Church of Ireland offers a forum for fresh ideas on modernisation

A special diocesan forum is being planned for the Church of Ireland combined dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough. It will take place at All Hallows College in Dublin on November 24th and will be attended by up to 200 representatives, including all clergy.

The forum will focus entirely on new issues following calls for such an event at the Dublin and Glendalough diocesan synods of 1999 and 2000. It was felt that important ideas were not being dealt with adequately at the synods due to pressure of business. The forum will be in addition to the annual diocesan synod in October. Synods have been a feature of the Church of Ireland system of governance for the past 130 years. Recently Cardinal Desmond Connell announced that he intended to hold a a synod for the Archdiocese of Dublin, a rare event for the Irish Catholic Church. In preparation for the forum, parishes were asked to focus on a range of issues, including the abolition of archaic language, greater emphasis on ecumenical outreach to those outside the Church of Ireland and teaching on conflict resolution within parishes.

They looked at establishing church centres in shopping centres, and at whether there should be more statements on ethical issues from the House of Bishops and more proactive lay leadership.

Also under discussion were more relevant forms of worship, the provision of more opportunities for Bible study, improved cross-Border relationships and the cultivation of stronger rural-urban parochial links.

Since January a planning group of clergy and lay people in the Church of Ireland has been preparing for the forum.

Last month Mr Geoffrey Perrin, who recently retired as head of human resources for business consultants KPMG, accepted an invitation from the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Walton Empey, to be the forum co-ordinator. He will work in collaboration with Mr David Meredith, formerly secretary of the church's Board of Education.

Parishes have already considered relevant issues for the forum at their Easter vestries (parish a.g.m.s) and elected four representatives each to attend rural deanery meetings this month. The first such meeting is this evening in Taney Parish Centre, Dundrum.