Last week, on Saturday, 5th October 2024, the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross held their Diocesan Synod at Bandon Grammar School. 

The day started with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the sports hall. Members of the choir of St Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork sang at the service, conducted by their Director of Music, Peter Stobart, and the hymns were accompanied by Assistant Director of Music, Matthew Breen.

After the Eucharist, everyone enjoyed refreshments in the school dining hall, before the Bishop, the Right Rev. Dr Paul Colton took the President’s Chair at 11am and officially started the Diocesan Synod. 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 nominated Assessor by the Bishop, a post which Mr MacCann has held now over twenty years. 

The Principal of Bandon Grammar School, Niamh McShane, welcomed everyone for the day. The Bishop welcomed all the stall holders who travelled to Bandon, guests and new staff, which was followed by a review video of events and appointments from the past fifteen months. There was a minute’s silence for all those who had died since the last Diocesan Synod.

Peter Stobart was elected as lay representative to the Board of Education, John Buttimer was elected as lay representative to the Representative Church Body (RCB), and Melvin Beamish was elected as Diocesan Honorary Treasurer, a post to which he had been appointed at by the Diocesan Council.

The Bishop congratulated Keith Roberts on his retirement as chair of the RCB property committee, and Helen Arnopp on her appointment to the same.

Bishop Colton’s Presidential Address can be read here, after which everyone was encouraged to reflect upon the Presidential Address. Ruth Cooke from Christian Aid presented the Liloma Project, which helps dispossessed farmers living in poverty in Sierra Leone. The appeal aims to raise €30,000 over two years, and after the presentation the Bishop declared the project as officially launched.

After lunch, Dr Simon Woodworth shared impressions from the General Synod of the Church of Ireland 2024 in Armagh.

The report of Diocesan Council was proposed for consideration by the Rev. Meghan Farr, seconded by John Buttimer. In the discussion of Report of Diocesan Council, the Very Rev. Cliff Jeffers highlighted the work of Pioneer Ministry. Stephen Spillane offered appreciation for the support of the Working Group on Diversity and Inclusion and the Rev. Canon Elaine Murray stressed the pastoral need for blessings for LGBTQI+ couples. Dean Jeffers offered resources of the Safeguarding Support Group, and Dorothy Verplancke thanked the Diocesan Magazine committee and contributors for their work over the past year. Eunice Jeffers called for encouragement of potential church organists, especially in West Cork and Richard Godsil advocated for a parish exemption to Vacant Homes Tax.

During the discussions, Peter de Montfort advocated for supplemental replacement of absent members of Synod, and the assessor, Lyndon McCann spoke to this, pointing our that per constitution, only a permanent vacancy due to death or resignation allows for supplemental replacement. Change would require an amendment to the constitution at General Synod.

The Report of the Diocesan Council was unanimously adopted by Diocesan Synod, and Bishop Colton thanked every member of the Council for their work and commitment.

The reports of the Diocesan Board of Education and the Diocesan Education Committee were proposed to be considered, with thanks to all teachers, ancillary staff and Boards of Management. The Rev. Abigail Sines offered thanks from the Children and Family Ministry Group to all involved in parish-level work. Both reports were unanimously adopted by Diocesan Synod.

The Report of the Diocesan Youth Council and the Constitution of the Diocesan Council for Mission were also adopted unanimously.

The Rev. Adam Pullen was appointed as chair of Diocesan Council for Mission by Bishop Colton. Dr Simon Woodworth and Sarah-Louise Hockey were unanimously elected as lay members, and the Rev. Clodagh Yambasu and the Rev. Andrew Coleman were unanimously elected as clerical members.

During the latter half of the afternoon, Hilary Dring presented the work of the Mothers’ Union throughout the last year.

At the end of the Diocesan Synod, Bishop Colton offered his thanks to Melvin Beamish and everyone at Bandon Grammar School, as well as to the diocesan staff, Honorary Secretaries and Treasurers, the assessor, and all office-holders among the clergy. Special thanks were also given to Uwe Schiller for his work on the audio visuals, and the Rev. Canon Denis MacCarthy and Peter Stobart for their work during the morning worship.

Diocesan Synod closed with a hymn and blessing at 4.10pm.