The Church of Ireland primate, Dr Robin Eames, has expressed the hope that, under its new bishop, the diocese of Tuam, Killala and Achonry "will be open to suggestions for boundary reform".
He also hoped that the particular demands of the diocese, which has about 2,300 church members in a large geographical area, "will again make us all conscious of the demand to understand more fully the precise nature of episcopal ministry in these changing times".
His comments follow a period of confusion which began last September when the Tuam diocesan synod called for the immediate election of a bishop to the diocese. This followed the appointment of its former bishop, the Right Rev John Neill, to Cashel and Ossory last June. The Tuam synod was subsequently supported in its call by other diocesan synods. Dr Eames called a special synod on November 8th to discuss the matter. It was cancelled, and an electoral college was called to elect a new bishop for the diocese, on November 21st. It chose Dr Richard Henderson, who will be consecrated on February 2nd next.
In a full-page comment in the current issue of the Church of Ireland Gazette, Dr Eames writes that at all stages in the course of recent events it was his desire to create a situation within which it would be possible to provide episcopal care for the west, while acknowledging the concerns about viability within and without the diocese of Tuam.
Such concern had led Tuam itself to suggest there was a need for the examination of diocesan boundaries, he says. That led to the setting up of an episcopal commission in 1995. After Bishop Neill moved to Cashel and Ossory, the episcopal commission chairman, Bishop Mayes of Kilmore, wrote to Dr Eames saying it was the commission's view that an electoral college for Tuam should not be summoned before the commission presented its final report to the General Synod next May. During subsequent consultations Tuam indicated it was open to change, Dr Eames said, and then it requested the immediate appointment of a successor to Bishop Neill.
Following legal advice, it became clear that only a General Synod could postpone an electoral college. The special synod was then cancelled and an electoral college was called to elect a new bishop for Tuam.
Referring to opinions about filling the Tuam vacancy expressed at diocesan synods, Dr Eames writes that there was a need to recognise "that opinion does not of necessity contain legal force".
