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.

Mr Mike Johnson reported on proposals that the Minimum Approved Stiped (MAS) would increase to £39,658 in Northern Ireland, and €48,042 in the Republic of Ireland. It was also proposed that no change me made to the existing locomotory allowance rates. Both of these recommendations were approved. 

Mr Adrian Robinson delivered a report from the board of the Clergy Pensions Fund, highlighting the efforts made to reduce the gap between MAS and the pensionable stipend. He reported that owing to positive solvency, the pension fund’s solvency levy is to be reduced to 0% from January 2027. 

Ms Julie Bond, Head of Finance and IT, reported on the ‘Total Return’ policy that is applied to the general funds of the RCB. Ms Bond reported that the value of General Funds had increased significantly in recent times, but that the longer–term sustainability of the funds required a reduced withdrawal rate. A new maximum withdrawal rate of 3.5%, reduced from 3.9%, was approved.

In appointments, Mrs Heather Pope was appointed as Chair of the Library and Archives Committee. The Ven. Mark Harvey succeeds the Ven. Paul Thompson on the Stipends Committee, and Mr Marcus Daly SC will succeed the late Mr Justice Declan Budd as a member of the Legal Advisory Committee. 

The meeting closed with the Grace.

Ms Hazel Corrigan opened the meeting with a reading from Matthew chapter 5 and a prayer for understanding, wisdom and patience for the discussion in the Standing Committee meeting.

As it was the last meeting of the Standing Committee before Bishop Pat Storey’s retirement the Archbishop of Armagh paid tribute to Bishop Storey stating that her presence, individual outlook and share of gifts at Standing Committee would be greatly missed.

The Archbishop of Armagh also mentioned that Dr Kenneth Milne has stepped down as Church of Ireland Historiographer and highlighted to Dr Milne’s extensive knowledge of historical lore and scholarship.

The Very Rev Kenny Hall, Dean of Clogher was congratulated by the Archbishop of Armagh for recently being awarded with an OBE in the field of reconciliation.

In the Honorary Secretaries report, Ms Hazel Corrigan spoke about representatives from the Church of Ireland attending different meetings of other church denominations and organisations. This included 11 representatives attending the Irish Council of Churches AGM, Dean Stephen Forde, Archdeacon Jim Cheshire and Ms Diane Ruddock attending the Presbyterian Church in Ireland General Assembly, Rev Helene Steed and Rev Martin Steele attending the Methodist Church in Ireland Annual Conference and the Very Rev Susan Green attending the General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church. Additionally Mr Roy Totten will be attending the Provincial Synod Moravian Church in Great Britain.

Resolutions and Presentations

The Standing Committee approved that PricewaterhouseCoopers be appointed as auditors of the accounts of the Representative Church Body for the year 2026, on terms to be agreed by the RCB Executive Committee, such terms to be reported to the Standing Committee.

A review of General Synod that was held in the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle Co Down was discussed. It was the first General Synod to be held for three days in–person since 2019. The benefits of having the Synod in–person were highlighted as well as the music and timing of the Synod service. Some concerns were raised in relation to the location of the stands and entrance into the Synod Hall. The process of submitting amendments was also mentioned.

The Standing Committee approved that the General Synod of 2027 will take place from 6–8 May 2027 in the Armagh City Hotel and that the General Synod of 2028 will take place in Whites of Wexford on 11–13 May 2028.

The Standing Committee approved that the Guidelines and Definitions regarding a Statement of Serious Concern referred to in Section 31 of Chapter IV and Section 34 of Chapter VI of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland. This followed on from the legislation passed at General Synod 2026.

Alongside some minor amendments the Standing Committee approved the Guidelines and Support for Stipendiary Church of Ireland Clergy to be published for distribution. This document is designed to be a helpful tool that can be used by clergy.

Rev Canon Malcom Kingston provided an update on the creation of a list of potential mediation services that could be used by clergy if needed.

The Standing Committee approved the updated Terms of Reference document for the Safeguarding Board and also approved the updated Terms of Reference document for the Case Management Committee.

Mr Lyndon MacCann SC presented the Opinion of the Legal Advisory Committee. After this the Standing Committee approved that the Standing Committee receives the Opinion of the Legal Advisory Committee and instructs the Honorary Secretaries to publish the judgements of Disciplinary Tribunals and the Appeal Tribunals in accordance with this Opinion, and to produce a publication policy and explanatory guidelines consistent with the terms of this Opinion. The members of the Legal Advisory Committee were thanked for their work and expertise in drafting the Opinion and for thoroughly answering the question posed by Standing Committee at the March 2026 meeting.

The Standing Committee approved that the Standing Committee agrees the terms of reference for the review of the Priorities Fund.

An overview of the role of Assessor and the need for a Deputy Assessor was brought to Standing Committee by Mr MacCann. The Standing Committee approved the following resolutions:

· In the Standing Orders adopted by the House of Representatives of the General Synod; that in SO 5 following the words ‘the Assessor’ shall be inserted ‘and the Deputy Assessor’,

· That in SO 8 following the first occurrence of the word ‘Assessor’ shall be inserted the words ‘and Deputy Assessor, two persons’ and the words ‘a person’ shall be deleted and following the second occurrence of the word ‘Assessor’ shall be inserted the words ‘and Deputy Assessor’.

· That in SO 24(a) following the word ‘Assessor’ shall be inserted the words ‘and Deputy Assessor’

· That the index to the Constitution should be appropriately updated.

The Standing Committee were made aware of the work of the European Christian Environmental Network and approved that a €500 donation be given to the European Christian Environmental Network.

Appointments

Mrs Patsy Devoy was appointed as a member of the Marriage Council. Mrs Devoy had previously been the Mothers Union representative on the Marriage Council but has now been appointed as a member in her own right.

Professor Brian Walker was appointed as Church of Ireland Historiographer for a term of 6 years.

The Very Rev Nigel Dunne was appointed as Vice–Chair of the Complaints Committee following the retirement of Ven Leslie Stevenson.

His Honour Judge Tom Burgess has retired from the Legal Advisory Committee and there is now a vacancy on that committee.

Reports

It was reported that following the annual general meeting of the Irish Council of Churches Bishop Michael Burrows has been appointed as Vice–President of the ICC.

The Archbishop of Dublin highlighted that the report from the International Anglican Women’s Network was interesting and important.

The meeting closed with the Grace

The meeting was opened in prayer by Mr Ken Gibson with a Bible reading from Jeremiah chapter 29 and a prayer for our broken world at this time, especially that God would help us to help others to find peace, food, water and healing.  Mr Gibson asked for God’s wisdom, understanding and guidance in all of the Standing Committee’s work.

On the occasion of several persons attending their last meetings of the Standing Committee, the Archbishop of Armagh paid tribute to Mrs Hilary Prentice (as Chair of the Representative Body’s Executive Committee) for her time and attentiveness, Mr Peter Cheney (as Press Officer) for his faithfulness and diligence in communications roles in recent years, and Bishop Paul Colton who was previously an Honorary Secretary of the General Synod before his consecration.

He noted Bishop Colton’s service in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, his interests in ministry in education and healthcare, his immense knowledge of the law of the Church of Ireland, and his work as guardian of its polity – the essence and unwritten culture of the life of the Church.

In the report of the Honorary Secretaries, Ms Hazel Corrigan noted that the stock of the pew edition of the Book of Common Prayer was getting low and the Honorary Secretaries have therefore approved a print run of 1,000 copies to maintain stock.

Resolutions and presentation

The Standing Committee approved the recommendations of the Priorities Fund Committee for 2026.  This year, the Priorities Fund had received 78 applications, requesting grants amounting to €1,496,639 and had recommended 48 grants totalling €556,911, supporting outreach initiatives, innovative ministries in rural context, Christian education, and lay and ordained training.

The Standing Committee received a presentation of the Church of Ireland Census returns for 2025 received to date.

The Standing Committee approved a resolution that a query regarding the publication of judgements is to be forwarded to the Standing Committee’s Legal Advisory Committee.

The Standing Committee approved proposed amendments to the Clergy Private Health Insurance Policy (subject to the approval of the Representative Body), and to update the terms of reference for the Safeguarding Board and the Safeguarding Board’s Case Management Committee.

The Standing Committee nominated the Rev Dr Bob Cotter to attend the Provincial Synod of the Moravian Church in Great Britain and Ireland, taking place in Swanwick from 9th to 13th July 2026.

Preparing for General Synod 2026

The General Synod will be meeting in the Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle, Co. Down, from Thursday, 7th May 2026 to Saturday, 9th May 2026.

The Standing Committee approved the following meeting hours for the General Synod when in ordinary session in 2026:

• First day – Thursday, 7th May 2026: 12.00 p.m. to 1.00 p.m. (beginning with a Service of Holy Communion) and 2.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. or, if the introduction and principle stages of all bills sent to the members with the summonses have not then been concluded, until such later hour as the Synod shall determine.

• Second day – Friday, 8th May 2026: 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to 6.30 p.m or such other hours that Synod may determine.

• Third day – Saturday, 9th May 2026: 10.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. or such other hours that Synod may determine.

The Standing Committee approved that a motion be brought to General Synod to allow Standing Order 6 (4) of the Constitution of the Standing Committee to be amended so that nominations and elections to fill casual vacancies among the co–opted members of the Standing Committee may take place by electronic means.

The Standing Committee approved that bills be brought to the General Synod with the following intentions:

• to remove all mention of deacons serving in internships from the Constitution as ordinands are no longer ordained before serving their internship, through amendments to Chapter I (The General Synod) and Chapter XIV (Clergy Pensions Fund) and the repeal of Statute IV of 2013;

• to amend the Constitution in Chapter XVI (Safeguarding) to remove reference to the names of previous Safeguarding policies and to re–word the relevant section of Chapter XVI so that specific policies are no longer referenced going forward;

• to make miscellaneous amendments to Chapter VIII (Ecclesiastical Tribunals, Offences, Sentences, Faculties & Registries) regarding the clergy disciplinary process;

• to make amendments to Chapter IV (Archbishops & Bishops) and Chapter VI (Appointment to & Tenure of Cures) regarding the termination of tenure in cases of the intractable breakdown either between an incumbent and his/her parish or between a bishop and his/her diocese; and

• to make miscellaneous amendments to Chapter IV regarding the termination of tenure on grounds of ill–health.

The Standing Committee adopted its report to General Synod 2026, and approved resolutions that the reports of the committees and working groups reporting to the Standing Committee be appended to this report.

The meeting concluded with the Grace.

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Canon Gillian Wharton opened the meeting with a reading from Philippians chapter 2 and in prayer, seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in the meeting and the flourishing of all whom the members of the Standing Committee are called to serve.

Presenting the Honorary Secretaries’ report, Mr Ken Gibson noted that six Church of Ireland delegates were nominated to attend the ‘Let Justice Flow Like Rivers’ conference in Newry on Saturday, 17th January – Mr David Brown, the Revd David McComb, Ms Lesley McComb, Archdeacon Andrew Orr, the Revd Julie Bell, and the Revd David White. The event was organised by the Irish Council of Churches and the Irish Inter Church Meeting.

Mr Gibson added that following a satisfactory review of the work of the Complaints Administrator during 2025, the Honorary Secretaries have agreed to renew the contract for Ms Bridget Rippey (from BridgeHR Consulting) as Complaints Administrator supporting the Complaints Process in Chapter VIII of the Constitution.

Ms Kaye Nesbitt was appointed to the Finance and Arrangements Sub–Committee.
The Standing Committee approved a resolution that the Honorary Secretaries, on behalf of the General Synod, write to the Rt Rev and the Rt Hon Dame Sarah Mullally DBE to convey the prayerful good wishes of the Church of Ireland on her appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Presentations

Members of the Working Group to Review Clergy Tenure presented a draft of their final recommendations to the Standing Committee – regarding amendments to the current clergy disciplinary process, as well as responses in situations of long term clergy ill–health and intractable parochial breakdown – to be presented to General Synod in 2026.

Presentations were also made by the Revd Rob Jones (as National Director of Pioneer Ministry) on the development of Pioneer Ministry, and Mr Ken Gibson on the newly reformed Consultative Group on Disability.

Mr Jones highlighted that the Pioneer Ministry Gathering is taking place in Mullingar on Saturday, 21st November 2026, and encouraged everyone with an interest in Pioneer Ministry, and what can be learned from its continuing work for parishes and the wider Church, to consider attending.

Invitations to General Synod

In line with the protocol for invitations to attend General Synod, the Honorary Secretaries be requested to issue an invitation to the following to appoint representatives to attend General Synod 2026:

• Presbyterian Church in Ireland
• Methodist Church
• Roman Catholic Church
• Irish Council of Churches
• Moravian Church of Great Britain and Ireland
• Church of England
• Redeemed Christian Church of God
• Religious Society of Friends
• Romanian Orthodox Church

The Presbyterian Church, the Methodist Church and the Roman Catholic Church have been asked to appoint two representatives each, and the Irish Council of Churches and other Churches asked to appoint one representative each.

The meeting closed with the Grace.

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The Archbishop of Armagh opened the meeting in prayer and welcomed Mr Robert Ellis (Derry & Raphoe), Ms Ruth Gyves (Dublin & Glendalough), the Revd Canon John Clarke (Meath & Kildare), and Mr Paul Schütz (Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe), and Mr David Webb (co–opted member) as new members attending their first meeting.

In line with the General Synod Bill No.7, approved at its meeting in May this year, to increase the maximum number of co–options to the Representative Body (from 11 to 18), Ms Ade Oluborode and Mr Adrian Robinson were nominated and co–opted.

This brings the current number of co–opted members to 15, following the election of Dr Rosemary Peters Gallagher and Mr David Webb as co–opted members at the September meeting.

Reports

Presenting the Executive Committee’s report, Ms Hilary Prentice noted that a competition to highlight best practice in environmental sustainability initiatives would be launched in early 2026.

Ms Prentice outlined a response to oppose a private member’s bill in the Northern Ireland Assembly which was seeking to increase regulation of burial grounds.  She also reported the Executive Committee’s decision to maintain maximum grant levels for clergy removal grants, with any exceptional cases to be brought to the Chair of the Stipends Committee and the Chief Officer for consideration.

Canon Graham Richards presented the recommendations of the Allocations Committee for expenditure in 2026, which were received and adopted.  A total of €5,390,647 has been allocated (reduced from €5,485,528 in 2025) and categorised as follows:

• Maintenance of the Stipendiary Ministry – €2,152,729
• General Synod activities – €1,763,803
• Training for the Ordained Ministry – €811,384
• Pioneer Ministry – €628,604
• RCB Library and miscellaneous – €34,127

Canon Richards expressed the gratitude of the Allocations Committee to the Irish Government for the secular work of the Board of Education (Republic of Ireland), safeguarding vetting for primary schools, and the Church of Ireland Youth Department.

The draft Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Investment Policy Statement 2026, as submitted by the Investment Committee and approved by the Executive Committee, was received and adopted.

Presentations were made to the Representative Body by Devan Nathwani and Shane O’Doherty of BlackRock investment managers.  Mr Robert Neill, Chair of the RCB Campus Review Group, and Mr Ciarán Mullarkey of Mullarkey Pedersen Architects, commissioned to take forward the development of a new Church of Ireland campus at 96 Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin, also made a presentation.  The site will retain the existing chapel and accommodation block and a new cloistered–style building, including the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, the RCB Library, and Church of Ireland House will be built.

Appointments

Mr Sam Hudson was elected to the Property Committee, succeeding Mr Stanley McFarland on his retirement.

Mr Henry Algeo was elected to the Pioneer Ministry Governing Council, succeeding Mr Robert Neill.

The meeting closed in prayer with the Collect for Advent.

Advent Carol Service

Following the business of the RB, members took part in the Representative Church Body’s Advent Carol Service in Holy Trinity Rathmines.  Worship was led by a choir including members of staff accompanied by Dr Kerry Houston and Bishop Michael Burrows as organists.

The congregation was welcomed by Mr David Ritchie and the Revd Rob Jones, who led the Bidding Prayer.  Scripture readings were by Ms Hilary Prentice, Mrs Wendy Deacon, Mr Peter Connor, Mr Mark McWha, Dr Susan Hood, Ms Olga Voitenko (in Ukrainian), the Revd Canon Dr Maurice Elliott, and Mr Duncan Holmes.  The service was concluded by Archbishop John McDowell with a Collect and Blessing.

Refreshments were provided after the service in the former Chapel of the Church of Ireland College of Education.

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The meeting was opened by Canon Malcolm Kingston with a Bible reading from Matthew chapter 7.

Canon Gillian Wharton delivered the report of the Honorary Secretaries. She noted the Church of Ireland census will commence in January 2026, and it will consist of the same online format as previous years.

The Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe proposed a motion that the Standing Committee write to President Connolly congratulating her on her recent election and inauguration as President of Ireland. It was agreed that the letter would be sent in both English and Irish.

The revision of the Dignity in Church Life Anti–Bullying and Harassment Policy was proposed by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe and was accepted by the Standing Committee.

Changes to the Church of Ireland Safeguarding policy were presented by Dr Niall Moore (RCB Safeguarding Manager for Policy and Training), and the Bishop of Clogher, and were also accepted. Terms of Reference for the new Safeguarding Case Management Committee were also given approval.

Canon Kingston delivered a progress report from the Clergy Tenure Working Group, which is expected to deliver its proposed recommendations to the Standing Committee in January 2026 before onward submission to the General Synod in May 2026

The Revd Carlton Baxter provided an update from the Church of Ireland Marriage Council which included some of its recent strategy days, and a forthcoming retreat for clergy couples.

Appointments

The Revd Dr Chris MacBruithin, on the proposal of the Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, was appointed as the representative to the Conference of European Churches (CEC).

The meeting closed with the Grace.

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RB News

In his opening remarks to the Representative Body, the Archbishop of Armagh noted the service of three outgoing members – Mr Robert Neill (Dublin & Glendalough), Mr Roy Benson (Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe), and Mr Stanley McFarland (Derry & Raphoe).

Mr Neill was first co–opted as a member in 1999 and had served as Chair of the Executive Committee and as a member of the Investment Committee, Audit Committee, Allocations Committee, and Church of Ireland Pensions Board.  The Archbishop commented that Mr Neill had contributed massively to the work of the Representative Body, in terms of the home–work, head–work and heart–work given to his roles.

Mr Benson had served as a member of the Stipends Committee from 1993 to 2011, and as a member of the Executive Committee, Audit Committee and Investment Committee, and had contributed tremendously to the Representative Body’s financial performance.

Mr McFarland had served on the Property Committee from 2018 onwards.

The Archbishop paid tribute to the late Mr Justice Declan Budd, a member of the Legal Advisory Committee from 1993 to 2025, whose expertise was always greatly valued.

Dr Rosemary Peters Gallagher and Mr David Webb were appointed as co–opted members.

The re–elections of Mrs Diane Ruddock (Down & Dromore) and Dr Scott Brown (Connor) were noted.

Presenting the Executive Committee report, Ms Hilary Prentice noted progress made in terms of derisking the assets of the Clergy Pensions Trustee Designated Activity Company (DAC), to 85% of assets being de–risked.  She also highlighted a survey among Representative Body members to assist in the governance review undertaken by the Strategy Review Working Group, and a positive internal audit of the Representative Church Body’s investment administration work.

Ms Prentice gave a verbal report from the Executive Committee’s sub–group to review the governance of the Church of Ireland Youth Department to the meeting.

The Representative Body made the following recommendations (with effect from 1st January 2026) to the Standing Committee, which were approved by the Standing Committee at its meeting:

Minimum Approved Stipend

• Northern Ireland – £38,653 (increased by 3.6%)
• Republic of Ireland – €46,462 (increased by 1.8%)

Pensionable Stipend

• Northern Ireland – £35,060 (increased by 5%)
• Republic of Ireland – €43,937 (increased by 4%)

Clergy Pensions Fund solvency levy

• The rate of levy to be paid by each diocese towards the cost of securing the solvency of the Clergy Pensions Fund to be set at 0.8% of the Minimum Approved Stipend (reduced from 3%)

The Representative Body approved that clergy pensions in payment at 31st December 2025 will be increased as follows with effect from 1st January 2026:

• Pensions payable in sterling – 5% inclusive of any increases required by law
• Pensions payable in euro – 4%

The Representative Body approved that the rate of contribution from parishes, diocesan councils or other contributors to the death in service insured benefit for members of the Church of Ireland Clergy Defined Contribution Pension Plans be increased to 3.5% (from 3%) per annum, of the relevant Minimum Approved Stipend or Episcopal Stipend, with effect from 1st January 2026.

The Representative Body approved that the House of Bishops should have the final decision on which parishes are included on the list of curacies offered to ordinands from the Church of Ireland Theological Institute and which will attract the stipend subsidy provided by the Representative Church Body (subject to a requirement for an annual report to be brought to the Executive Committee on the implementation and effectiveness of the Curacy Fund scheme).

The Representative Body approved that the revised Dignity in Church Life – Prevention of Bullying & Harassment Policy be submitted to the Standing Committee for approval (subject to final drafting amendments).

Appointments

The triennial election of the members of the Representative Body’s committees took place.  All appointments are listed at this link.

Ms Alison Burnside was appointed as a Director of the Church of Ireland Pensions Trustee DAC.

Ms Hilary Prentice and Dean Nigel Dunne were elected to the Board of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin.

The meeting closed with the Grace.

Standing Committee News

Mr Ken Gibson opened the meeting of the Standing Committee with a Bible reading from Acts chapter 11 and a prayer asking for wisdom and guidance, and interceding for the Diocese of Meath and Kildare’s outreach at the National Ploughing Championships.

Canon Malcolm Kingston presented the report of the Honorary Secretaries, which noted the election of Archdeacon Katharine Poulton (Meath & Kildare) and Mr Alan Williamson (Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh) to the membership of the Standing Committee.  The Bishop of Clogher and Mr Ken Gibson will attend the General Synod of the Church of Sweden, and Dean Paul Draper will attend the Governing Body of the Church in Wales.

In relation to the proposed review of the Church of Ireland Constitution, the Honorary Secretaries reported their conclusion that the entirety of the Constitution was not in need of a formal review, as reviews and revisions have already taken place relatively recently concerning episcopal electoral colleges, synodical representation and the General Synod bills terminology.  Comments from members were welcomed ahead of firmer proposals being made to a future meeting of the Standing Committee.

The Standing Committee approved the proposals of the Budget Sub–Committee and recommended them for consideration by the Allocations Committee of the Representative Body.

Presentations were made by Ms Hilary Prentice, providing an update from the Church of Ireland Youth Department Governance Working Group, Archdeacon Andrew Orr on Eco–Congregation Ireland, and Dr Niall Moore (Safeguarding Officer for the Republic of Ireland) on the current work of the Safeguarding Board.

Appointments

Ms Judith Cairns was elected as a co–opted member of the Standing Committee to fill the casual vacancy arising from the election of Mr Alan Williamson as a lay representative for Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh.

Dean Diane Matchett and Dr Catherine Smith were elected to the membership of the Church of Ireland Marriage Council.

The following persons were elected to the working group to examine the possibility of clergy being allowed to conduct marriages in alternative venues to church buildings: the Revd Lesley Robinson, Dean Niall Sloane, Canon Jen McWhirter, the Revd Carlton Baxter, Mr Andrew Brannigan, Dr Ruth Gardiner, Mr Timothy Smyth, Ms Judy Peters, and Mr Ken Gibson and Canon Gillian Wharton (as Honorary Secretaries).  The membership of the working group will also include two members to be appointed by the House of Bishops, representing the Province of Armagh and the Province of Dublin respectively.

The Archbishop of Dublin, Mr George Woodman, the Rev Chris MacBruithin, Ms Gina Copty, and Mr Neville Cobbe were appointed to attend the 2025 Irish Inter Church Meeting in the Dromantine Conference Centre, in Newry, on 13th and 14th November.

The meeting closed with the Grace.

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The meeting was opened by Ms Hazel Corrigan with a Bible reading from Luke chapter 10 and in prayer, interceding that members would balance busyness with moments of peace and prayer, and remembering the violence and unrest affecting many people in the world.

The report of the Honorary Secretaries noted two casual vacancies – for a clerical member over 45 years for the Diocese of Meath and Kildare; and a lay member over 45 years for the Diocese of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh.

The Standing Committee approved PricewaterhouseCoopers to be appointed as auditors of the accounts of the Representative Church Body for the year 2025, on terms to be agreed by the Executive Committee and with such terms to be reported to the Standing Committee.

Members reviewed the General Synod 2025, the in–person part of which was held over two days in Lawlors Hotel in Naas, Co. Kildare, and the remote session on one evening the following week.  Satisfaction was expressed with the venue regarding the facilities, the staff and the accessibility from all parts of the island.  The successful trial of recording attendance by QR code on the Saturday was also noted, and the RCB staff’s assistance with this was gratefully acknowledged. The statement issued by the Archbishop of Armagh and the Archbishop of Dublin, to express words of comfort to the people of Gaza following a request made in the course of the business of General Synod, was noted.

The Standing Committee approved that the General Synod of 2026 will take place from 7th–9th May 2026 in the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, Co. Down, and that the General Synod of 2027 will take place from 6th–8th May in the Armagh City Hotel.

Suggested amendments to the Dignity in Church Life Prevention of Bullying and Harassment Policy were presented by the Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe and the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, on behalf of the House of Bishops.

The Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe gave a presentation on the Armagh Agreement and the relationship between the Church of Ireland and the Moravian Church in Britain and Ireland.

That Standing Committee approved the terms of reference for the Secular Marriage Venues Working Group, arising from the related resolution of General Synod 2025.  The membership of the working group shall be appointed by the Standing Committee and shall consist of 12 members, as follows:

• two members from the House of Bishops (one from the Province of Armagh and one from the Province of Dublin);
• four clerical members of the General Synod (two from each province);
• four lay members of the General Synod (two from each province); and
• two Honorary Secretaries (one from each province, and one clerical and one lay).

Should any member of the working group cease to be a member of the General Synod before the working group has delivered its final report to the General Synod, he or she will cease to be a member of the working group, and the Standing Committee shall appoint another representative in his or her place.

The working group shall report to the Standing Committee of its progress in March 2026 and in March 2027.  The formal report of the working group shall be appended to the report of the Standing Committee to General Synod until final recommendations are made to the General Synod of 2027.

Appointments

The Revd Meurig Williams (Cork) was appointed as the Church of Ireland Reuilly representative, in succession to the Revd Christine O’Dowd Smyth.  Mr Williams will join the contact group for the Reuilly Agreement, an ecumenical agreement on issues of mutual recognition of the Anglican Churches in Britain and Ireland and the French Reformed and Lutheran Churches.

The Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory was appointed to represent the Church of Ireland at the annual meeting of European National Councils of Churches, hosted by the Conference of European Churches, to take place from Monday, 15th September, to Wednesday, 17th September 2025, in Copenhagen.

Ms Audrey Hobson was nominated as Church of Ireland representative on the Secondary Education Committee.

The meeting closed with the Grace.

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Standing Committee

Canon Gillian Wharton opened the meeting of the Standing Committee with a reading from John chapter 5, a Prayer for the Season of Lent, and an intercession for wisdom for members of the Standing Committee in their proceedings.

The Archbishop of Armagh noted that this would be the last Standing Committee meeting to be attended by Archdeacon Leslie Stevenson (Meath & Kildare) and thanked Archdeacon Stevenson for his service to the Standing Committee and the Church of Ireland as a whole.

The March meeting of Standing Committee includes a discussion on the recommendations of the Priorities Fund Committee, chaired by Mr Roy Totten, which were approved.  The Priorities Fund received 78 applications for grants in 2024, amounting to €1,420,261 – of which 54 were approved, totalling €607,659.

The projects supported by the Priorities Fund cover four areas of mission and ministry:

• training (lay and ordained)
• Christian education
• outreach initiatives
• innovative ministry in a rural context

Following a demonstration of electronic voting, the Standing Committee approved that a motion be brought to General Synod to allow for the option of electronic voting at in–person meetings of the General Synod.

The Standing Committee also approved that that the following be brought to General Synod: a motion to amend Standing Orders to include the new terminology for the bills process; a bill to amend the Synod Representation Table (in Chapter I of the Constitution); and a bill to amend Chapter III of the Constitution for cross–referencing purposes.

Reports to General Synod

The Standing Committee adopted its report to General Synod 2025 and appended the reports of the following committees and working groups which report to the Standing Committee:

• Advisory Council to the Church of Ireland Centre at Dublin City University
• Armagh Agreement Reference Group (for relations with the Moravian Church)
• Bishops’ Appeal for World Aid and Development
• Board for Ministry with Children and Families
• Central Communications Board
• Charities Registration Working Group
• Church and Society Commission
• Consultative Group on Disability
• Review of the Future of Curacies Working Group
• Safeguarding Board
• Third Level Chaplaincies Review Group
• Working Group concerning a co–ordinated response to Historic Institutional Abuse
• Working Group to Review Clergy Tenure

Reports were made on behalf of the Third Level Chaplaincies Review Group and the Working Group to Review Clergy Tenure.  A preliminary report on the findings of the Church of Ireland Census for 2024 was made, ahead of the final returns being received.

Appointments

The Archbishop of Dublin, Bishop of Tuam, Limerick and Killaloe, Dean of Limerick, Ms Gina Copty, and Dr Bridget Nichols were appointed as the Church of Ireland delegates to attend the Anglican Four Nations meeting to be hosted by the Church of England in May 2025.  The meeting takes place every two years and includes representatives from the Church of England, Church of Ireland, Scottish Episcopal Church and Church in Wales, who discuss issues of mutual interest.

Mr Garrett Casey BL was appointed as a co–opted member of the Church and Society Commission.

The meeting closed with the Grace.

Representative Body

At the meeting of the Representative Body, Ms Hilary Prentice reported on the work of the Executive Committee’s Strategy Review Group which is considering the RB’s short– to medium–term planning priorities, its governance model, and improved engagement and communication with members.

Ms Prentice acknowledged the work involved in preparing the annual Book of Reports for General Synod, and especially the Finance Department and Audit Committee for preparing financial statements which were reported to and approved at the meeting.

The Representative Body approved that the former Church of Ireland College of Education campus at 96 Upper Rathmines Road, Dublin, be selected as the site for the development of a new Church of Ireland campus, with facilities for the Representative Church Body, Church of Ireland Theological Institute, and RCB Library.

The following levies were set for 2026, with the level of diocesan contribution set at percentage rates of Minimum Approved Stipend (in force at 1st January 2026) multiplied by the sum of the number of cures in each diocese as of 30th June 2025:

• Financing of the episcopacy – 5.8% (up from 5.6%)
• Safeguarding – 0.9% (unchanged)
• Clergy and Ministry Protection Fund – 2.0% (up from 0.5%)

Reports

The Representative Body approved and adopted its report to General Synod 2025, including the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2024, and the resolution in relation to allocations.

Mr Ritchie, the Chief Officer, presented the Report for the Representative Church Body for 2024, following which the Heads of Departments – Ms Pauline High (Property and Trusts), Mr Mark McWha (Legal), Mrs Janet Maxwell (Synod Services and Communications) and Mrs Julie Bond (Finance) – presented insights from their departments.

A report on the audit of the Financial Statements was presented by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Reports to General Synod for the following committees and working groups, reporting jointly to the Representative Body and the Standing Committee, were approved:

• Charities Registration Working Group
• Future of Curacies Working Group
• Safeguarding Board
• Third Level Chaplaincies Review Group
• Working Group concerning a co–ordinated response to Historic Institutional Abuse

The Representative Body submitted three draft bills to be presented at General Synod 2025 in relation to support for members of the Clergy Pensions Fund who plan to retire after reaching the Normal Retirement Age; the introduction of a requirement that glebe agreements are signed immediately prior to the institution of licensing of an incumbent; and a proposed increase in the number of co–opted members of the Representative Body.

The meeting closed with the Grace.

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