The Church Of Ireland
Press Release

There can be no mistaking the challenge of change. The question is: What is the Church's response to be?

Ignore it like the proverbial ostrich - we can bury our head in the sand and hope that the storm will blow over. But the storm will not blow over but will gather momentum.

Fight it - dig deep trenches and resist it. Faced by the threat of change and the corroding sense of uncertainty which accompanies it. It is all too easy to adopt a fundamentalist position and look for certainties in a shifting, fluid situation. But fundamentalism is not an answer.

Manage it - we need to find a way through which provides the middle ground which on the one side neither ignores nor resists change or on the other side which allows change to overwhelm us. How can we manage change so that we see it not so such in terms of a threat but as a challenge and an opportunity?

First and foremost we must keep our nerve.

Having to cope with change is not a new phenomenon for the Churches but what is so significant at the present time is the accelerating speed of change and its impact on society and on people's lives. it is important that we keep a cool head and an open mind.

Secondly we must identify our strengths.

The Church of Ireland in general and this Diocese of Derry and Raphoe have a bright future. Nay God rid us of any spirit of pessimism or cynicism. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe. May God the Holy Spirit confirm our faith, strengthen our resolve and renew our enthusiasm. We don't have to stagger along like a drunken man. We can hold our heads high and stride forward confidently into the future.

Of all the positive things we can highlight let me mention three in particular.

1. The faithful ministry of so many clergy. It is no exaggeration to say that the future well-being of the Church of Ireland will depend to a large degree on the spirituality, leadership and morale of the clergy.
   
   
2. The tremendous loyalty and commitment of so many laity and their willingness to give devoted service to the Church at parish and diocesan level.
   
   
3. The very nature and ethos of the Church of Ireland as a broad Church which allows people of different backgrounds and outlooks to live together in the one family. The Church to which we are privileged to belong is not a prison which enslaves us but an open family which respects diversity and allows us space to grow and develop.
   

Thirdly we must focus on our priorities.

In a series of recent discussions I have been impressed by the way in which time and time again certain priorities keep coming to the fore. The question of ministry is high on the list, not the concept of ministry as applying only to the ordained but the ministry of all God's people. Fundamental questions are being raised regarding new forms of partnership between clergy and laity, the development of lay ministry and new forms of ordained ministry.

At present one parish in ten throughout the Church of Ireland is vacant and some have been vacant for a very considerable time. When one considers the age range of the clergy the fact that clergy in future will be retiring at an earlier age and the numbers coming forward for ordination are inadequate then the situation will become more acute. Indeed questions will be raised regarding the retention of the parochial system as we know it. Our understanding of ministry will have to change and take serious account of changing circumstances. I have set up a commission under the chairmanship of Canon Bill NcNee to examine all aspects of ministry in the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe and to come forward with proposals. The whole area of ministry is one of the most urgent questions facing the Church.

Faith Development

The faith nurture and faith development of children - young people and adults is an area crying out for a major initiative and radical change. Take the whole question of the nurture of children in the Christian faith. The Sunday school movement began in an age which is far removed from the circumstances of today. We must now face some searching questions about our current parish practice and recognise that there is often a world of difference between a child's experience of education in the primary school and what we provide in terms of Christian education in the parish. We are creating a damaging credibility gap in the minds of our children regarding the importance and relevance of Christian education and even of the Christian faith itself. Furthermore the link between Sunday School and Church going is often non-existent or at least extremely tenuous. Why should we complain about young people leaving the Church after Confirmation? For many of them they are not leaving because in fact they have never joined.

Reconciliation

Reconciliation means the coming together of people, groups or communities which have been estranged. It implies the healing of broken relationships. Reconciliation is not an optional extra for the Churches in Ireland. It lies at the heart of the gospel and of the faith of the Church. "God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself and has entrusted to us the ministry of reconciliation."

In Irish society North and South there is so much division, hurt and brokenness. The "Celtic Tiger" is the colourful description of the remarkable developments in the Republic of Ireland in terms of economic growth and prosperity. But we need to remember that a tiger is a dangerous and unpredictable animal which can bite off your head. While some get rich others become poor and the disparity continues to grow. In Northern Ireland the evil spirit of sectarianism is alive and well and continues to damage and divide community life. Sometimes it shows its ugly face in the most open and blatant way. At other times it is hidden from view but is none the less just as evil and destructive.

The Churches in Ireland are called by God to be agents of reconciliation and healing in their local communities. But this ministry can only be effective where the Churches themselves find healing and reconciliation with each other. When the history of this present period is recorded we should not be surprised if the Churches are castigated for their lack of ecumenical zeal and their failure to apply the gospel in bringing healing and reconciliation to their divided communities.

Youth Workers

During the past 12 months we have made history in the area of work with young adults. Whereas previously we never had a fulltime youth worker we now have two. Miss Tanya Bates has been appointed Diocesan Youth Project Coordinator and Captain Neville Barnes, a Church Army Captain, has been appointed Diocesan Youth Development Officer. We welcome them to the Diocese and express our appreciation of the way in which they are settling into their work. They deserve all the support and encouragement we can give them.

Decommissioning and Devolved Government

The two main issues threatening the peace process are the decommissioning of weapons and the sharing of power in a devolved administration. It is not fully appreciated by the Nationalist community or by the British government that the early release of paramilitary prisoners has caused deep anger and concern throughout the Unionist community. To see those convicted of murder and other serious crimes walking out of prison after completing just a year or two of their sentences is deeply offensive. To watch scenes of jubilation and triumphalism by released prisoners and their supporters has added insult to injury.

Many Unionists who supported the Belfast Agreement did so on the understanding that the early release of prisoners though repugnant to their basic beliefs was necessary for the peace process to become a reality. This uncomfortable position which they reluctantly adopted has been undermined by the failure of the paramilitaries to decommission. Discomfort has turned into dismay and disillusionment and this is a dangerous situation which could ultimately undermine the peace process.

What is required is substantial confidence building actions from all the paramilitary groups which will convince the entire community that the war is over and that paramilitary violence has no place whatever in the pursuit of peace and justice.

People from all sides of the community have been impressed with how the Executive has set about its work and how Ministers with special responsibilities have performed with such ability and fairness. We are caught in a somewhat contradictory indeed ironic situation. On the one hand there is a growing recognition of the importance of a devolved administration entrusted with power and responsibility and there is increasing appreciation of the work being done by the Executive. On the other hand there is an awareness that the Assembly and the Executive are vulnerable institutions which could be easily brought down.

The response to the present situation is two-fold:

1. To encourage our politicians and urge them to engage in constructive dialogue across traditional divisions in society so that lasting peace can be established.
   
   
2. To pray for our politicians that together they may help to build a society where people with different political and religious outlooks can work together to build a society in which that very diversity is seen as a source of enrichment and no longer as a threat.