The Challenge & The Hope

In the Hard Gospel Scoping Study Report, the authors referred to the hope that

“members of the Church of Ireland would be equipped to become more confident in their inclusive Christian identity, engage in good citizenship, make a positive impact on society and experience the freedom to be truly Christian and part of a diverse but unified church”

In order for this vision to turn into reality it is clear that the Church of Ireland as an institution and its membership as citizens each have a very important role in society to-day.  

Through its involvement in the Hard Gospel Project the Church has committed itself as an institution to addressing within its own structure the issues and challenges raised in the Scoping Study Report.  It is also committed to establishing initiatives to  equip and encourage its clergy and members north and south, first to challenge sectarianism and negative ways of dealing with difference in our communities and secondly, to be proactive in “articulating and living out a positive alternative”. This is the challenge and the hope of the “Hard Gospel”.