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All the news from Connor Synod 2025

Friday June 27th 2025

Presentation on Pioneer Ministry at Connor Synod. From left: The Rev Peter Meenagh, South Lisburn Community Church; Naomi Jennings, Pioneer Family Wellbeing Coordinator in Agherton Parish; Johnny Diamond, Gathered Ministry (north coast); Pioneer Team members the Rev Jacob Mercer, the Rev Nathan Irvine and Pioneer Ministry Advocate, the Rev James Boyd.

Connor Diocesan Synod 2025 was held in St Patrick’s Parish Church, Jordanstown, on Thursday June 26. Both the Service of Holy Communion which preceded Synod and the business sessions were held in the body of the church. [Photo Gallery at end of post].

Delegates enjoyed refreshments and later dinner in the parish hall, where they were also able to browse different stalls, asking question and picking up information from organisations including Crosslinks, the Churches Ministry of Healing: The Mount; Mothers’ Union; Priorities Fund; and Church of Ireland Children and Families Ministry.

The Service of Holy Communion, which began at 2pm, opened with a welcome from the rector of Jordanstown, the Rev Canon Nigel Baylor. The service was led by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev George Davison, and the preacher was the Archdeacon of Connor, the Ven Dr Stephen McBride.

Synod itself began with a reading and prayers, and after the formalities were conducted and the minutes of the last Synod confirmed, Bishop George delivered his Presidential Address.

NEIGHBOUR

In this, he reflected on recent violence on streets of towns within the diocese. Reminding Synod that ‘the gospel of Jesus tells us that our neighbour is our neighbour, whoever they are or whatever their background,’ the Bishop also spoke of conflicts around the world, and ‘the rise of political parties whose rationale seems to be based on a philosophy that problems can be solved by keeping ‘them’ out – whoever ‘they’ might be in a particular context.’

“We live in a time when that need for Christian people, who will commend the way of Jesus by what we say and do, has never been more urgent! The challenges are many and they are obvious to us,” Bishop George said.

In a wide-ranging address, the Bishop paid tribute to the good work being done around the diocese – highlighting ministries of welcome and of compassion. He spoke of the diocesan Pioneer Ministry Project, of challenges faced by clergy and Select Vestries, and paid tribute to the Select Vestries in parishes which, in the course of the past year, have merged to form new unions.

He urged people to ‘grow and encourage a culture of ministry and service at the grass-roots level, so that each parish has an active body of volunteers willing to make things happen in their church, and out of whom we will find the next generation of parish readers, diocesan readers and clergy.”

Bishop referred to clergy and staff changes around the diocese, thanking everyone for their service. Before concluding his Address, he paid tribute to Mr Jim Patterson who has retired after 16 years as Connor Diocesan Glebes Secretary. Jim was presented with a token of appreciation.

PROPOSED

Following elections, the Report of Diocesan Council was proposed by Johanne Martin of the United Parishes of St Nicholas and All Saints, Belfast. She thanked the Bishop, staff and all those who serve on the various committees for their hard work over the past year.

“It is no easy task to do all the administration that goes on behind the scenes. There has been a lot of change of staff and committee members, so I want to acknowledge those who have served the diocese faithfully over many years,” Johanne said.

“This year has seen much work in the formation of two new Unions in North Belfast: Upper Shankill and Ballysillan and the Lower Shankill Union. We want to acknowledge the hard work of those involved and the patience and participation of the parishes,” Johanne said.

She thanked Richard Cotter, Diocesan Finance and Administration Manager for ‘the important work that is ongoing to address the debt due to the diocese,’ and spoke of the work done by the Glebes and Architectural Committee ensuring the preservation and appropriate maintenance of church buildings.

Referencing a report from Lisburn Cathedral, Johanne highlighted a particular comment which read: “This year has been a year where once again throughout moments of both great encouragement and difficulties we have experienced the faithfulness of our God who continues to build his Church and advance his kingdom.”

She continued: “I think that this is true for all of us and at a time when General Synod reported declining attendance figures across the board including our own diocese.”

CHALLENGED

Quoting a comment in Belfast Cathedral’s report, she read: “Each parish in Connor Diocese has been challenged by the Bishop’s strategy to be ‘Growing Healthy Churches,’” and added “Belfast Cathedral has applied this description and commitment to the life and vision of a cathedral set at the ‘heart of the city, with the city at its heart,’ and has moved from ‘a strategy of ‘survival’ in challenging circumstances, to a faith filled programme to secure the future growth.”

“This is perhaps the reality for many of the parishes in our diocese that we have been in a strategy of survival.

“Today I want to be bold enough to suggest a new strategy that we ‘go for growth’ by whatever means necessary… But this growth requires a commitment to the gospel and a willingness to continue to persevere in sharing a truth that is often not popular.”

Johanne continued: “As a member of the Diocesan Council for Mission we facilitated several online Zoom meetings to follow up the request from General Synod 2023 – ‘That the General Synod acknowledges the impact of anti-refugee and migrant hatred in our communities and requests the Honorary Secretaries to write to Diocesan Councils on behalf of the Primate’s Ethnic Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Justice Reference Group seeking suggestions regarding ways in which the Church can counter the language of anti-refugee and migrant hatred at the local level and communicate a strong message of Christian welcome to all.’

She told Synod: “This continues to be a challenging issue for our local communities and indeed maybe sometimes for church members themselves. We again commend the resource ‘From every Nation’ by the Irish Council of Churches for parishes to study together.

“If Jesus (who was a different ethnicity, dark skinned, bearded man, from another religious background) was to show up in our neighbourhood today would we be welcoming him. We each need to be examining our own hearts as we minister within our increasingly diverse local communities. That’s the challenge that I want to put out there today.”

PROUD

The Diocesan Council Report was seconded by the Rev Aaron McAllister, who said: “I am very proud of what Connor Diocese does as a diocesan team and in relation to other dioceses.” He made particular reference to the work done by former Diocesan Youth Officer Christina Baillie who moved on to Youth for Christ last year, and to Children’s Officer Victoria Jackson.

Aaron said youth ministry was close to his heart, and paid tribute to all those who were supporting Connor Youth at the upcoming Summer Madness festival. “This is how the diocese pulls together,” he said. Adding that we have no idea what seeds have been sown by youth ministry, he also highlighted the report by the Director of Vocations and referenced the work of the Mothers Union.

Connor’s new Diocesan Youth Officer, Dave Armstrong, who took up his post six months ago, had the opportunity to introduce himself.

“It has been wonderful for me to see and learn of the work that is going on in youth ministry and great to have had conversations with clergy, leaders and young people. It is clear there is a heart for youth ministry in this diocese,” he said.

He had found that young people in Connor had an appetite to grow in faith; were thankful for those who invested time in them; and had a desire to continue to engage. Dave said that a group of young people who had attended a CIYD event earlier this year – at which he was present – had a clear ‘heart for mission and to serve.’ “They are a credit to the churches they represent and they are only a snapshot of this diocese,” he added.

He paid tribute to his predecessor Christina, and to all those who in churches who give up their time for young people. “Youth ministry will not happen in Connor unless we have volunteers,” he said. “Youth ministry is challenging in 2025. Many things have changed since we were younger… but the Bible gives us the answers to all the issues we face.”

FLOURISHING

Synod also heard from Pioneer Evangelist Ste Fitzgerald who spoke about projects run by the North Belfast Centre of Mission, including Baby Basics which he said was flourishing; LIFT, a new women’s group; and a thriving men’s group.

A Motion, to increase Fair Share by 0.75 per cent to 11 per cent for 2026, proposed by the Rev Dr Alan McCann and seconded by Tommy Lyttle, was carried after some discussion.

Newly appointed President of Connor Mothers’ Union, Alison Skillen, spoke to Synod about the MU’s Away from the All holiday project for families facing adversity, pointing out that ‘through these trips, priceless memories are created.’

MISSION

The Ven Paul Dundas, Archdeacon of Dalriada and Chair of Connor Council for Mission, referenced a recent Webinar organised by the Council, and encouraged others to pick it up online. He said three groups from Connor were taking part in mission trips, supported by the council, this summer. “We pray for safety and joy as you go to meet our brothers and sisters in Christ,” he said.

The Rev Jonny Campbell-Smith, Ballynure and Ballyeaston, said the Connor Mission Support Fund had been very supportive in helping send young people from his parish on Exodus Mission trips – to Spain for two years and to Hungary this year. “The support from the Council has mobilised may of our young people,” he said. “When they return home, they are engaged in local mission.”

Exodus, he added, has commissioned 568 young people to serve in different parts of the world this year.

The importance of parishes complying with Safeguarding legislation was emphasised to Synod by David McGrory, Connor’s Safeguarding Compliance Officer, and his words were supported by Archdeacon McBride.

The Report from Diocesan Council was carried.

HEALING

The Rev Brian Lacey made Synod aware that Bishop George has given him and the Rev Canon Nigel Baylor permission to reform a Healing Ministry within Connor Diocese. Brian is a Trustee of the Churches Ministry of Healing: The Mount. He gave some examples of his own experience witnessing the ministry of healing and invited others to join this healing ministry group. “Let’s see this front line ministry of Jesus rolled out in this diocese,” Brian said.

Synod ended with a panel presentation on Pioneer Ministry chaired by the Rev James Boyd, Connor Pioneer Ministry Advocate. Taking part were representatives of three projects currently involved in pioneer ministry – the Rev Peter Meenagh speaking about South Lisburn Community Church; Johnny Diamond speaking about the Gathered Ministry (north coast); and Naomi Jennings, Pioneer Family Wellbeing Coordinator in Agherton Parish. They were joined by Pioneer Team members the Rev Jacob Mercer and the Rev Nathan Irvine.