Like so much else, this year's Synod was very different from what had been planned. As the Church of Ireland marks 150 years since disestablishment, this last Synod of the current triennium was to be held in May in Croke Park, the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association and a politically significant venue. Instead, pursuant to section 30 of the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions Act) 2020, which provides for the validity of remote meetings of an unincorporated body, notice was given that an ordinary meeting of the General Synod would be held by electronic communication technology on 1, 2 and, if necessary, 3 December 2020. It was the first Synod for its new President, Archbishop John McDowell, following his translation to Archbishop of Armagh on 28 April 2020.