Day 306 May 17

Work of the Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue Outlined at Synod

The report of the Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue was presented to General Synod this morning. Proposing the report, the Bishop of Clogher, said that the CCUD was similar to the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Foreign Office working with people from many other Christian traditions and also with non religious bodies like the European Union.

Bishop John McDowell said that their work was achieved through the Irish Council of Churches and the Irish Inter Church Meeting, known as the ecumenical instruments. “The particular advantage of working the way we do with ICC as we do is that we can respond to, usually government, requests to meet with a range of faith representatives on issues as they arise. As a united group we can also lobby or indeed harry again, usually government, on important issues,” he said.

The Bishop said that CCUD and ICC have also been working on European affairs in the wake of Brexit. “Whatever your feelings on the matter, or if you had a vote, how you voted, there is no doubt that a good deal of rearranging and reassuring will be needed over the coming years as the parting of the ways is negotiated and actually takes place, and the churches have their part to play,” he said.

He also outlined the commission’s work in the area of inter faith dialogue and engagement with the Moravian Church .

The report was seconded by Kate Turner outline the three working groups of the commission. Two working groups are looking at the outworking of ACC16. She noted that this year is the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Porvoo Agreement and it is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

The commission has been restructured and this task was carried out by Bishop McDowell and Canon Niall Sloane and she said this had breathed new life into an old structure. She paid tribute to former members and welcomed the new members.

Debate on the report included the following points:

• The celebration of the Reformation was highlighted and Reformation Sunday on October 29 was noted.
• The Dublin City Inter Faith Charter, spearheaded by the Lord Mayor of Dublin with the help of Dublin City Inter Faith Forum was highlighted. Dublin is the first city to introduce such a charter. The inter faith charter is on the Dublin City Inter Faith Forum website. The Lord Mayor and the Archbishop of Dublin will bring it to Jerusalem later this month. The Archbishop commended it for interfaith engagement.
• The anniversary of the Porvoo Agreement was noted and the Bishop of Cork encouraged people to realise that in making links they don’t have to be an eternity which scupper parish and diocesan budgets for years. Short links and visits can be made.
• Often we think of ecumenism as something we do in conferences but the Archbisop spoke of what can be done outside the walls of our churches which can be very symbolic and important. The Archbishop of Armagh spoke of the pilgrimage with young people to the site of the Battle of the Somme and other ecumenical visits to the Ulster Tower. The symbol of a togetherness that we take out into the world can be very important in our understanding.
• Doing simple things well can be very enriching and encouraging. The ecumenical carol singing on the steps of the Mansion House in Dublin organised by the Dublin and Glendalough Council for Mission and the Dublin Office of Evangelisation.
• Disappointment was expressed at the lack of mention of inter faith dialogue in the report. Why should inter faith be tacked on to CCUD. We can all do simple things for inter faith dialogue in our own localities.
• We should be able to propagate our own ethos without relying on schools to do the the job and we should rethink our position of segregated education.
• In relation to the Third Level Chaplaincy the lack of understanding of what is taking place in third level institutions was highlighted. It is increasingly difficult to find an authentic voice in third level outside our own institutions. The complex debate about the former CICE must be aired.
• Simple local expressions of ecumenism are poignant.
• The ecumenical work of Christian Aid was highlighted.
• The work of a small new inter faith group in Portlaoise was highlighted and its important in helping people to understand faiths that are different from our own and an opportunity to join with neighbours.
• The result of the European Referendum was described as one of the most devastating events and that contribution of the European Affairs Working Group was welcomed and they were urged to see their work in an all Ireland focus and remember those who live in the UK. The Church must speak up on behalf of European nationals who have settled in Northern Ireland. The work of the Council of Europe was raised and the committee was asked to engage with it.
• The collapse of the Government in Stormont was raised and the Archbishop of Armagh was thanked for his part in a joint declaration on peace.
• The work of the Three Faiths Forum in Cork, involving the three Abrahamic faith, was raised and the joint ventures undertaken by members to plant seeds of tolerance, cooperation and friendship in society.
• The deliberations of the Scottish Church on gay marriage were discussed and the question asked why the Church of Scotland can be so generous about gay marriage when we find it difficult to give a simple blessing.

The Bishop of Clogher thanked all who took part in the debate and the report was received.