Monday, February 21, 2011

Constitutional questions arise over (Church of Ireland/Anglican) Tuam situation

Following the decision of the Archbishop of Armagh not to proceed now to call a meeting of the electoral college for the vacant United Dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, the Gazette is aware of definite unease among well placed and senior sources in the wider Church, on constitutional grounds, over an electoral college being denied at this time.

To this is added a sense of unfairness to the United Dioceses, in that they are suddenly being placed in something of a crisis situation as far as their episcopal oversight is concerned, when relevant issues could have been addressed at any stage in advance of a vacancy arising.

The Archbishop's stance follows the calling of a special General Synod, at the request of at least the necessary number of bishops, for 5th March, in order to allow for a prolonged vacancy and a review of Tuam's diocesan situation.

A review would not have any predetermined outcome, but could result in some new style of episcopal ministry, or the United Dioceses facing amalgamation with another diocese or dioceses, with no new bishop being elected at all.

Either way, big issues would be up for discussion and the implications for other dioceses in the Church would be an unknown factor.

Although a review time-frame of just over one year is being suggested, there is no guarantee that the work would in fact be completed so quickly and a further delay could be authorised by the central Church.

Regarding the Bishops' call for a special General Synod, the Church has informed the Gazette: “The bishops determined that this vacancy provides an opportunity for members of the United Dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry to assess the requirements for episcopal ministry in the dioceses, to ensure that effective episcopal oversight is provided.”

The statement also indicated that, in requesting a special General Synod, the bishops believed that “such assessment will benefit from participation by the wider Church of Ireland”.

However, the relevant regulations already provide that the composition of an electoral college must involve considerable representation from the wider Church, and the process of holding an electoral college itself provides an opportunity for those involved to assess requirements.

The Constitution of the Church of Ireland requires that, whenever a diocese becomes vacant, or is about to become vacant, an electoral college shall be constituted for the purpose of electing a bishop. 

The arrangements are to be made as soon as convenient for that purpose. (Constitution, Ch VI. 3, 8[1]).

A spokesperson for the Church told the Gazette that the Archbishop was not calling an electoral college now “as to do so would conflict with the legitimate constitutional request received from more than one-third of the bishops to hold a special synod”.

While the Archbishop has told the Gazette that he has been assured that the actions he was required to take in calling a special General Synod were “constitutionally appropriate”, the intervention of the bishops in this manner, given the constitutional requirements, is bound to be controversial.

Asked by the Gazette last week if they were entirely satisfied that it was in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution for an electoral college for Tuam not to be called at this time, the Honorary Secretaries of the General Synod replied that they felt it would not be “appropriate” for them to respond, citing the grounds that the question had not been raised by the Standing Committee.

However, an earlier official Church statement, communicated to the Gazette on 29th January in response to an enquiry from us, described the constitutional requirement to convene an electoral college as “immediate”.