Diocesan News10 Jun 05

Presidential Address to the first conjoint meeting of the diocesan synods of Cashel and Ferns

DIOCESAN SYNODS OF CASHEL & FERNS
THURSDAY 9TH JUNE 2005
MOUNT WOLSELEY HOTEL, TULLOW

PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS BY BISHOP OF CASHEL & OSSORY
THE RT REVD PETER F. BARRETT;

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
it is a great pleasure for me to welcome you, the members of the diocesan Synods of Cashel and Ferns, to the lovely Mount Wolseley Hotel, Tullow, Co. Carlow, this Feast of Saint Columba, patron of Ireland and indeed patron of our parish in this town.
Following the recent triennial Easter Vestry elections, I warmly welcome members attending the diocesan Synod for the first time. I extend also a very warm welcome to our ecumenical guests, the members of the press, church group and organisation representatives, alongside our distinguished guests and our visitors. Thank you most sincerely for taking the time to be with us and to support us by your presence and during the breaks, I encourage one and all to browse at the stalls kindly provided.
A special word of thanks to our local Rector, our Diocesan Liturgical Officers and to our organist for their assistance with our opening eucharist. The eucharist reminds us that all is undertaken today and indeed ?at all times and in all places?, for the glory and praise of God the Holy Trinity.

It goes without saying that this is an historic occasion for this ancient See and United Dioceses of Cashel and Ossory. We meet to conduct the necessary business of the synod of Ferns and the synod of Cashel, conjointly, together, for I believe, the first time. We have met conjointly as councils in the recent past for a matter of joint concern. However, we have not so met in synod. At the two separate synods of last year, I indicated my desire to meet as one this year. I wish to express my sincerest gratitude to the members of both diocesan councils for facilitating this request. As your Bishop, it means a very great deal to me for us to be together in the one place at the same time, in true apostolic fashion.
I hope that you too will feel the same way and that this expression of our common mission and witness as members of the Church of Ireland across and within the south?east of our island home, will be granted further time to become established. It makes good sense to me for our scattered representation to be together for mutual listening and sharing at least once a year in such a synodical gathering. I pray earnestly that we shall be encouraged, edified and strengthened by the process. I repeat what I said at both synods of last year: I am content to work with and within the existing conciliar structure of diocesan affairs until circumstances demand their review.
Obviously, there shall be a few ?teething problems? relating to the business of such a novel gathering like today?s; this is only to be expected. However, I wish to thank Mrs Deacon and Mrs Hughes, with the clerical and lay Honorary Secretaries of both synods, for all their preparatory work in making the arrangements and provisions for today. I acknowledge also the assistance of the management and staff here with our specific requests, which are also something of a ?first? for the hotel.
Further, as I moved the dates of both synods from their usual October context to a new summer setting of June, such arrangements, not least the compilation of the Book of Reports had to be made in a far shorter time scale than was normal. This change of date (and indeed starting time) is for good reason. A summer date permits a closer relationship to the events of last year in our discussions, than does a later autumn date. I hope also that an afternoon/evening session for business combines greater attractiveness for those at work than does a morning/afternoon time scale, with, importantly, more time for post Synod conviviality.

The annual meeting of any diocesan synod of the Church of Ireland, not least a conjoint meeting embodies in a practical and visible way our Anglican understanding of Church governance, which is both episcopal and synodical. We are an episcopally led Church possessing a synodical constitution. This is expressed in the composition of today: Bishop, priests/deacons and laity taking council and taking stock together for the good of the whole diocese. To the ?outsider?, this has all the appearance of a truly democratic process. For example, the lay parish representatives have been elected from the parochial groups and unions for a three-year term and always outnumber the clergy by two to one. However, it is far more than democratic.
Rather, it reveals our understanding of the nature of Church life. That together, clergy and laity have equal, if distinct responsibilities, for the mission and witness of the Church in the diocese with its bishop. Further and most important, but often forgotten: such responsibility is diocesan as well as parochial. Indeed, the primary unit for such mission and ministry is fundamentally the diocese, with the Bishop being the chief minister of Word and Sacrament, as well as chief pastor, ministering alongside and amongst the people committed to his care.
Our presence here together this afternoon spells this out very clearly indeed. In so doing, we are making a theological rather than a political statement about our self-understanding. In this spirit of partnership in the life of the Holy Spirit, I wish to thank you, the clergy and people, for all that you do to further the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom throughout the United Dioceses.
Parishioners who faithfully attend and support the liturgies of the Church year in your parishes; or who are involved in the daily concerns of the parish at Select Vestry level, or those of the diocese: on Council or any related committees, links and organisations.
The parish and diocesan Readers, organists and choir members, who lead and inspire our prayer and praise. All involved with sharing and witnessing to the Faith with our children, confirmation candidates, youth and uniformed organisation members throughout our parishes, not forgetting our diocesan or local community schools, especially their over stretched principals, teachers, classroom assistants and members of boards of management.
To my clergy, stipendiary, non-stipendiary, retired and to your families, I express the appreciation of us all for your faithfulness and spirit of extra-mile service. I acknowledge the support of my two archdeacons with sincere gratitude and also pay tribute to our six deans who minister with heavy heritage concerns in no land of plenty, yet who still manage to sing the ?Lord?s song?. I pay particular tribute to the advice and interest of my Chancellor, today?s assessor, Mr Charles Galloway from Waterford and my Registrar, Dean Gordon Wynne, for their invaluable assistance with all necessary legalities as occasion demands.

We welcome most warmly in the name of the Lord, new priests to the See: the Rev?d Chris and Mrs Long and family to the Enniscorthy Group of parishes; the Rev?d Kenyon and Mrs Homfray and family to the Bunclody Group; the Rev?d Stella and Dr Mikhail and family to Clonenagh Union. We look forward to the autumnal arrivals, first from our link diocese of Lund, of the Rev?d Gunilla and Mr Aquilon-Elmqvist and family to the curacy of the Wexford Group; and from Uganda, of the Rev?d Isobel and Mr Jackson and family to the curacy of the Lismore Group. We look forward to the ordination of Elaine Murray as deacon later this month to serve as Bishop?s Vicar in the Kilkenny Group of parishes and to welcoming her husband and family amongst us. We continue to remember in prayer our three candidates for the non-stipendiary ministry who shall be ordained deacon next year Margaret Sykes; Richard Greene and Robert Stotesbury, alongside William Stacey to be ordained in the stipendiary ministry, also in 2006.
We renew our expressions of sincerest gratitude and best wishes to two faithful servants of the See: Mrs Joan Deacon, on her retirement as secretary of her beloved Ferns diocese and to the Rt Rev?d Noel Willoughby on the silver jubilee of his Episcopal ordination.
In a similar but sad breath, we remember before God with deep thanksgiving, Canon Charles Lloyd, a predecessor of Joan?s as secretary of Ferns diocese; The Very Rev?d Brian Harvey, formerly Dean of Ossory and Mrs Lesley McAdoo, wife of the late Bishop Henry McAdoo, who have died since last we met. We thank God for their service and witness and express to the members of their families, our renewed sympathy with gratitude to God for the love they shared amongst us.
We express our very best wishes to Canon Gary Dowd, Pamela and the children, who are preparing to move to Glenageary, where Gary will be instituted as incumbent later this month. Thank you Gary for many years of faithful and prophetic service. We acknowledge also the contribution of Canon Jack Black to the life of the diocese and we wish him and Ollie every blessing as the Canon concludes his 9 fine years as Principal of the largest boarding school on the island, Kilkenny College. We look forward to welcoming his successor, Mr Philip Gray, his wife and family in the autumn. As the chairperson of its Board of Governors, I wish to pay tribute to all, in and from the See, who have supported the recent fundraising appeal, which has realized in excess of 1 million euros in pledged giving: a most fitting tribute to the principalship of Canon Jack Black.

I wish now to turn to three particular areas of concern which could be loosely described as local, national and international. First, the local concerns.

I have spent much of the past two Synod addresses reflecting on the implications for our life together in Christ of some of the relevant suggestions of the 20/20 vision Report. It is still very much on my agenda for the United Dioceses. We have made progress in terms of communications; in particular, through the appeal of our diocesan web site, our excellent diocesan magazine and the provision of PC and email facilities for all the clergy. I am pleased to confirm that the editor of the diocesan magazine, Mr Herbert Sharman, has kindly agreed to my request to succeed Mrs Hughes, to whom we owe so much in this connection, as Diocesan Information Officer. I am also pleased to record a good spirit of togetherness across and between the lovely flowing rivers of the See, of which this gathering is a tangible expression. We have undertaken the first steps in parochial development through an audit of the parishes of the See undertaken by archdeacon Jackson of Lichfield. I reported the findings last year and they were published in the diocesan magazine. They shall form the basis of further reflection in the near future.
We have endeavoured to provide a greater model of centralisation for the administration of this vast United Dioceses. We have been partly successful in this vital endeavour and personally, I await the result of the replacement for Joan with great interest and hopefulness and express to Mrs Georgina Rothwell our gratitude for her willingness to act a Secretary in a temporary capacity.
A major concern was and is (and dare I add, ?forever shall be?!??), youth work. You will know of my concern to distinguish youth ministry from children?s ministry and of my desire to appoint a Children?s Ministry Officer for the See. I am pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev?d Isobel Jackson as part-time Children?s Ministry Officer for the Cashel Council area. She will work closely with the Youth Officer, the Rev?d Philip Heak, throughout this part of the See. Ferns Council has decided to appoint its own combined Children?s and Youth Ministry Officer and once again, I await the outcome of this initiative with much interest.
If all goes to plan, it will mean that by this autumn, or the start of 2006 at the latest, the whole See shall see a 200% increase in specialist ministry in the areas relating to primary and secondary school age children. This can only be good news indeed.
Finally, remaining under the banner of Vision 20/20, I am pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev?d Tom Gordon as Advisor in Diocesan Development and Theological Education, on a part-time basis. He is well known to successive generations of clergy who have trained or are training for the stipendiary and non-stipendiary ministry through his much-valued coordinating and teaching involvement in the work of our Theological College in Dublin.
The Advisor?s brief will consist of the following four components: First, it is envisaged that he will provide an accredited Adult Certificate Course in Theological Studies for interested persons or indeed parishes (and pray God, my favoured unit for mission and ministry, the rural deaneries). Secondly, this course will be closely related to a new modular course being devised for those preparing as parish and diocesan Readers. Thirdly, he will assist with the vital work of the continuing education and formation of the clergy, assisting Dean Wynne. Lastly, he will investigate the findings of the Jackson Audit as they impinge upon ministry and mission in the parishes and make the necessary recommendations for implementation. A demanding, but potentially most exciting brief, which is expected to commence this autumn.
The Advisor will work closely with the Warden of Readers. Following Canon McCullagh?s appointment as Rural Dean of Baltinglass, he has agreed to ?step down? as Warden after 15 years dedicated and helpful service. We take this opportunity to thank you, Mervyn, for such faithfulness and loyalty. The new Warden shall be the rector of the Tullow Group, the Revd William Ritchie, who brings similar experience in this role from previous dioceses and whom we wish well in this important role.
I hope you receive this news as ?gospel?; that is, as ?good news? and as an indication of the seriousness of approach to the insights of the recent past. However, two words of caution. First, if we are really serious about witnessing in a contemporary fashion, there will be a cost to pay in terms of hard decision making and of finance. Secondly, this process of discernment in the Spirit demands patience and time; it does not lend itself to haste or to instant results.

A national concern of profound importance is the extremely high rate of suicide in the country in general and in this south-eastern region in particular. I am very conscious as I speak that there may well be persons present who have had to deal with and still are dealing with this most painful issue as a result of its effects, or near fatal effects, in their family, friendship and neighbourhood circles. It is extremely distressing for all concerned.
Our hearts truly go out to all who have been devastated by this all too dreadful reality. It is at a personal level, when I accompany a local rector to the home of such a tragedy, that the awful pain and bewilderment felt by those loved ones left behind becomes virtually unbearable. I want to commend the clergy for the wonderful ministry they exercise within such parochial and community contexts. Questions abound - ?Why?? ?Could I have stopped it?? ?What did I do or say; what did I not do or say??; ?Why didn?t we notice??; ?If only I had known what they were going through?.
These and so many more similar and impossibly difficult questions haunt us all for a very long time.
We are left to pick up the pieces as the result of a fatal act by someone in the depth of despair, who believes that death is the best way to face the dark present and the bleak future. That, ?Lord have mercy on us all?, they are doing us a favour because ultimately, life without them will be better for us, as well as for themselves. Friends, who amongst us is fit to judge such desperate thoughts and actions, made in a mood of deepest despair, depression and great unpredictability? I certainly could not.
But I would like to say three things. First, that from our Church?s perspective in Christ, to take one?s own life is wrong and can never be accepted as a moral action from a Christian perspective. Secondly, suicide as a private act seeking to end profound, personal pain has immense public implications and only leaves in its wake more anger and pain for loved ones and friends which may never be fully healed.
Thirdly, what is it about our society that this deathly choice is seen by some, but especially by young adult males, as a viable option when confronted by life?s inevitable confusion and pain? Where and when it does occur, it must be seen as a judgement on the failure of us all to create a society with Kingdom patterns of caring and of relating. I do not want to burden this major issue of moral and social concern with statistics. However, facts matter and the work of the National Suicide Research Foundation, based in Cork, is very informative in this context.
The most complete statistical Report to hand is that of the national Parasuicide Registry for 2003 (which includes complete records for the whole of our South Eastern Health Board region). It reveals shocking facts. First, the number of persons treated for non-fatal self harm incidents in the Republic, (primarily related to drug abuse or self mutilation), was 8,800 in total; an increase on 2002, with a marked increase amongst men in particular.
Over a five-year period from 1999-2003, there were 2,213 suicides in the Republic, with a male to female ratio of 4-1. In response to this growing personal and communal crisis, I have arranged for the highly qualified team from this National Suicide Research Foundation in Cork, to spend an information and training day with our clergy in October: the 25th to be precise. However, I urge one and all to ?watch out for one another?, with attentive care and patient love.

Finally, the appalling scenes of the Tsunami?s devastating trail of death and destruction were almost beyond belief. I wish to commend the work of our Church?s Bishops? Appeal organisation, especially its Education Advisor, Martin O?Connor and our own hard working diocesan representatives, Billy Kingston, Valerie Power and Canon Denis Sandes, for responding so quickly to the appalling need made horribly visible through the media. The Church of Ireland contributed over 1 million euros (excluding the marvellous effort of the Dean of Belfast and his cathedral team). This See raised almost 90,000 euros, which was a magnificent local response.
You will know that our money was sent to the diocese of Colombo in Sri Lanka for the purchase of much needed bicycles and I recently received an official receipt and letter of appreciation from bishop Duleep. The work of relief continues apace of course throughout the world, not least Ethiopia, Sudan and other parts of HIV plagued Africa. Let us not lose our global vision, or our sprit of Christian charity.
Next month in Edinburgh, the leaders of the world?s richest nations, the G8, shall gather to discuss the dreadful burden created by debt repayment in the third world and especially in Africa. The Church of Ireland, alongside all the main churches of these islands, is supporting the call to ?Make Poverty History?, which is itself closely associated with the older Jubilee Debt Campaign. You may be quite familiar with the TV advertisement showing a celebrity clicking his or her fingers every three seconds to illustrate the death of a child as a result of poverty and its related diseases. For example, Sub-Saharan Africa is due to pay $6million dollars in debt repayment alone this year.
But debt-cancellation alone will not solve world poverty. We need to look very closely at the implications of globalisation and free trade on the economic impoverishment of the world?s poor and seek to develop and to promote community development and fair-trade projects, nationally and internationally. Equally, good governance is essential to the welfare of the weak and the marginalised, which very often have to shoulder the effects of political corruption at the highest level.
In the light of the worrying statement found in the government?s Book of Estimates of last year, I renew again our heartfelt call for a reassessment of its commitment and promise to provide 0.7% of G.N.P. for overseas aid by 2007. Our Lord did indeed say that ?You always have the poor with you? (Matt 26:11). But this does not prevent us pouring the healing oil of our plenty into and upon a dry and needy land and people, made like us ?in his image and likeness? (Gen 1:26). Indeed, our blessed Lord also said ?Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me? (Matt 25: 40).

May such considerations be echoed in our speaking and thinking today, so that in all things, God may be glorified.

Ends