THURSDAY'S NEWS

“Stand up and get out of the rocking chair, and attempt great things for God” – Mission councils report
(from Elaine Whitehouse, Communications Dept, RCB)

The report of the Council for the Church Overseas referred to the experiences of the Mission Resource Person, the Rev Charles Irwin, whose ongoing work and dedication to the cause of mission had been supported “generously and willingly” by the dioceses and other groups throughout the Church.

Given special leave to address the Synod, Charles Irwin told Synod that the Church of Ireland needed to ask why some churches were growing and others were not. He said an old biblical truth had been rediscovered all over the world in recent years, that everyone had a “dynamic part to play in the life of the Church”, and whilst there had been much talk in the Church of Ireland of empowering the people of God, unfortunately it remained “just an idea” and had not taken root in many parishes and churches.

Mr Irwin cautioned against neglecting the talents of the people of God and said it was of paramount importance for the Church to “take responsibility for equipping the people of God for the mission of ministry”. The Church must “stand up and get out of the rocking chair, and attempt great things for God”.

Miss Mavis Gibbons, jointly proposing the reports of the Council for Mission in Ireland and the Council for the Church Overseas, extended the Church’s thanks to Mr Irwin and quoted Emil Brunner’s analogy that “A church exists for mission as a fire exists for burning”.

Miss Gibbons exhorted Synod members to make their churches welcoming places which would attract people to worship because “a living, loving, caring community draws others in”, a fact highlighted by the Council for Mission’s recent exploration of the different types of churches experiencing growth in small and large church communities.

The debate following the presentation of the report was dominated by plaudits for the work of Charles Irwin, who thanked his many friends in the Church of Ireland for their hospitality, and Mavis Gibbons, who spoke of the help and goodwill of the people she had encountered in her work.

The Council for Mission and the Council for the Church Overseas have been holding joint meetings since last year, in recognition of the fact that the two bodies share many interests and common goals. It is planned that this trial period of joint meetings will last until General Synod in 2004.

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