CLERICAL CONFERENCE
The Annual Diocesan Clerical Conference will be held from Tuesday 4 th to Thursday 6 th May in the Clonea Strand Hotel, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. All clerics are obliged to attend and parish emergency telephone numbers will be in place.
GENERAL SYNOD 2004
The 2004 General Synod of the Church of Ireland tales place in Armagh from 11 th to 13 th May. All delegates should have received papers etc. by the time this is read. It is hoped for a good diocesan representation for this historic occasion.
ANNUAL PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHERS CONFERENCE
This will be held on Ascension Thursday 20 th May in Kilkenny College. All schools will be advised.
LAUNCH OF NEW BCP2004
A special Diocesan Launch will be held in Waterford Cathedral on Ascension Thursday 20 th May at 7.30pm. This momentous occasion for the Diocese is taking place during the Mothers' Union Diocesan Festival Service when the new President, Mrs. Hazel Sherlock, will be installed.
(See more details in MU Notes)
DATA PROTECTION ACT
This act deals with the privacy issues arising from the increasing amount of personal information kept by way of computer or manual systems on individuals. By law, anyone who keeps this kind of information is required to register as a Data Controller. Check their Website www.dataprotection.ie
Parishes who keep any form of computer or manual register of parishes, must register as a Data Controller. Registration Forms are available from the Data Protection Commissioner, telephone 01 8748544.
CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH OF IRELAND
All should know that a ‘revised' edition of the Constitution of the Church of Ireland was published in December 2003. This edition is drafted in ‘inclusive' language. Each of the last five editions contained an Appendix which included the Standing Orders of the General Synod, the Constitutions of the Standing Committee and the Board of Education and extracts from certain relevant Statutes. This, the thirteenth edition of the Constitution, contains a similar Appendix revised in inclusive language.
Copies of the Constitution are available from the General Synod Office in Church House, telephone number 01 4978422
CROSSROADS
This Dublin based Church of Ireland Social Group will always welcome new members, from any part of Ireland. As well as organising the usual raft of Social events, they meet on the last Thursday of each month at Buswell's Bar on Molesworth Street, Dublin ( for those that are not familiar with Dublin Buswell's Hotel is just across the road from Dail Eireann ) from 8.30 onwards. The present Chairperson is David Thomas – mobile number 085 7272019 and the email address is crossroadsdublin@hotmail.com .
PRIORITIES FUND
The Church of Ireland General Synod Priorities Fund, generally known as the Priorities Fund, arose from a recommendation of the ‘First of All' Report published in l979. The Report envisaged that the Fund would be set-up to provide resources for growth within the Church of Ireland and the wider community. In the 24 years since the inception of the Fund, over €10.5 million have been distributed in grants.
The following areas are currently supported by the Fund:
• Ministry e.g. training in the following areas – post-ordination, clergy in-service, lay ministry; development of ministry in areas of population growth, youth ministry, development of liturgy
• Retirement e.g. additional finance for the most needy, clergy retirement homes and houses
• Education e.g. development of RE in schools, new curriculum in Sunday Schools and training for teachers, support for the Church of Ireland Gazette and Search, children's ministry, youth work (under the direction of the CIYD) Summer Madness, parish based organisations, adult education, support for the General Synod Communications Board
• Community e.g. outreach in dioceses and parishes, especially those which foster good relations with the wider community, social and caring agencies and sheltered accommodation for the elderly.
• Areas of Need : e.g. parochial development necessitated by changes in population and the needs of ministry.
• Reconciliation and Outreach Projects will be supported by the Fund as its special theme for 2004-2006. These will include those which reach out into the community to promote understanding among people from differing religious, cultural and political backgrounds, bridge-building and anti-sectarian programmes.
Application Forms for Grants are available from
The Organiser,
Priorities Fund Office, Church of Ireland House, Church Ave., Rathmines, Dublin 6.
Email: priorities@ireland.anglican.org
Visit the Website on www.priorities.ireland.anglican.org
Closing Date for receipt of applications is 31 st October of each year