Diocesan Synod business 2015: a whistle–stop tour
Down and Dromore’s Diocesan Synod was held in the beautiful St Comgall’s, Bangor Parish, on 25 June 2015 where the day began with a service of Holy Communion. The preacher was Mr Peter Lynas of Evangelical Alliance.
Bishop Harold delivered his Presidential Address on the theme of ‘Grace’ (read a summary here) before Communications from the General Synod were laid on the table and the Synod was informed about elections to the General Synod Board of Education.
Mr Michael Davey proposed the Report of the Diocesan Council and several members of Synod rose to comment on different aspects of it.
In Synod business, five motions were tabled, the first two of which concerned parochial assessments for the Diocesan General Fund. Motion 1 was proposed by Revd Kingsley Sutton (Newry) and seconded by Mr Michael Johnston (Cregagh, Belfast). Synod agreed by 110 votes to 80 to accept a recommended 1% increase in the overall assessment in 2016.
A second, related motion noted the financial strain that the assessment placed on some parishes. It was proposed by Revd Canon Jonathan Barry (Comber) and seconded by Revd Stanley Gamble (Killinchy, Kilmood & Tullynakill). It asked Synod to instruct the Diocesan Council to reduce expenditure in the diocese in due course, so that the assessment on each parish may gradually be reduced, beginning in 2016. This was defeated by 91 votes to 81.
During the afternoon session Synod heard presentations on the charter for Dignity in Church Life (Janet Maxwell), and 3 faith courses – Alpha (Mr Dave Dickinson), Christianity Explored (Revd Peter Bourke) and Pilgrim (Revd Nigel Kirkpatrick). Diocesan Development Officer, Andrew Brannigan, also gave a presentation on the work of the Diocesan Youth, Children and Families Department.
In other motions, Synod voted for positive action on climate change and on people smuggling and migration.
Proposer, Mr Stephen Trew (Magheralin), spoke passionately about the perils of human–induced climate change and reminded us that care for creation is part of our calling as Christians.
“I was absolutely delighted to have the motion passed today, he said. “It is a landmark moment for the Church of Ireland. The Diocese of Down and Dromore has taken the lead in calling on the Representative Body to respond to the moral challenge of climate change and disinvest from fossil fuels. It is the first diocese to endorse the environmental charter passed at General Synod and call on individuals and parishes to respond to threat of climate change.”
Revd Bryan Martin proposed the motion calling for government action on people smuggling and migration and urging the church to “put aside fears over the impact of immigration and to do all that we can to help, spiritually and materially, those being trafficked.” Revd Adrian Dorrian (Dundela, Belfast) seconded.
Synod also voted to protect the clergy retirement gratuity and extend it to a spouse or dependents in the event of death before retirement. The motion, proposed by Revd Stanley Gamble and seconded by Canon Jonathan Barry, was successfully amended by Revd Nigel Kirkpatrick, seconded by Revd Willie Nixon. The relevant portion in the original motion read, “All full–time clergy serving in the Diocese at the time of their retirement, shall receive, on retirement, a sum equal to 10% of the current General Synod minimum Stipend.“ This was amended to a sum no less than 10%.
The Synod also took time for a ‘Conversation on the Work of God,’ a Methodist tradition which gives opportunity for members to speak more personally and passionately about the ways in which they see the Spirit of God at work in their churches. This was an encouraging time and a number of Synod members got up to speak, particularly about the impact of faith courses.
Finally, Bishop Harold asked Honorary Bishop in the diocese, Rt Revd Ken Clarke, to sum up:
“Giving, he said, “is not about fundraising. Giving is about giving. At the heart of giving is generosity. A demonstration of grace is generosity and the motivation for generosity is gratitude.”
“Our giving shows how deep our love is for Christ,” he continued. “This is our commission – out of gratitude we give God all we’ve got because he gave his best for us.”