ireland.anglican.org