12.10.2023
Busy Year for Diocesan Councils Highlighted at Synod
The Diocesan Councils of Dublin and Glendalough have had a busy year and their activities were outlined to members of Diocesan Synods when they met in Taney Parish Centre last week (Tuesday October 3). The report of Diocesan Councils was presented at Synod by Lyndon MacCann who, in addition to highlighting a number of developments during the past year, noted the various functions of councils in the administration of the affairs of the dioceses and its role as the charity’s trustee body.
Outside of the formal meetings of Councils, members also took part in an away day in CITI on March 4 during which they discussed the business of the dioceses and identified ways in which its governance could be enhanced. One item identified, Mr MacCann reported, was the need for a five–year plan to be drawn up for the dioceses.
A number of personnel changes were highlighted by Mr MacCann. He paid tribute to the Revd Robert Marshall for his patient, impartial and considered chairing of meetings of Diocesan Councils. David Wynne resigned from Councils in December after 18 years’ membership and Mr MacCann thanked him for his commitment, along with others, to the oversight of the Church of St George and St Thomas while the parish was under the administration of the dioceses.
He also paid tribute to David Caird, the outgoing Lay Honorary Secretary for Dublin. David was elected to the role in 2004 having been coopted onto Glebes and Finance in 1986 and becoming a member of Councils in 1990. “In his role as Honorary Secretary, David did a huge amount of work behind the scenes that even members of Councils were often unaware of. His contribution to the affairs of Councils has been immense. Our meeting in September was David’s last as a member of Councils. We greatly appreciate all that he has done for these dioceses,” he commented.
Other personnel changes included the election of the Revd Brian O’Reilly as Clerical Honorary Secretary for Glendalough in succession to the Archdeacon of Glendalough; the election of the Revd John Tanner as Clerical Honorary Secretary for Dublin in succession to the Revd Dr William Olhausen; and the resignation of the Revd Nigel Waugh. Mr MacCann also paid tribute to Mr Waugh for his work on the diocesan magazine, the Church Review.
Special mention went to Sylvia Heggie who officially retired as Diocesan Secretary in December after 17 years working for the dioceses. “Her contribution has been immense, and it is no exaggeration to say that the running of the dioceses would simply not have been able to happen without her untiring commitment to her job,” Mr MacCann said. He noted that Sylvia had graciously agreed to help out until a new diocesan secretary was appointed. Ian Walshe, formerly of the property department of the Representative Church Body, was appointed in May. He welcomed him to the role and thanked Sylvia for continuing to oversee the transition.
Mr MacCann also paid tribute to the Diocesan Communications Officer, Lynn Glanville, for her work.
At the end of 2022 there were 55 stipendiary clergy, three self–supporting ministers and 18 other licenced clergy as well as 53 licensed lay readers in the dioceses. He said councils greatly appreciated the invaluable contribution that clergy and lay readers made in leading worship and the myriad other acts of ministry they performed.
In mentioning parishes of the dioceses, he singled out the Parish of St George and St Thomas. Mr MacCann explained that due to the challenges it faced in supporting a clerical stipend, the parish was placed under the administration of Councils in 2017. Councils established a working group to look at possible future roles for the parish. He reported to Synod that on January 14 this year an extraordinary general vestry of the parish was convened and a new select vestry was elected, along with other representatives, which enabled Councils to hand back administration to the parish. He welcomed the representatives of St George and St Thomas back to Synod and assured them of the best wishes of Councils as together they seek to map out their future.
After outlining finance, regulatory and property matters, Mr MacCann talked of changes to the work of Diocesan Councils as a result of legislation passed at last year’s Diocesan Synods. He said that the central focus of the newly constituted Councils would be very much on mission. In this regard they would set up a new Mission Sub Committee which will take over the functions of the Diocesan Council for Mission and the Diocesan Committee for Social Action. The new committee will report to every meeting of Councils on its mission and activities.
The report was seconded by the Revd Cathy Hallissey who thanked Mr MacCann for his expertise and prayed for the guidance of the Holy Spirit through which Councils work. Lively debate on the report followed.
The Revd Prof Anne Lodge (Christ Church Cathedral) queried the need to include university chaplaincy in the report of Diocesan Councils as third level chaplains are not paid or managed by Councils and their work was extraneous to the work of Councils.
The Revd Rob Jones (Rathmines and Pioneer Ministry) highlighted the work of the Pioneer Ministry Team and said he would be sharing information with each diocese about how pioneer ministry projects could be funded and how training for pioneers and volunteers could be accessed. He pledged that the Pioneer Ministry Team would support parishes in reaching people outside parishes.
The Revd John Tanner (Tullow and Councils) announced that the Guild of Lay Ministry would be reestablished with a meeting taking place in CITI on October 19. He also spoke of a new initiative through the Covenant with the Methodist Church being piloted in Dublin and Glendalough in which it was hoped that five parishes in the dioceses would be willing to have a Methodist Local Preacher for three Sundays in a year. In turn, five circuits of the Methodist Church would have a Lay Reader at three of their services.
Canon Dr Maurice Elliott (CITI) expressed concern about the numbers of students training towards ordination based on the report of the Diocesan Directors of Ordinands in the Book of Reports. He said there were currently 34 Curates in CME in preparation for moving to incumbency and 34 ordinands. But over the next 10 years 170 priests in stipendiary ministry would retire meaning that the rate of those leaving stipendiary ministry was more than twice that of those entering stipendiary ministry. He called on Synods members to make a point of conversation and prayer that more people will be identified to answer the call.
The Revd Jack Kinkead (Wicklow) commended the work of Church Music Dublin, of which he is chair and highlighted the importance of music in worship. He encouraged people to come along to the Come and Sing Evensong Event in Sandford on October 21.
Canon David Gillespie (Malahide) commended the stress course that was organised for clergy as part of the MindMatters project. He thanked MindMatters for all they were doing to raise awareness of mental health issues and the work done in Dublin and Glendalough on the issue. He said that a number of his clerical colleagues were dealing with such challenges and said the he had spent two months in hospital dealing with depression and anxiety. He thanked the Archbishop and the Parish of Malahide for their support but made a plea for more to be done in the Church of Ireland to support clergy who are struggling under the demands of admin and who could be on the receiving end of behaviour which would not be tolerated in any other context.
Evonne Mushonga (St George and St Thomas’s) spoke about the closure, administration and reopening of the Church of St George and St Thomas on Cathal Brugha Street. She questioned the legitimacy of the actions of Diocesan Councils in regard to the parish when it was taken into administration in 2017 and said that the dioceses had failed to uphold its duties. She said that as a parishioner she felt abandoned and there had been little support for the parish since it had reopened with little diocesan representation at the reopening service. She also questioned the use of various funds in relation to the parish.
The Revd Prof Anne Lodge (Christ Church Cathedral) urged the diocese to think more broadly on the issue of intercultural engagement. She referred her research launched last year in which she heard stories of good practice and enrichment as well as the desire to find ways to enhance leadership and engagement of people of different backgrounds in parish life. She called on the diocese to support St George and St Thomas but also to support what was happening in parishes like Tallaght which she described as a model of inclusion.
Canon Adrienne Galligan (Rathfarnham) acknowledged the hurt and distrust that had occurred in St George and St Thomas’s. As chairperson of the working group she said that they have been working with the Vestry and the Rural Dean and pledged to continue that work. She noted that the time of the first service clashed with ordinations and in hindsight there might have been a better date. It was important that the Vestry take leadership and that conversations were happening about future viable ministry in the church.
Canon William Deverell (Tallaght) said it was up to all parishes to welcome people who were far away from home. He said his parish was blessed by people who had come to Tallaght from Africa and India and welcoming people into the parish community was an important part of integration into the wider community.
David Wynne (Sandford and St Philip’s) said he was sorry that Evonne felt as she did about the care given to St George and St Thomas’s Church. As one of those who looked after the church he said it was in poor condition when they took on the job and that he gave it all he had left in his body to try to look after it.
In reply Mr MacCann said that Dr Lodge had opened an interesting debate on third level chaplaincy. He commended the work of Rob Jones and Pioneer Ministry and looked forward to seeing what would develop in the exchange with the Methodist Church. He agreed with Canon Gillespie on the importance of MindMatters. On St George and St Thomas’s he said that councils wished them well and a lot of work had gone into trying to find a viable future for the parish. He thanked Canon Galligan and the working group for their efforts and once again thanked David Wynne. He said he was delighted to hear of the work going on in Tallaght and said all parishes should work on their multicultural relations.
Check back in the coming days for more news from Diocesan Synod 2023.