The proposal, tabled by the Very Rev Patrick Rooke, expresses regret for the 39 Articles’ “negative statements towards other Christians” and, if passed will be printed in the Book of Common Prayer.

But there will be no call at the Synod in Galway to scrap the historic Reformation document written in 1563, which sets out the key doctrinal differences between the then-new Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

Rather, the proposed resolution is a “way around” removing the 39 Articles from the Church’s structures by “placing them in the context of their time”, Dean Rooke – who is Dean of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh – told the News Letter.

“The wording of this resolution was passed in 1999 as part of a look at sectarian issues in the Church of Ireland,” he said.

“But due to time pressures it was not possible to pass through the various stages in sufficient time.”

Although Dean Rooke said no one had told him they were offended by the 39 Articles, he said they had caused embarrassment to members of the Church of Ireland.

Dean Rooke said he did not believe the resolution would be controversial but it is understood that attempts will be made to reject it on the basis that it changes Church doctrine.

“I believe that we could be accused of using sectarian language,” he said.

“I wouldn’t say that the people who wrote the 39 Articles were wrong, but we have moved on a lot from that time.

“There is name-calling and belittling in there – it speaks about the ‘Romish doctrines’, ‘evil ministers’ and ‘anabaptists do falsely boast’.”

But Philip Patterson, Archdeacon of Down, said the resolution was poorly drafted.

“The resolution is not specific about what it is seeking to address,” he said.

“I have no problem with expressing regret that Christians have been offended, but this is actually a fairly moderate document for its time.

“At the time when the 39 Articles were written, fairly intemperate language was much more common and that is reflected in other documents, such as those of the (Roman Catholic) Council of Trent,” he said.

Archdeacon Patterson said that although it was not spelled out in the resolution, he believed Dean Rooke had Roman Catholics in mind when writing the resolution, but pointed out that other Christians are mentioned in the 39 Articles.

“In 1999 a similar resolution was passed by Synod, but that was at the height of Drumcree and did not call for a change to the Book of Common Prayer.

“The Church of England hasn’t done this and personally, I haven’t come across anyone who has said they are offended by the 39 Articles.”

Archdeacon Patterson added that it was far from clear as to whether the resolution would be passed.

l Interview with Church of Ireland Primate Archbishop Alan Harper in tomorrow’s News Letter.

See Morning View, page 16