There are three main aspects of the current situation regarding the absolute debacle which has occurred over the appointment to the vacant see of Meath and Kildare which need examination.
The most obvious is the fitness for purpose of the present procedure and process. Lest any reader think I am a recent convert to stating that it is not fit for purpose due to its lack of openness of process, could I refer them to a series of three articles entitled, “Who’s for Derry?”, which I wrote when editor of the Church of Ireland Gazette. They preceded the meeting of the Electoral College for Derry & Raphoe which appointed a young rector from St Mark’s Dundela, by the name of Eames, in 1975.
That the Electoral Colleges have made some reasonable appointments since then may just be as much due to good luck as God’s grace.
All episcopal posts should be advertised and applications from interested individuals sought. The twin track of individuals being nominated should also be provided for. Summaries of the applicants and nominee’s gifts and past ministry could be collated against similar templates, and circulated to college members to give time for reflection and further enquiries and research if they so wish. Following a meeting of the College where a short list would be drawn up, this would be circulated publicly. Building in such a process should result in the avoidance of the behaviour including that within and without the House of Bishops, which nullified the recent Meath and Kildare Election.
The Episcopal Church of Scotland has less dioceses that this Church of Ireland. It has employed with considerable success, a much more open and accountable system than in Ireland where the runners are basically rumour-mongered before and after each episcopal vacancy. The Episcopal Church in the USA and the Church in Australia also use similar more open systems. The church and indeed society at large knows who is being considered for a diocese before the appointment is formally discussed and the decision made.
I acknowledge and deeply regret that the introduction of such a system will not solve all the problems of Electoral Colleges. Those for several dioceses have constituencies which would appear to be elected on the simple strategy of preventing a moderate or indeed a traditional Irish – Anglican candidate being appointed. The Church of Ireland needs to be honest enough with itself to acknowledge that there are dioceses where only card-carrying low church clerics will be nominated and supported in the process. At a more basic level of seemly behaviour and conduct, a more open system might reduce the amount of texting which has been an unwelcome feature of some such colleges.
Having stated the above, we will turn in a future comment to the serious questions raised by the manner in which the Meath and Kildare process was nullified and in particular, the role of specific members of the House of Bishops following the House’s ratification of the College’s recommendation.
Houston McKelvey