Content about Alan Harper

October 4, 2012

The Irish House of Bishops has elected the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, the Most Rev Richard Clarke as the 105th Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

The 4 Oct 2012 announcement elevates the church’s senior serving bishop to the top post, and postpones a potential North/South split within the Irish Church over homosexuality. Considered a liberal churchman within the House of Bishops, Dr. Clarke has moved to the center in recent years, supporting the course taken by his predecessor, Dr. Alan Harper in avoiding a clash between the liberal and conservative wings of the church.

The Irish House of Bishops has elected the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, the Most Rev Richard Clarke as the 105th Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

June 7, 2012

Irish primate to retire

The Primate of All Ireland, Dr. Alan Harper, has announced that he will step down by 1 October 2012.

In a statement posted on the Church of Ireland website, the Church of Ireland Press Office said Dr. Harper “will continue to carry out all the duties and responsibilities of the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland as normal until 30 September 2012.”

The Primate of All Ireland, Dr. Alan Harper, has announced that he will step down by 1 October 2012.

June 7, 2012

Irish primate to retire

The Primate of All Ireland, Dr. Alan Harper, has announced that he will step down by 1 October 2012.

In a statement posted on the Church of Ireland website, the Church of Ireland Press Office said Dr. Harper “will continue to carry out all the duties and responsibilities of the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland as normal until 30 September 2012.”

The Primate of All Ireland, Dr. Alan Harper, has announced that he will step down by 1 October 2012.

May 21, 2012

Ireland backs traditional marriage

The General Synod of the Church of Ireland has re-affirmed its teachings on marriage and human sexuality, turning aside a procedural challenge brought by liberal members of Synod to silence debate. Following the lead of the House of Bishops, the Irish General Synod rejected gay marriage and gay clergy, but endorsed the creation of a “safe space” for further debate on these issues.

On the opening day of the meeting at Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin, the synod received for review Motion 8 proposed by the Archbishop of Dublin Dr. Michael Jackson and the Bishop of Down & Dromore Harold Miller in the name of the Church of Ireland’s Standing Committee. The three part motion entitled “Human Sexuality in the Context of Christian Belief” asked Synod to affirm that there is “no other understanding of marriage” than that found in Canon 31.

The General Synod of the Church of Ireland has re-affirmed its teachings on marriage and human sexuality, turning aside a procedural challenge brought by liberal members of Synod to silence debate. Following the lead of the House of Bishops, the Irish General Synod rejected gay marriage and gay clergy, but endorsed the creation of a “safe space” for further debate on these issues.

March 16, 2012

Primate of All Ireland's Statement on the Resignation of Rowan Williams

Statement by The Most Revd Alan Harper, OBE, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland:

Archbishop Rowan Williams is held in high affection across the Anglican Communion and, on behalf of the Church of Ireland, I offer him prayerful good wishes as he decides to step down from the hugely demanding role as Archbishop of Canterbury to take up his new responsibilities – and enter a new phase of his life – as Master of Magdelene College, Cambridge at the end of this year.

Statement by The Most Revd Alan Harper, OBE, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland:

March 15, 2012

Church of Ireland debates sex and Christian belief

The Church of Ireland has reaffirmed its belief in traditional marriage. In a statement released at the conclusion of a two-day meeting in Ballyconnell, the Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin stated the “church’s position on marriage as being the union of one man and one woman remains constant”.

Approximately 450 members of the Church of Ireland’s General Synod met from 9-10 March 2012 at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Co Cavan at a special meeting of synod called to discuss human sexuality “in the context of Christian belief”.

The Church of Ireland has reaffirmed its belief in traditional marriage. In a statement released at the conclusion of a two-day meeting in Ballyconnell, the Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin stated the “church’s position on marriage as being the union of one man and one woman remains constant”.

Approximately 450 members of the Church of Ireland’s General Synod met from 9-10 March 2012 at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Co Cavan at a special meeting of synod called to discuss human sexuality “in the context of Christian belief”.

March 15, 2012

Church of Ireland debates sex and Christian belief

The Church of Ireland has reaffirmed its belief in traditional marriage. In a statement released at the conclusion of a two-day meeting in Ballyconnell, the Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin stated the “church’s position on marriage as being the union of one man and one woman remains constant”.

Approximately 450 members of the Church of Ireland’s General Synod met from 9-10 March 2012 at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Co Cavan at a special meeting of synod called to discuss human sexuality “in the context of Christian belief”.

The Church of Ireland has reaffirmed its belief in traditional marriage. In a statement released at the conclusion of a two-day meeting in Ballyconnell, the Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin stated the “church’s position on marriage as being the union of one man and one woman remains constant”.

Approximately 450 members of the Church of Ireland’s General Synod met from 9-10 March 2012 at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Co Cavan at a special meeting of synod called to discuss human sexuality “in the context of Christian belief”.