The heresy trial of Dean Andrew Furlong is to resume later this week after proceedings were halted last month.
The Church of Ireland Court of the General Synod is to meet in Dublin on Friday to hear a petition from the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, the Most Rev Richard Clarke, relating to the published beliefs of Dean Furlong, rector of Trim and Athboy and Dean of Clonmacnoise.
The court, which is open to the public, will sit at Church House, Rathmines, from 10 a.m. on Friday. Seven judges will preside. They are the Church of Ireland primate, Archbishop Robin Eames; the Rt Rev John Neill, Bishop of Cashel and Ossory; the Rt Rev Harold Miller, Bishop of Down and Dromore; Mr Justice Gerald Buchanan; Ms Justice Catherine McGuinness; and Mr Ken Mills and Mr Ronald Robins, lay members of the Church of Ireland.
The April hearing was the first time the court has sat to investigate a case of alleged heresy in more than a century.
It followed the decision of Dean Furlong last year to publish on the web his views disavowing the divinity of Jesus. In early December, he was suspended by Bishop Clarke for three months to allow a period of quiet reflection on his controversial views.
However, at a meeting in early March, Dean Furlong reiterated those views. The bishop then initiated action against him.
When the court sat on April 8th, counsel for the dean, Mr Joe Revington, immediately presented an application for adjournment. He said he found it "almost incomprehensible" that his client should be restricted by the court to calling only two witnesses in his defence.
He said it was his intention to call "how many ever witnesses we feel is appropriate". They would include senior members of the Anglican Church worldwide. Dean Furlong came before the court with his good name and livelihood in jeopardy. "He has no house or income other than that provided by his office," he said.
Mr Revington continued that there were issues in the case going beyond theology because the roof over Dean Furlong's head was threatened. He might wish to call an employment law expert, he said, urging Bishop Clarke to withdraw his charge.
Mr Richard Nesbitt, counsel for Bishop Clarke, said the issue of employment did not arise for the court; what was at issue was the church's doctrine. He submitted that other Anglican clergy had no part in the case, as it was essentially a Church of Ireland matter.
The president of the court, Dr Robin Eames, Archbishop of Armagh and primate of All Ireland, said the issue was the published opinion of Dean Furlong, which was contrary to the teaching of the Church.
Announcing the judges' decision to grant an adjournment, Dr Eames said they did so with very great reluctance. He also said the judges could not "imagine that it is helpful for the court to have before it witnesses or evidence other than that strictly relevant to the doctrine of the Church of Ireland as referred to in the petition".
He gave both sides one week for discovery.
