Cavan human sexuality conference plaudits; Motion on marriage ruled out - Point of order prevents motion describing Church’s understanding of marriage
Standing Committee highlights; Review of Episcopal Committee Ministry
Archbishop of Wales elected to the Crown Nominations Commission; Scotland: Churches in education link-up; C of E invokes power of prayer to help the press; Ministry and Calling Sunday; Say your online prayers for 'me’; Church pair on child sex charges
Standing Committee representation; Legal beaver bishop; Statistics and the church
A Presidential address.
It was what some Scots-Irish folk might call a “dreecht” morning in Dublin as members of the General Synod gathered at Christ Church Cathedral. Following the introductory prayers conducted by the Bishops of Clogher and Tuam - the most recent arrivistas in the House of Bishops - the Archbishop of Armagh, as is customary, gave his presidential address.
Bishops and their motions.
Three motions in the area of human sexuality and Christian belief (Ref - 8 a,b,& c) are being brought before the synod by two members of the House of Bishops. A cursory examination of the C of I e-mail forum, the correspondence in yesterday's Irish Times - see this site May 9 - and of an independent web site set up to rally opposition to the first of the motions (8a) indicate that a good number of clergy and laity regard the nature of the motion as being extremely contentious at worst and unhelpful at best.
The Roman Catholic Church - and especially the Vatican was heavily criticised by Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister at Stormont on Tuesday. It is certainly changed times in Ireland when such a criticism is aired and furthermore by a nationalist politician at Stormont. No one so far has suggested it is the outcome of sharing office with Ian Paisley. Bishop Donal McKeon had previously questioned the motives of politicians and others who had attacked Cardinal Brady. Another cloud in this sad area has gathered over Cork. Links to four reports follow.
Catholic schools could be breaking law over gay marriage; Demand for foodbanks doubles in one year; Christian Aid challenges people to live on 1 a day; Half a million sign petition defending traditional marriage; Vicar highlights plight of farmers in JCB drive; Removing the zero VAT rating for listed buildings will be devastating
Correspondence in today's Irish Times
Launch of Parish LGBT Welcome leaflet; Summer Search; Limerick recital; Bishop’s Curate, St Clement’s; Connor clergy retreat in the Lake District; irish youth and suicide; Wyse Jackson, our botanist in Missouri
Financial accountability is more than an audit exercise.
One of the principal purposes of the General Synod is to discuss the report of the Representative Body - the Church’s exchequer, which oversees investment and trusts. The report of the RB is tersely economic in its descriptions of the extremely difficult and ongoing scenario which is affecting international finances and various aspects of the RB’s remit.
The FCA is an outgrowth from Gafcon - formed by the primates of the Anglican Communion who did not attend the last Lambeth Conference principally because of the policy adopted by some member churches on same-sex relationships. Focus presents two reports and an article.
The Life and Writings of Helen Waddell; Sod turned for Cork school’s €6.5m redevelopment; JLB Deane - Lifetime dedicated to Church of Ireland; Martin wants commission set up into Smyth cases; Quinn: I’ve been caricatured as enemy of the Catholic Church; 42,000 teachers yet to be vetted by gardaí; Horrors of human trafficking revealed; Shambles of preschool places could take two years to sort out; Northern Ireland's £60m bill for calling up substitute teachers; Project to help jobless launched
Time and place - the hidden curriculum of synods.
General Synod evokes memories. Those fortunate enough to remember the old General Synod Hall may have recollections of a style of synod which was much more a debating chamber than some of the on-message, death by power-point presentations used in more recent years to guide members through the formal proposals of major reports.
Judge launches body to back marriage and prevent splits; Another traditionalist chosen for Chichester; Canterbury reps on CNC elected; Some Southwark evangelicals rebel on finance; Chaucer's Canterbury Tales 2012 – a multimedia pilgrimage; Anglican world marks 350 years of the Book of Common Prayer; Pope donates $250,000 for disaffected Anglicans and the Guardian questions why
Live from Truro Cathedral, including the first broadcast of a new composition commissioned for the Choirbook for the Queen, a collection of contemporary anthems, published to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen.
Ecumenical Concert supports World Development; Becoming a welcoming church; Community Relations Week lecture: Irish School of Ecumenics; Inaugural Eco–Congregation Conference Announced
Carmelite honour for Dean of York Minster; Mission to Seafarer's Secretary General dies at 43; ‘Arrogant’ Cameron take heed; Bishops’ letter in response to the gay marriage debate
Ecumenical Concert supports World Development; Second round of Choral Training Bursaries Scheme; Tim Hughes, Ben Cantelon and Shane Claiborne lined up for Scottish festival; Conductor in Training 2012/2014
Bishops’ Synod proposals on Human Sexuality; Standing Committee appointment; Chief Officer thanked; St John the Evangelist Patronal Festival; St Bart’s on Radio 4; Censures highlight divisions in Catholic Ireland; Second round of Choral Training Bursaries Scheme
Anglican world marks 350 years of the Book of Common Prayer; Bishop Speaks Out For The Poor And Reconciliation; 10000 youth called to prayer day; ‘Vote for marriage’ flyers to every Glasgow house; Tim Hughes, Ben Cantelon and Shane Claiborne lined up for Scottish festival
Ecumenical Concert supports World Development; Second round of Choral Training Bursaries Scheme; Tim Hughes, Ben Cantelon and Shane Claiborne lined up for Scottish festival; Conductor in Training 2012/2014
Church staff golf & Family service recalled in RB archive of the month; Education – Church of Ireland Schools in RoI; Horrors of human trafficking in Ireland revealed; There is no place for fear or prejudice over same-sex marriages; Missing out on real university challenge; Caledon Flower Festival - Through all the changing scenes of life
Diamond Jubilee New Testament a ‘bestseller’; Relief, Development and Advocacy Seminar at York; Prince Charles hails Book of Common Prayer; Tax dodging is 'moral' - Lay Reader; Should we allow faith schools at all?
Standing Committee tribute to Canon JLB Deane; Summer Madness & Church Army new appointment to drive forward mission in Ireland; BBC’s new claims over Cardinal Brady's role in sex abuse inquiry; Irish passport key to avoid student fees; President speaks of ‘heartbreaking’ unemployment and emigration on US trip; Legal capacity bill ‘should focus on human rights’; National Volunteering Week; Northern Ireland's £60m bill for calling up substitute teachers
New Testament for the unchurched generation; Bishop Andrew takes to the water; Vicar steeplechases across Wales on tractor; C of E plans six wind turbines; C of E new Head of Strategic Land Investment; 'Alienated' Muslims urged to use right to vote
Gospel calls for solidarity with the oppressed, says WCC leader; Tutu appeals to Sudan and South Sudan over violence; Global Christian leaders denounce attack on Sudan Presbyterian Church; Archbishop of Sudan appeals for peace; N.H. Episcopalians may elect 2nd gay bishop; A Catholic ‘war on women’; Russian patriarch calls priests who opposed prayer service 'traitors’; Canada: Anglican Provinces may be streamlined
Supplement to Church Hymnal; Gettys Celtic Islands tour; Lunchtime Concert at St Ann’s Dawson Street; Minister Welcomes Welsh Miner's Choir To Belfast
250th Anniversary of Cork Church of Ireland housing charity; Ulster Covenant cathedral centenary service; C of I World Development Funding Allocations; Bill proposes full legal status for humanist weddings; Archbishop Martin favours St James's as hospital site; Pregnant girl turned away from school; Protecting Protestant schools; Only a quarter of parents with children would opt to send them to a Church-run primary school; Parents reject Church-run schools but still want religion taught in class; Hundreds protest at papal nunciature against censuring of priests by Vatican; Fr Brian D'Arcy says he remains committed to the truth; Porn scandal priest to leave area
Youth obsession is harming elderly, warns Archbishop of Canterbury; Bishop joins row over right to wear the cross; Bible play arrives in Londons West End; Anglican Covenant: final two diocesan synods; There’s no such thing as a 'gay cure’; Cannabis farms: 21 found each day