Cork, Cloyne and Ross at the General Synod of the Church of Ireland – Day 1 | Latest News from the Church of Ireland Diocese of Cork, Cloyne and Ross

The General Synod of the Church of Ireland is held in the Clayton White’s Hotel, Wexford, over two days in person concluding on Saturday 13 May and then members will meet in an online evening session on Tuesday May 16.

Some Cork, Cloyne and Ross Synod members in front of St Iberius Church, Wexford at the General Synod of the Church of Ireland 2023

The beginning of the General Synod was marked with a service at St Iberius Church in the town centre. The preacher was the local Bishop of Cashel, Ferns and Ossory, the Rt Revd Adrian Wilkinson, former Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross. His full sermon can be read here.

Following the service, members walked to the Clayton White’s Hotel and the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Rev John McDowell, delivered his Presidential Address. You can find the full speech here.

The Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland, John McDowell

Two new Dignity in Church Life Policies were presented to General Synod in Wexford today (Friday May 12).

Nine Bills have been presented for consideration by the members of General Synod. Apart from bill 3, all bills have passed their first and second stages and will receive their third reading when General Synod meets online on Tuesday May 16.

Each is outlined in full in the Bills pamphlet available at www.ireland.anglican.org/synod/2023/bills

Issues facing education were highlighted at General Synod on Friday 12th May when the report of the Board of Education was presented. The Church of Ireland Marriage Council has launched a new video and leaflet to highlight its marriage preparation and counselling services.

The Liturgical Advisory Committee has had a busy year with almost a dozen resources being worked on. Seconding the report, Dean Susan Greene (Cork Cloyne and Ross) said that the committee had a wide range of topics to focus on in the future. The LAC’s new Honorary Secretary, the Dean of Cork, the Very Rev. Nigel Dunne has been welcomed following the retirement of Dean Gerald Field last year.

The activities and deliberations of the Commission on Ministry were also brought to the attention of General Synod that afternoon. The Commission on Ministry has sought the feedback of synod members on the options for changing the tenure of archdeacons. Three options were put in the form of a motion to Synod members. Finally, the Commission of Christian Unity and Dialogue presented their report on a busy year to General Synod.