BISHOPS PETER'S DIOCESAN SYNOD ADDRESS 2005

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Episcopal and Synodical

The annual meeting of any diocesan synod of the Church of Ireland , not least a conjoint meeting embodies in a practical and visible way our Anglican understanding of Church governance, which is both episcopal and synodical. We are an episcopally led Church possessing a synodical constitution. This is expressed in the composition of today: Bishop, priests/deacons and laity taking council and taking stock together for the good of the whole diocese. To the ‘outsider', this has all the appearance of a truly democratic process. For example, the lay parish representatives have been elected from the parochial groups and unions for a three-year term and always outnumber the clergy by two to one. However, it is far more than democratic.

Rather, it reveals our understanding of the nature of Church life. That together, clergy and laity have equal, if distinct responsibilities, for the mission and witness of the Church in the diocese with its bishop. Further and most important, but often forgotten: such responsibility is diocesan as well as parochial. Indeed, the primary unit for such mission and ministry is fundamentally the diocese, with the Bishop being the chief minister of Word and Sacrament, as well as chief pastor, ministering alongside and amongst the people committed to his care.

Our presence here together this afternoon spells this out very clearly indeed. In so doing, we are making a theological rather than a political statement about our self-understanding. In this spirit of partnership in the life of the Holy Spirit, I wish to thank you, the clergy and people, for all that you do to further the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom throughout the United Dioceses.

PARISHIONERS, SELECT VESTRIES AND PARISH AND DIOCESAN READERS

Parishioners who faithfully attend and support the liturgies of the Church year in your parishes; or who are involved in the daily concerns of the parish at Select Vestry level, or those of the diocese: on Council or any related committees, links and organisations.

The parish and diocesan Readers, organists and choir members, who lead and inspire our prayer and praise.

YOUTH

All involved with sharing and witnessing to the Faith with our children, confirmation candidates, youth and uniformed organisation members throughout our parishes, not forgetting our diocesan or local community schools, especially their over stretched principals, teachers, classroom assistants and members of boards of management.

CLERGY

To my clergy, stipendiary, non-stipendiary, retired and to your families, I express the appreciation of us all for your faithfulness and spirit of extra-mile service. I acknowledge the support of my two archdeacons with sincere gratitude and also pay tribute to our six deans who minister with heavy heritage concerns in no land of plenty, yet who still manage to sing the ‘Lord's song'. I pay particular tribute to the advice and interest of my Chancellor, today's assessor, Mr Charles Galloway from Waterford and my Registrar, Dean Gordon Wynne, for their invaluable assistance with all necessary legalities as occasion demands.

We welcome most warmly in the name of the Lord, new priests to the See: the Rev'd Chris and Mrs Long and family to the Enniscorthy Group of parishes; the Rev'd Kenyon and Mrs Homfray and family to the Bunclody Group; the Rev'd Stella and Dr Mikhail and family to Clonenagh Union. We look forward to the autumnal arrivals, first from our link diocese of Lund, of the Rev'd Gunilla and Mr Aquilon-Elmqvist and family to the curacy of the Wexford Group; and from Uganda, of the Rev'd Isobel and Mr Jackson and family to the curacy of the Lismore Group. We look forward to the ordination of Elaine Murray as deacon later this month to serve as Bishop's Vicar in the Kilkenny Group of parishes and to welcoming her husband and family amongst us. We continue to remember in prayer our three candidates for the non-stipendiary ministry who shall be ordained deacon next year Margaret Sykes; Richard Greene and Robert Stotesbury, alongside William Stacey to be ordained in the stipendiary ministry, also in 2006.

GRATITUDE

We renew our expressions of sincerest gratitude and best wishes to two faithful servants of the See: Mrs Joan Deacon , on her retirement as secretary of her beloved Ferns diocese and to the Rt Rev'd Noel Willoughby on the silver jubilee of his Episcopal ordination.

REMEMBRANCE

In a similar but sad breath, we remember before God with deep thanksgiving, Canon Charles Lloyd, a predecessor of Joan's as secretary of Ferns diocese; The Very Rev'd Brian Harvey , formerly Dean of Ossory and Mrs Lesley McAdoo, wife of the late Bishop Henry McAdoo, who have died since last we met. We thank God for their service and witness and express to the members of their families, our renewed sympathy with gratitude to God for the love they shared amongst us.

BEST WISHES

We express our very best wishes to Canon Gary Dowd , Pamela and the children, who are preparing to move to Glenageary, where Gary will be instituted as incumbent later this month. Thank you Gary for many years of faithful and prophetic service. We acknowledge also the contribution of Canon Jack Black to the life of the diocese and we wish him and Ollie every blessing as the Canon concludes his 9 fine years as Principal of the largest boarding school on the island, Kilkenny College . We look forward to welcoming his successor, Mr Philip Gray , his wife and family in the autumn. As the chairperson of its Board of Governors, I wish to pay tribute to all, in and from the See, who have supported the recent fundraising appeal, which has realized in excess of 1 million euros in pledged giving: a most fitting tribute to the principalship of Canon Jack Black.

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