Diocesan News19 Oct 15

Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh Meet For Diocesan Synod

The Annual Joint Meeting of the Diocesan Synods of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh took place on Saturday (17th October) in Carrick–on–Shannon, Co. Leitrim. The Synod was preceded by a celebration of The Holy Communion in St George’s Church. Preaching from 2 Kings chapter 19, Bishop Ferran Glenfield (pictured above) urged the congregation to commit themselves to be a praying people who stand fast and hold firm to the living God. A God who is near, a God who is vast and a mighty God whose sovereignty is unlimited. The business of the Synod followed shortly afterwards in the nearby Bush Hotel.

Better together

Bishop Ferran Glenfield began his President’s Address to the Synod by introducing the proposed union of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh under a single administration. At present the diocese is administered in two parts: Kilmore, and Elphin and Ardagh. However, one of the key things identified in a series of Conversation Days facilitated by the Bishop shortly after his appointment was a desire for a single administration to avoid unnecessary duplication and waste.

Both Kilmore and Elphin and Ardagh have been united since before the Church of Ireland was disestablished nearly 150 years ago. The Bishop said that over the years respect and trust had built up, to the point that we consider ourselves as one family, who are better together.

During the meeting a series of motions were put before and unanimously approved by the Synods of the Diocese of Kilmore and the Dioceses of Elphin and Ardagh which will enable the two dioceses to work together under one administration. The proposed single administration and financial scheme will now go forward to the RCB. If the RCB is satisfied, the scheme will be placed before the General Synod in May 2016.

Bishop Ferran paid tribute to the two working groups who worked tirelessly through the details of the proposed single administration and the accompanying financial scheme. He also thanked the various officers of the RCB for their input.

Active in the community and prioritising children

Part of the 20/20 Vision for the church in Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh is the aspiration that each local church should be world looking and active in the community.  Coupled with this is the hope that each local church should prioritise children from pre–school to third level, passing on the faith to successive generations.

One of the ways in which these twin aspirations are realised is in the area of education. Local churches contribute to the up–keep of primary schools. These are by and large small schools by national primary school standards. However, recent research has found that small primary schools under Protestant management have high academic standards, supportive and caring staff and that children attending such schools enjoyed their life and learning and their sense of belonging.

This is a good news story which we need to celebrate. These schools are of immense value to the local faith community and to the wider community as a whole. They often connect the parish with the wider community.

Bishop Ferran also focused on the church’s more informal ministry among children and young people. He spoke about the many Holiday Bible Clubs in the diocese that he had visited over the summer and the importance of Sunday Clubs in the faith formation of our children. He encouraged parishes to work hard at involving young people in the life of the church and informed the Synod that he was currently involved in a consultation process on the issue of youth ministry in the diocese.

Bishop Ferran ended his address by thanking his colleagues for their support and their selfless service for the Lord. He noted that, with the coming of Revd Nick Jones, to Drung in January, there will, God willing, be a full complement of clergy in the diocese. No small thing! He also paid tribute to the excellent group of diocesan Lay Readers whose ministry is vital in our diocese as well as the growing number of Parish Readers, the diocesan administration team and others who contribute to the life of the Dioceses.

Following the presidential address, the Synod heard greetings from guests from other churches, including Bishop Leo O’Reilly and Bishop Kevin Doran from the Roman Catholic Church and Revd Mervyn Kilpatrick from the Methodist Church. During the day’s meeting members of the Synod also heard a presentation Mr Adrian Clements, Chief Officer of the RCB, on the ‘Dignity in Church Life’ Charter as well as reports from the Diocesan Youth Council, The Scribe, the Mothers’ Union and the Bishops’ Appeal.