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IRELAND: Eames announces retirement
General Synod 2006 News:
May 29, 2006
In a wide-ranging Presidential address at the Church of Ireland General Synod in Armagh, Archbishop Robin Eames announced that he was retiring from the position as Primate at the end of the year.
At 12.10 pm, forty minutes into his speech, he made the news public. "After much prayer and thought I have decided that I should retire."
In what would be his last Presidential address to the Synod, the Archbishop recalled people and events, during his forty-three years of ordained ministry, thirty-one of them in the episcopate. He recalled ministry during the troubles in Northern Ireland, officating at numerous funerals during those "dark years."
He recalled changes within the Church of Ireland during this time with the ordination of women and the remarriage of divorcees. He also recounted his role in the wider Anglican Communion, as Senior Primate, and heading the Eames Commission on the ordination of women, the Virginia Report and the Windsor report.
He concluded by saying that much remained to be done in the seven month before he retires on December 31st. "I haven't gone away." he reminded Synod.
Archbishop Eames confirmed to the Belfast Telegraph last night that he felt it "was time to move on".
"I have been very privileged to have been able to carry out so many things with the help of others during my time as Primate, and I have had many memorable experiences," he said.
"However, I think that I should make way for someone else. I will be very sad when I announce this to all my friends and colleagues at the General Synod, but it is important that I make my intentions clear, and I am happy to make the announcement in Armagh."
Aged 69, he became Primate in 1986 and is one of the two longest-serving Primates in the past 100 years, the other being Archbishop Gregg, who served from 1939-59.
http://www.irishangle.net/news/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=366
