THE urgency in recruiting more priests dominated discussion of the report from the Commission on Ministry, on Saturday morning. The Bishop of Down & Dromore, the Rt Revd David McClay, who chairs the Commission, said that it had given much time to occupied with how vocations might be further encouraged, and was always producing resources to “stimulate people to think and pray as as to whether God may be asking them to contemplate ordained ministry”.
Work initiated, on pioneer ministry and clergy tenure, amongst other things, had now developed enough for them to form their very own committees. The Commission was also urging all dioceses to supply fuller support for clergy well-being, Bishop McClay said. In some parts of Ireland, priests had access to free counselling through the Church. The Commission was exploring the best way to share examples of church growth across the broader Church, he said.
The Archdeacon of Armagh, the Ven. Dr Peter Thompson (Armagh), said that the Church was heading towards a dramatic fall within the variety of stipendiary clergy in about six or seven years; and so nurturing further vocations was vital to the longer term of the Church. He also questioned whether the Church of Ireland Theological Institute’s approach, in making all candidates complete a Master’s degree in theology, was right, and suggested that more flexibility in putting ordinands on higher or lower level courses, depending on their qualifications, was preferable. He urged the Synod to reconsider ordination training to see if it might be streamlined and improved.
The Bishop of Cashel, Ferns & Ossory, the Rt Revd Adrian Wilkinson, reflected on how research showed that those in caring professions tended to be happier of their jobs. He said that clergy in his diocese, while tackling big challenges, were encouraged and content, and praised the Theological Institute for the way it had prepared and trained people for ministry. All ministry was a response to the decision of God, who had chosen us to “go and bear fruit that may last, and all clergy have the wonderful privilege of doing this”. He urged those listening to contemplate in the event that they were being called to answer God’s selecting of them, and to affix “what ought to be a really glad, rewarding and fulfilling occupation”.
The Archdeacon of Belfast, the Ven. Barry Forde (Connor), a member of the Commission, said that it was a “crying shame” that the committee given the duty of taking a look at clergy tenure had no work to report back to the Synod this yr. Members should “demand” that the Commission didn’t return empty-handed next yr, but bring back serious proposals for what was an “urgent” matter, he said. Referring to an earlier debate in regards to the everlasting medical insurance policy for clergy on sick leave for greater than a yr, Archdeacon Forde said that it was potentially unfair. How long should clergy off work be expected to be paid from the financial offerings given by congregations? Indefinite sick pay would depart an “intolerable” burden on dioceses, and never be within the financial best interests of the Church. “How long does this go on before it becomes unfair, unreasonable, and intolerable?” he asked. “It is a serious issue that we’d like to wrestle and grapple with.”
The Revd Jack Kinkead (Dublin & Glendalough) agreed that it was vital to contemplate the long-term way forward for the Church’s ministry. Retirements of clergy would soon vastly outnumber ordinations; so he urged members to contemplate their very own vocations.
Canon Malcolm Kingston (Armagh) said that the clergy-tenure committee had good reasons for failing to bring a report back to the Synod, including overstretched staff and unavailable members. He reassured Archdeacon Forde that the work had not been forgotten.
The Synod received the report of the Commission and approved its latest membership.
