TUESDAY'S NEWS

Christian Unity focus on migrants and ecumenical issues

Proposing the report of the Committee for Christian Unity, Bishop Peter Barrett, Bishop of Cashel and Ossory and Chairman of the Committee, announced the establishment of two review groups on inter-faith issues and the financial aspects of ecumenical contributions.

Bishop Barrett contended that discussing inter-faith issues within the Committee might not be the best way of dealing with such an area of emerging importance in the longer term and indicated that deeper reflection and more effective engagement might require the establishment of a dedicated group.

Mrs Andrea Wills, seconding the report, focused on Christian outreach in a multi-cultural environment, noting that all the European churches were engaging with the challenge of mission in such an environment, and told Synod members that a series of meetings had addressed this issue in the last year. The Church of Ireland, she said, urgently needed to address this challenge as more people from different cultural backgrounds came to Ireland to live and worship.

Bishop Michael Jackson of Clogher, who had written a paper following his attendance at an Anglican/Porvoo Consultation on Inter-faith Affairs in 2003, commented that inter-faith relations were a source of fear for many people, a fact reflected in the unease caused by the coming referendum on citizenship in the Republic of Ireland. Bishop Jackson called instead for a mutuality of respect for people and their views in today’s multi-cultural society.

Bishop Barrett drew to the General Synod's attention the active involvement of the bishops in the Committee’s work and in particular to the contribution made by former Chairman Archbishop John Neill to ecumenical affairs in Ireland and internationally. "It is an indication not only of their concern for and commitment to the unity pilgrimage, it is also a sign of the depth of engagement of the Church of Ireland to this pilgrimage", he said.

On the subject of ecumenical contributions, Bishop Barrett announced that a paper would be tabled at the next meeting of the Standing Committee and also noted the importance of ecumenical activities and of maintaining an active part in European and international dialogues.