Press Releases19 Apr 16

The Work of the Commission on Episcopal Ministry and Structures (2 of 2): Provincial Structures and Boundaries

The following article appears in this week’s edition of The Church of Ireland Gazette:

Following the recent article (8/4/16) on the work of the Commission on Episcopal Ministry and Structures (CEMS), this second brief article aims to provide further context and information to the wider Church specifically on proposed changes to provincial and diocesan boundaries prior to the General Synod next month, at which members will debate the proposals fully in response to a relevant Bill. Members of the General Synod will also have the aid of a leaflet ‘Diocesan Boundaries: Reaching Conclusions’, with maps, in advance of the Synod to help their deliberations. As previously stated, the responsibility to decide and legislate on these matters rests with members of the General Synod.

The Chairman of CEMS, Mrs Ethne Harkness, wrote last month to the Archbishops and Bishops, Honorary Secretaries and Diocesan Secretaries summarising the proposals for changes in provincial and diocesan boundaries which the members of CEMS have agreed to bring to General Synod. Some may already be familiar with these proposals through local diocesan communications, and in the case of Dublin & Glendalough, the Archbishop of Dublin’s pastoral letter issued earlier this month; those attending an extraordinary meeting of the Dublin & Glendalough Diocesan Synods which has been called for the 20th April in Athy will also be discussing the proposals germane to that See.

Proposals: from 12 to 11
Essentially, CEMS is proposing that the number of Sees would reduce from twelve to eleven, six in the Province of Armagh and five in the Province of Dublin.

Having consulted with the Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin, who have indicated a willingness to envisage changes to provincial boundaries, it is proposed by CEMS that the dioceses of Tuam and Killala but without Achonry would move from the Province of Armagh to the Province of Dublin. Tuam and Killala (but not Achonry) – 7 cures in total – would join with the Dioceses of Limerick & Killaloe (17 cures) to form a new diocese in the West; this diocese would be in the Province of Dublin.

The diocese of Achonry, which is composed of 2 cures, would join with the Dioceses of Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh (23 cures); this diocese would be in the Province of Armagh.
It is envisaged that the changes outlined above would come into effect when there is a vacancy in either the See of Tuam, Killala & Achonry or the See of Limerick & Killaloe – but not before the General Synod of 2017.

It is proposed that six cures would be transferred from the Diocese of Glendalough to the Diocese of Kildare. Currently the Dioceses of Dublin & Glendalough has 56 cures while the Dioceses of Meath & Kildare currently has 17 cures. The cures which would be transferred would be: Leixlip and Lucan; Celbridge and Straffan with Newcastle–Lyons; Blessington and Manor Kilbride with Ballymore–Eustace and Hollywood; Donoughmore and Donard with Dunlavin; Narraghmore and Timolin with Castledermot and Kinneigh; and Athy, Kilberry and Fontstown with Kilkea.

The proposed transfer of cures would come into effect at a date to be determined but, again, it would not take place before the General Synod of 2017.

Rationale
The measures proposed by CEMS are intended to strengthen the three numerically smallest dioceses in the Church of Ireland. They would enable Tuam and Killala and Achonry to become part of larger unions and they would give numerical support to Limerick and Killaloe, Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh and Meath and Kildare. The proposed changes would also help to redistribute episcopal workloads.

As previously intimated, the overarching principle of CEMS has been the mission of the Church. Its members have been guided by the 2008 ‘Growth, Unity and Service’ mission statement by the House of Bishops. There is an imperative to deal with diocesan structures in order to equip the Church for the new realities of mission in an environment across the island which has witnessed extraordinary transformations culturally, economically and socially and with ever greater administrative pressures and legal requirements; worshipping patterns too have changed markedly with 39% of Church of Ireland worshippers now being aged over 61.

It is in light of all the circumstances before the Commission that is has concluded that the adoption of these proposals is the best way forward for the Church.

Implementation
CEMS envisages that an Implementation Committee would be established to support and engage with dioceses directly affected by the proposed changes and to assist in identifying and managing the implications and practicalities which may arise.

Issues to be dealt with would include names of dioceses, unified synods and committee structures, representation, legislation for diocesan synods and the General Synod, financial schemes and administrative arrangements. Such a committee would operate for a ‘protected period’ of one year and report to the General Synod in 2017; changes would only be brought into effect following that meeting of the General Synod.