GENERAL SYNOD
GALWAY 2008
The 2008 General Synod of the Church of Ireland will take place from 13-15 May 2008 in the Radison SAS Hotel in Galway. This will be the first time that the General Synod has taken place west of the Shannon.
President of Ireland to Speak at General Synod in Galway
Presidential address to the synod by the Archbishop of Armagh
The Church of Ireland General Synod
An Introduction
What is it?
The Church of Ireland General Synod is the legislative body of the Church
of Ireland and the ultimate decision making body for the Church. It will meet
in the Radison SAS Hotel in Galway from 13-15 May 2008.
Composition
Overall 660, consisting of 432 elected lay people, 216 elected clergy and
12 Bishops (including two Archbishops, Dublin and Armagh). The elected clergy
and laity form the House of Representatives and the 12 Bishops are the House
of Bishops. (Presently there are only 11 Bishops as the See of Limerick and
Killaloe is vacant). A number of non-voting invited guests, mostly representing
other Christian churches will also be present.
How Elected?
Clergy and Lay members of General Synod are elected by their respective Diocesan
Synods (eg. The Diocesan Synod of Tuam, Killala and Achonry elects 7 clergy
and 14 lay people to represent it at the General Synod). Members therefore
come from all over Ireland. The present Synod members were elected in 2005
for three years.
Proceedings:
General Synod will open every day with Synod devotions.
On the first day of Synod, the Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Alan Harper will deliver his Presidential Address which will normally touch on a number of issues facing the Church and Society.
Debates are in parliamentary style chaired by the Archbishop of Armagh (or in his absence, the Archbishop of Dublin or one of the other Bishops). Most debates are based on the Book of Reports which details the reports of various committees and institutions of the Church. Among the reports that are most debated are the report of the Representative Church Body (which is responsible for Church Investments, Property (including Buildings) and Finances), the report of the Standing Committee (which is responsible for much of Church policy and comment on social/political issues, proposed Government legislation, the Church’s relationship with sister churches in the Anglican Communion and ecumenical relations with other churches) and the report of the Board of Education which looks at the Church’s involvement in education on both sides of the border.
The Synod will also discuss and vote on Bills (proposals to change the Church’s law or constitution) and Motions (whereby Synod makes an official declaration of opinion or intention).
The Book of reports and details of the Bills
and Motions to be discussed at Synod are publicly available in the lead up
to the Synod convening.
Voting:
Most votes are passed by a simple majority but major changes require the consent
of clergy and laity and Bishops (sometimes by weighted majorities).
Synod Service:
There will be a special Synod Eucharist service in St Nicholas Collegiate
Church on the evening of Tuesday 13 May 2008. It will be attended by most
Synod members, civic dignitaries and representatives of other churches.
Civic Reception:
There will be a civic reception for members of the Synod on the evening of
Wednesday 14 May 2008 also in St Nicholas Collegiate Church hosted by the
Mayor of Galway, Cllr Tom Costello.
Notable Recent Synods:
2006: In a surprise announcement at the General Synod in 2006, the Archbishop
of Armagh, the Most Revd Dr Robin Eames declared his intention to retire after
20 years as Primate of All Ireland, one of the longest Primacies in recent
years.
2004: The members of the General Synod were amongst the first recipients of the new Book of Common Prayer thus continuing a long liturgical tradition. Also distributed were the Irish Language version, Leabhair na hUrnaí Coitinne and a Braille version.
1999: The General Synod discussed the Drumcree Crisis and, after a contentious debate, passed a motion endorsing the efforts of the Archbishop of Armagh and others to resolve the crisis. It further called on the Rector and Select Vestry of Drumcree parish to withdraw the invitation to Orange Lodges to attend service in Drumcree unless they agreed to adhere to pledges requested by the Archbishop of Armagh. Drumcree was to be discussed at several other General Synods in the years ahead.
1990: After extensive debate, the General Synod voted to amend the Church’s constitution to allow for the ordination of women as priests (and Bishops).
Previous Venues:
The first General Synod of the Church of Ireland was in 1871 and for the nearly
a century it took place in a purpose built Synod Hall in Dublin. In the last
few years Synod has taken place in cities throughout Ireland. The 2008 Synod
in Galway will be the first time the General Synod will be held west of the
Shannon. Previous hosting cities have included…
2007: Kilkenny (Lyrath Estate Hotel)
2006: Armagh (Armagh City Hotel)
2005: Dublin (Stillorgan Park Hotel)
2004: Armagh (Armagh City Hotel)
2003: Dublin (Stillorgan Park Hotel)
2002: Dublin (Stillorgan Park Hotel)
2001: Dublin (O’Reilly Hall, UCD)