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Bishop of Clogher proposes Bill at General Synod to maintain confirmation register in parishes

 


The Bishop of Clogher the Right Revd John McDowell


A Bill proposed by the Bishop of Clogher, the Right Revd John McDowell which seeks to require Select Vestries to maintain registers of confirmations passed its first and second stages at General Synod this afternoon, Thursday May 4.

The recording of confirmations varies considerably between and within dioceses and certification of a confirmation is necessary at certain times, for example when seeking training for the ordained ministry.

While the Constitution of the Church of Ireland requires parishes to keep registers of baptisms and burials as well as a marriage record book, there is no such requirement relating to confirmations.

While some parishes keep records of confirmation others do not.

The purpose of the Bill, proposed by the Bishop of Clogher and the Ven Adrian Wilkinson, is to ensure that records of confirmation are recorded with each parish, and uniformly throughout the Church of Ireland. This requires an amendment to Chapter III of the Constitution.

The Bill will receive its third reading on Saturday.