Report on Synod meetings passed

There were difficulties presented by Synod week-day meetings, a speaker told the General Synod yesterday.

Proposing a report from the standing committee's working group on synodical structures, Lady Brenda Sheil said the system was under severe pressure. There were two principles which needed to be tested.

"Firstly, the need for change and, secondly, the fundamental importance of a reduction in the size of the General Synod."

Seconding the report, Mr Denzil Auchmuty said they were suggesting a reduction to 300.

Bishop Paul Colton, of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, suggested change was a matter of justice. There were few women and young people present and others could not attend midweek. Representatives should vote for the report only if they wanted change "and this particular sort of change".

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Dr James Mehaffey, was concerned that the dynamism of the Synod should not be lost and felt it very important it be representative of the whole of Ireland.

Canon William Kennedy, of Armagh, said the report did not address the disparity in representation between North and South. Canon William Neely, also of Armagh, wondered what was wrong with the Synod. "If it ain't broke don't mend it." A Synod of 300 would be in great danger of not being representative.

The report was adopted by majority vote.

A spokeswoman for the Church of Ireland Primate, Dr Robin Eames, insisted yesterday that the three pledges he requested of Portadown Orangemen before they would be welcome at Drumcree church had originated with him. An article in these pages yesterday said it was understood the pledges were prepared at a special meeting of the church's standing committee and members of its Representative Church Body in Killiney, Co. Dublin on October 6th.