On Saturday, 17th June 2023, the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross held their Diocesan Synod at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery. The day started with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist in St Fachtna’s Cathedral, Rosscarbery. A quartet from the choir of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork sang at the service.

At the Synod itself, the Bishop, the Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton took the President’s Chair at 11am and the Archdeacon of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Ven. Andrew Orr opened the proceedings with a reading and a prayer. The Diocesan Chancellor, Lyndon MacCann S.C. was unable to attend and Tim Bracken, B.L. was nominated as Assessor by the Bishop for this year’s Diocesan Synod. The Bishop welcomed special guests and a review video of images from the past months was played. Appointments, retirements, resignations and jubilees were noted and there was a minute’s silence was kept for all those who had died during the last year.

Bishop Colton’s Presidential Address can be read here. After words of thanks were spoken and everyone was encouraged to reflect upon the Presidential Address, the Archdeacon shared impressions from the General Synod of the Church of Ireland 2023 in Wexford. After this, the Rev. John Ardis proposed the Report of the Diocesan Council, which was seconded by Richard Wood. The Report was adopted unanimously. The Very Rev. Nigel Dunne proposed the reports of the Diocesan Board of Education and of the Diocesan Education Committee, and both were seconded by Peter Stobart. The reports were also adopted unanimously. The report of the Diocesan Youth Council was proposed by Oriel Hosford, seconded by Judy Peters and adopted unanimously. 

The Rev. Rob Jones, Director of Pioneer Ministry for the Church of Ireland, gave a presentation on Pioneer Ministry and Patsy Devoy presented a video by the Church of Ireland Marriage Council. Andrew Coleman from Christian Aid Ireland spoke on the Burundi Project, which during its course raised €85,000 in Cork, Cloyne and Ross.

The Diocesan Synod ended with a hymn and a blessing from the Bishop.