Saturday 4 July 2009Youth opportunities in Belfast, Dublin & CorkSummer Madness, Ireland’s largest youth festival, began yesterday at the King’s Hall, Belfast, and will continue until next Tuesday, over which period some 5000 young people are expected to attend.Now in its 22nd year, Summer Madness has gone from strength to strength. It is widely regarded as one of Europe’s key Christian youth festivals and has become one of the stand-out events for Christian artists and speakers throughout the world. This year’s festival looks set to enhance that reputation with one of its best ever line-ups of speakers and artists, including Foy Vance, Rachael Gardner, Brian Mclaren, Paul Baloche, 6 Star Hotel, 4 Kornerz, Andy Hickford and 29th Chapter. Alongside the main Summer Madness event there will be a new over 18s mini-festival, ‘Rehab’ exclusively designed for the style, comfort requirements and musical tastes of the more discerning festival-goer. It will also feature a number of exclusive speakers and guest performances.Whether it’s zorbing, acoustic afternoons, arts, workshops, climbing walls, on-site lazerquest, late night worship, or simply chilling out by one of the themed cafes, Summer Madness has something for everyone.More details are available at www.summermadness.co.uk   or from the Summer Madness office +44 (0) 2890 67 3379.Following on from Summer Madness, from Tuesday until Friday, is the Dublin & Glendalough Youth Initiative programme, ‘Urban Soul’ which provides opportunities for teenagers to engage with local communities in projects such as area clean-ups, creative arts, and community events. In the evenings there will be sessions with international speakes, singers and musicians. Further information may be had at www.urbansoul.eu In Cork, the newly launched OM (Operation Mobilisation) ship Logus Hope berthed at Horgan's Quay yesterday and will be there until 12 July. It carries 350 volunteers from over 40 nations and has the largest floating book fair in the world. There will be many interesting activities on board appealing to all ages.  Further information may be had at www.logoshope.org/ireland This evening (Saturday) in St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church, Galway, the acclaimed all male vocal group, Chanticleer, from San Franciso,  will give a recital..Tomorrow (Sunday) the chaplain of Trinity College, Dublin, , the Revd Darren McCallig, will preach in St John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong, where the TCD Chapel Choir will sing the services while in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, the services will be sung by the choir of Caius College, Cambridge, who will be recording a CD during their visit to the cathedral. The beautifully re-furbished St Ann’s Church, Dawson Street, Dublin, has re-opened for worship and there will be services tomorrow (Sunday) at 10.45 am and 6.30pm. In St John the Baptist’s Cathedral, Cashel,  the newly formed Cashel Gospel Choir will sing at the Holy Communion while in the afternoon in Clonmacnoise there will be a Summer Service in Templeconnor Church at 4pm.In Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, tomorrow (Sunday) at 3.30pm the Archbishop of Dublin will preside at a service of celebration to mark the fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Dublin & Glendalough ‘Discovery’ ministry to the international community to which  the Revd Obinna Ulogwara was appointed chaplain in 2007. The preacher at the service will be the recently retired Rector of Galway, Canon Patrick Towers, who has experience of ministering to the international community in the west of Ireland. Tomorrow’s liturgy will reflect, in words and music, something of the rich diversity which the new arrivals have brought to the Church of Ireland. 

Canon Paul Willoughby, who was the preacher at the Ordination in St. Fin Barre's Cathedral of Anne Skuse, Adrian Moran and Patrick Burke, spoke in his sermon about vocation. He marvelled at how St. Peter "immediately" left his nets and followed Jesus. Canon Willoughby suggested that behind that word "immediately" was another, hidden, story of family life and that Peter's response to his own calling was enabled by the support, love and acceptance of it by his family. Canon Willoughby thanked the families of the three candidates for their support and acknowledged that the journey to Ordination is frequently marked by struggle, hardship and tears. Canon Willoughby thanked Ruth Burke, Mary Rose Moran, Bill Skuse and their children for their love and support and said that the Church owed them a great debt of gratitude and that we would not be celebrating the Ordination of Patrick, Adrian and Anne without their wonderful participation. Adrian Moran, Patrick Burke and Anne Skuse with Bishop ColtonHe went on to speak about the great mystery of vocation in that the God who created the universe calls us to be his servants. The Bishop's prayer for the Candidates contains the following phrase "None of us can bear the weight of this ministry in our own strength, but only by the grace and power of God". Canon Willoughby spoke at length about the temptation of trying to 'minister' using our own strength and how the only way forward was through God's grace, as Peter discovered in his own journey. The Deacons will serve in St. Anne’s, Shandon (Adrian Moran), Douglas Union with Frankfield (Patrick Burke) and Kilmocomogue Union (Anne Skuse).Further information may be obtained from:Ms Sam WynnDiocesan Communications OfficerCork, Cloyne & RossTel: +353 (0)58 59869E-mail: dco

The Standing Committee of the General Synod met in Dublin on 16 June 2009. The meeting opened with a scripture reading and prayers. The Archbishop of Armagh noted that the meeting was the first of the new triennium and welcomed new members from each diocese. The Archbishop also informed Standing Committee of the recent election of the Rt Revd David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane, formerly Rector of Seagoe, Archdeacon of Dromore and longstanding member of the Standing Committee, as the new Primus of the Episcopal Church of Scotland; Standing Committee agreed to convey warmest good wishes and congratulations to him.Honorary Secretaries’ ReportMr Harper drew the Committee’s attention to the comparative figures for General Synod attendance from 2006 to 2009 and to the Church of Ireland’s representation at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Conference of the Methodist Church in Ireland and the Annual Meeting of the Society of Friends. The report of the Honorary Secretaries was adopted and ratified by the Standing Committee.Election of Co-opted MembersVoting for the election of co-opted members to the Standing Committee closed on 8 June. The following people were elected: the Revd Canon P Comerford; the Ven GTW Davison; the Revd Dr MJ Elliott; the Revd AJ Forster; Mr AN McNeile; the Ven RB Rountree; and Ms CS Turner.Appointment of AuditorsPricewaterhouseCoopers were appointed as Auditors of the accounts of the Representative Church Body for the year 2009. The terms are to be agreed by the RCB Executive Committee and reported to the Standing Committee.General Synod – 2009 and 2010 The Archbishop of Armagh commented on the General Synod in Armagh, noting in particular the value of the daily act of worship organised by the Bishop of Limerick and the stimulating addresses from visitors. Standing Committee discussed the 2009 Synod arrangements and where it worked effectively or otherwise, as well as commenting on possibilities for future improvements.Practical arrangements for the 2010 General Synod in Dublin were outlined and discussed. Standing Committee resolved that the General Synod in 2010 will be held on Thursday 6th, Friday 7th and Saturday 8th of May in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin.Anglican CovenantThe Anglican Consultative Council (ACC) met in Kingston, Jamaica from the 1st to the 13th May 2009. The Revd Dr MJ Elliott and Ms CS Turner represented the Church of Ireland. Dr Elliott and Ms Turner gave accounts of the deliberations and Dr Elliott submitted a report for the consideration of Standing Committee. The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill, was also congratulated on his appointment by the Archbishop of Canterbury to chair the Anglican Covenant Working Group.Following the ACC meeting, the Archbishop of Canterbury sent a letter to the Anglican Primates asking Provinces of the Communion to further consider Section 4 of the Ridley Cambridge Draft of the Covenant for clarification purposes. In response, Standing Committee resolved that the following be appointed to a Church of Ireland Anglican Covenant Working Group to examine Section 4 of the Ridley Cambridge Draft of the Anglican Covenant and recommend a response to the Standing Committee in September 2009: the Bishop of Meath and Kildare (Chair); the Bishop of Cashel and Ossory; the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross; the Revd Dr MJ Elliott; the Revd Canon Dr IM Ellis; Canon Lady Sheil; and Ms CS Turner.Interchangeability of Ministry Working GroupThe Interchangeability of Ministry Working Group submitted an interim report for the consideration of Standing Committee. It was resolved that the Interchangeability of Ministry Working Group continue its work in consultation with its counterpart group in the Methodist Church in Ireland with the authority and encouragement of the Standing Committee.Code of Duty and Conduct for ClergyIt was noted that the General Synod 2009 passed a resolution that Standing Committee report to General Synod, in 2010, on progress towards a Code of Duty and Conduct for ministering in the Church of Ireland. It was agreed that a number of people be approached by the Archbishops and Honorary Secretaries to undertake an initial overview/scoping exercise in this area.Children’s MinistryThe Honorary Secretaries held a meeting on 26th May regarding children’s ministry in the Church of Ireland. Representatives from the Sunday School Society, the dioceses and others involved in children’s ministry attended. That meeting agreed that foundational work was necessary and that a sub-group would analyse the results of existing surveys of children’s ministry and extend this with a sample survey where there is none existing by the autumn 2009 to produce an overview of practice. Standing Committee resolved that the following be appointed to a working group to examine the practice of children’s ministry, and bring forward proposals to meet the needs of the Church to report to the Standing Committee in January 2010: Mr PJ Hamill; the Revd IM Jackson; Mrs VM Lynch; the Revd FJ McDowell; the Revd AE Taylor; Mrs J Wilkinson; and a representative of the House of Bishops.CommitteesThe following appointments were made by Standing Committee for the triennial period 2009-2012: Finance and Arrangements CommitteeThe Honorary Secretaries (ex-officio) and Mr WF Baker and the Revd TS Forster.Legal Advisory CommitteeThe Honorary Secretaries (ex-officio) and the Hon Mr Justice Declan Budd; His Honour Judge T Burgess; the Rt Hon Sir Anthony Campbell; Mr MC Davey; the Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness; Mr WD Prentice; His Honour Judge RF Rodgers; the Hon Sir Benjamin Stephens; and Mr JW Wilson QC. Thanks were expressed to His Honour Judge JG Buchanan who has retired from the committee.Budget Sub-CommitteeMr WF Baker (Chairperson); Mr SR Harper; Mr LV Johnston; the Revd FJ McDowell; Mr AN McNeile; and Mr HRJ Totten.Church in Society CommitteeThe Archbishop of Armagh and the Archbishop of Dublin (ex-officio); Mr SR Harper; Dr R Corbett; the Revd KRJ Hall; the Revd WD Humphries; the Revd Canon WA Lewis; Dr K Milne; and the Very Revd FJG Wynne.World Development – Bishops’ Appeal Advisory CommitteeThe Archbishop of Armagh; the Bishop of Cashel and Ossory; Ms R Handy; Mr W Kingston; Mrs A Rooke; Mr A Smallwoods; and the Revd JDM Pierce. Broadcasting CommitteeMs R Buchanan; Mr R Childs; the Most Revd RL Clarke; the Revd EV Cremin (Chair); the Revd TW Gordon; and the Revd Dr R Tosh.Literature CommitteeProf R Gillespie; the Revd PK McDowell; Dr K Milne (Chair); Dr R Refaussé (Honorary Secretary); the Ven RB Rountree; the Revd B Treacy; Ms C West; and the Very Rev SR White.Internet CommitteeMs M Carter; Mr A Clements; the Ven RG Hoey (Chair); Mr N Hutchinson; Mr P Neill; the Revd AJ Rufli; and Ms S Wynn.Central Communications BoardStanding Committee elected as its representatives Dr VA Jones and the Ven REB White.PACT (Protestant Adoption Society)Standing Committee elected the Revd Canon KM Poulton and the Revd GV Wharton as representatives of the Church of Ireland.Court of the General SynodThe following ten lay judges were appointed to the Court of the General Synod (ref. Chapter VIII, Section 31 of the Constitution): the Hon Mr Justice Declan Budd; His Honour Judge T Burgess; the Rt Hon Sir Anthony Campbell; the Rt Hon Sir Paul Girvan; Mr LJW MacCann SC; the Hon Mrs Justice Catherine McGuinness; Mr RAM Robins; the Hon Sir Benjamin Stephens; Mr JW Wilson QC; and Mr Patrick Good. Thanks were expressed to His Honour Judge JG Buchanan and the Rt Hon Sir Donald Murray who have both retired.Church of Ireland Pensions BoardThe following members were re-elected to the Church of Ireland Pensions Board at the General Synod 2009: Mr LV Johnston; the Ven DS McLean; Canon Lady Sheil; the Revd ECJ Woods. Standing Committee appointed Mr W Oliver to the Board.Issued by the Church of Ireland Press Office.[ENDS] 

The summer issue of Connor Connections, the magazine for the Diocese of Connor, is now available.Articles in the 20-page colour magazine include features on the Rev Clive Atkinson’s chaplaincy in Switzerland and the Rev Canon Will Murphy’s ministry to deaf people in Northern Ireland, as well as a look at the very vibrant and energetic work of the young ladies from Chrysalis Dance Ministry.There are photos from the Bishop’s Lenten Seminars which took place at three venues in the diocese, and a look at the award winning Bart Players drama group, based in St Bartholomew’s Parish, Stranmillis. Plus there are plenty more photos and snippets of news.Anyone requiring additional copies can contact the DCO, email dco@connor.anglican.org , or a pdf of the magazine, and all previous magazines, can be downloaded from the publications section of the Connor website www.connor.anglican.org .For further information please contact:Karen BushbyConnor Diocesan Communications OfficerTel: 028 4066 0798Mob: 07766 103880E-Mail: Connor DCO

There is currently an issue with Direct Dial phone numbers in Church House Dublin.  This matter is being investigated, and we hope that it will be resolved shortly.In the meantime, you can dial the main office on 01 4978 422, and ask to be put through to the extension you require.Other numbers still in operation include:01 4978 40001 4978 65901 4978 07301 4968 123We apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused.