Synod report scarcely mentions Drumcree

Drumcree, the issue which has bedevilled the Church of Ireland for almost six years, merits just 3-1/2 lines in the 326page book of reports to the church's 2001 General Synod, which opens in Dublin today.

Item 18 in the Standing Committee report reads "The Standing Committee in September 2000 was informed of events and statements made relating to Drumcree over the summer period. Tributes were paid to the Archbishop of Armagh for his leadership and the way in which the situation was handled during such a difficult time."

The 301-page report to last year's General Synod in Belfast contained just three paragraphs on Drumcree. They noted that the 1999 General Synod's requests to the Orange Order about attendance at the service were ignored, and that a subsequent request to the rector and select vestry at Drumcree to withdraw their invitation to the Orange Order to attend the service was also ignored.

It was regretted no direct response was made "to the expressed wishes of the General Synod, a body representative of the whole Church of Ireland" on those matters.

There was just one speaker on Drumcree at last year's General Synod. He told a joke about a Martian who landed on the Garvaghy Road and, when he identified himself, was told by the residents "you're not a Martian here."

At a pre-synod press conference in Dublin last week the Church of Ireland Primate, Dr Robin Eames, said every legal device available to the church, under its own laws, had been exhausted where Drumcree was concerned.

He disputed criticisms about moral leadership by pointing out how, again and again, the moral consequences of their actions had been made clear to the rector and select vestry at Drumcree.

In general it is expected this year's synod, which takes place today, tomorrow, and Thursday at the O'Reilly Hall in UCD, will be very much a "housekeeping" event.

Debate is expected on proposals to alter synod structures, allowing for a reduction of 40 per cent in the usual attendance of about 600.

Also likely to exercise delegates are proposed changes in church liturgy, particularly in the Communion Service. There are 43 amendments proposed to one Bill in this area alone.

The transfer of the Bishop's Palace in Kilkenny to the Heritage Council is expected to generate further debate, with a motion and petition from people in the Ossory/Ferns diocese strongly opposed to the transfer.