The Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, has initiated a strategic review of ministry and priorities in the Diocese, which he has called Charting A Future with Confidence.  This plan has been adopted by the Diocesan Council, and in recent weeks parishes and clergy have been electing their participants in the process.

Bishop Colton says that this consultation and review are timely and that they tie in naturally with a number of things happening more widely in the Church of Ireland about patterns of ministry, discussions concerning episcopal ministry, as well as debate within the Representative Church Body and the House of Bishops.  In addition, the Archbishop of Armagh has tabled his vision towards the year 2034 for the Church of Ireland.  Bishop Colton said:

As well as these wider impulses, the continuing and rapid changes in Irish society – ideological, demographic and economic – are prompting all institutions, not just churches, to take stock and to identify what is of foremost importance for them.  This is what I hope we can do in this part of the Church of Ireland.

The elected Council of Charting A Future with Confidence will meet for the first time at Bandon Grammar School on Tuesday, 23rd September at 7.30 p.m.

A residential conference which will be held on 21st and 22nd November in Charleville, Co. Cork will be opened and addressed by the Most Reverend Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh.