19.10.2012
Day One of Dublin and Glendalough Diocesan Synods Sees Much Work Done
The Dublin and Glendalough Diocesan Synods took place in Taney Parish Centre on October 16 and 17. A wide range of topics was covered over the two evenings of synod with many contributions from the floor.
The first evening got underway with a welcome from the new rector of Taney, Canon Robert Warren. The Archdeacon of Dublin, the Ven David Pierpoint read from scripture and led members in prayer. The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, welcomed members to the second session of the 48th Synods and thanked Canon Mark Gardner for preparing the Cycle of Prayer booklet. He gave his presidential address (which can be read in full here).
A motion urging the Diocesan Synods of Dublin and Glendalough to call for a positive response to the forthcoming Children’s Rights Referendum and to encourage the electorate to vote on November 10 was proposed by Olive Good (Councils). She said that thousands of children each day were denied the right to a stable family life in Ireland because the Constitution does not allow for children in long term foster care who were unable to return to their birth families to be adopted. She added that the Constitution does not allow the State to intervene to support families until the situation reaches crisis point and they can prove parents have morally or physically failed their children.
“We have a unique and historic opportunity in three and half weeks time to change this situation by voting in the Children’s Rights Referendum,” Mrs Good stated. “I feel that we need to encourage people to inform themselves and go and vote on the 10th November… I would urge the Diocesan Synod to call for a positive response to this Referendum.”
The motion was seconded by Canon John McCullagh (Rathdrum) who said that it was quite likely that the referendum would go through, but if it went through on a very small turnout, what would that say about the nation, he asked.
The motion was passed by Synods.
Chief officer of the Representative Church Body addressed Synods on the new way in which accounts were being presented both by the RB and the Dioceses. He said the new system resulted in a statement of financial activity which made the accounts easier to read and encouraged parishes to follow suit.
Report of Diocesan Councils
The report of Diocesan Councils was proposed by Revd Cliff Jeffers (Athy) who highlighted the activities of Councils over the year. He said 3Rock had helped to raise the profile of youth work in the dioceses in the last nine years. He said the focus of the organisation had changed to pre–confirmation preparation and post–confirmation follow–up. On the issue of third level chaplains he pointed out that only TCD had a full–time Church of Ireland chaplain at the moment.
Under Ministry to the International Community he thanked the Discovery committee, in particular Canon Horace McKinley, for their work. He noted that the committee was struggling to carry out its mission as members worked on an entirely voluntary basis. A review of their strategy is now underway, he said.
Mr Jeffers said a review had been undertaken of Diocesan Camps and explained that it had been decided to establish senior and junior camps and plans had been made for the holding of each for next summer.
He said that a review of the Diocesan Council for Social Action had been undertaken and the committee had been divided into two groups – one to continue to keep parishes informed of potential areas for social action and the other to focus on the inner city.
The report was seconded by Geoffrey Perrin (Hon Sec Dublin) who focussed on three areas linked by different expressions of worship and witness. He highlighted the very successful Diocesan Growth Forum which took place in the High School on October 6. Following on from the forum he said there was desire to share the experience more widely and to that end the Diocesan Growth Forum website had been set up – www.growthforum.net which provides access to the videos taken at the forum and the speakers’ addresses and slides. He said the Diocesan Growth Group of Revd Ted Woods, Andrew McNeile and himself were available to help parishes find fresh expressions of church.
Mr Perrin also highlighted the Good Friday Procession which saw Archbishop Michael Jackson and his Roman Catholic counterpart, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, carry a cross from Christ Church Cathedral to the Pro–Cathedral. He said he believed the peaceful happy procession had a significant impact and hoped that it would be the start of a much larger ecumenical expression in the capital city.
He spoke about the work of the Solas Project which is the focus of one arm of the Social Action Committee and said there was a plea for more people, particularly men, to get involved and volunteer for the various programmes run by the project. He also brought the Taney Employment Centre to the attention of Synod members.
He concluded by raising the matter of outstanding assessments from parishes and said that, while he realised that in the current climate parishes were finding it harder to meet assessments, interest charges may have to be applied in the future.
Speaking to the Ministry to Young People section of the report, Michael Webb (St Paul’s Glenageary) welcomed the work of 3Rock and the new focus on pre and post–confirmation. Suzie Keane (3Rock) said the dioceses had a tremendous opportunity to focus on the expression of faith of confirmation candidates. Archdeacon Ricky Rountree (Powerscourt with Kilbride) elaborated on the role of Diocesan Camps and said they would present a more holistic way for young people to explore their faith.
Revd Obinna Ulogwara (St George and St Thomas) said that the problems of the immigrant community in Ireland had not gone away and that deportation, name calling and racial abuse were still there. He urged the Dioceses to be inclusive of the immigrant community.
Speaking about the Care of the Elderly, David Williams (Kill o’ the Grange) praised the staff of Cowper Care in Kilternan for their excellent work. Revd John Tanner (Tullow) felt that the Government’s Fair Deal programme did not show care or respect for the dignity of older people.
On the issue of Lay Ministry Mr Tanner outlined the new system for Diocesan Lay Ministry training and said that a review of parish ministry training was currently underway.
Geoffrey McMaster of Celbridge and Straffan with Newcastle–Lyons gave details of the work of Bishops’ Appeal.
There was a discussion on clergy stipends and parish assessments and Mr Jeffers said that Diocesan Councils would take on board what had been said.
The report of Diocesan Councils was accepted by Synods.
Synods also approved changes to the boundaries of Rural Deaneries in the dioceses. Archdeacon David Pierpoint said that the changes were necessary to assist with diocesan administration.
Education
Archbishop Jackson addressed Synods on changes taking place in the Church of Ireland College of Education. He pointed out that although located in Dublin, the College was not in any way the responsibility or the remit of the Dublin and Glendalough Diocesan Synods. Board Members were strictly bound by the requirement of confidentiality and this obtained at all times.
Delivering the report of the Diocesan Board of Education, Rachel Fraser (management committee) spoke of a very difficult year with small schools under threat and special needs assistance being squeezed. She said they were aware that cuts had to be made and that there was no money to cushion small schools. She also spoke of the Our School Community Survey which found that patronage and ethos of a school were very important to Protestant parents. However, she said: “We must not erode the goodwill by constant grumbling and unwillingness to adapt. We must be the drivers of change rather than wait for change to be visited upon us”.
Seconding the report, Canon Peter Campion (Kings Hospital) congratulated East Glendalough School on celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and commended all who had worked on the bid for the new secondary school in Greystones. He thanked Greg Fromholz and Susie Keane of 3Rock for all the work they had done with the youth of the dioceses. He stated that fee–paying schools were not elitist and actually ended up costing the tax payer less per student than State schools. He suggested that entirely private education would result in considerably increased fees which many parents could not afford and private schools would become smaller and economically elitist.
Speaking to the report Susan Hall (Malahide) said that what separated a democracy from a totalitarian state was that citizens had a choice. She said she would be against fee paying schools if the alternative State schools were sub–standard. But she said in Ireland the standard of State schools was excellent thus providing parents with a choice.
Revd Norman Gamble (Malahide) expressed concern on the definition of a small school with reference to the Value for Money Report on small schools which is still ongoing. He said 59 pupils seemed to be the magic number for grants and a reduction on this would put small schools in an extremely difficult financial situation possibly resulting in closure. He added that education was the sector in greatest crisis in society at the moment.
Glascott Symes (Kings Hospital) pointed out that some children had to rely on grants to attend a fee paying school of their ethos. He said that higher schools fees and lower grants would result in fewer pupils and negotiation was needed to ensure that children of less well off families could attend private schools. He warned that unless urgent action was taken most schools would be changed irrevocably.
Dr Ken Fennelly (Board of Education) said that Temple Carrig School in Greystones would open in September 2014 and building was due to start in the new year. He said more information would be available on templecarrig.ie in due course.
Brian Good (Tallaght) commended the report to Synods. Revd Stephen Farrell (Zion) said parishes were facing up to new ideas and realities and that the challenge was to look at how the Church of Ireland ethos and what the church had to offer could be brought to bear in central schools rather than simply saying no.
Ken Stanley (Castledermot) said that at a time when the Roman Catholic church was trying tentatively to disengage in part from a monopoly on education in Ireland, it was time to stop obsessing with ethos.
The report of the Diocesan Board of Education was accepted by Synods.