The Church of Ireland Council for Mission was established by the General Synod in 2004 with the objectives of stimulating, within the Church of Ireland, a sense of the priority and urgency of mission, and of facilitating mission interchange visits to and from Ireland.

In its Report to the General Synod today, the Council outlined its work during the year which included the development of relationships with mission partners, an overnight meeting with the Hard Gospel Project to discuss issues of mutual concern, and reflecting on the very positive feedback from last year’s Mission Breakfast in Armagh.

Proposing the Report, the Revd Derek Kerr (Clogher) expressed the great enthusiasm of the Council for Fresh Expressions of Church. “While we must never loose the desire to make sure that when something is taught in the name of Christ it is true to the teaching of the Bible, at the same time we must loose the desire to always control the format used,” he said.

A Fresh Expression of Church (FXC) has been defined as “a form of church for our changing culture established for the benefit of those not yet members.” A joint conference with the Methodist Home Mission Department on this topic is being arranged which aims to identify and support existing Fresh Expressions of Churches in Ireland, to share experiences, and to arrange a network of these churches. It is intended for key leaders from local churches, keen to learn about more ways of being church today.

The Very Revd Stephen Lowry (Dromore) encouraged members of Synod to see such connections that Fresh Expressions of Church create, as well as their subsequent disturbances, as welcome. Wherever something new and fresh takes place, it poses a challenge. If the Church is not open to change, he said, than it will become “useless and disposable.” He urged Synod members to “have a creative, imaginative and open heart” to expressions of Church that may make them feel uncomfortable.

The Council strongly believes in co-operation with other Church committees and agencies and is currently working with the Hard Gospel Project and the Parish Development group to see how they can work together to further the mission of the Church. Seconding the Report, Mrs Paddy Wallace (Connor) emphasised the importance of this co-operation across the whole Church of Ireland. “We are fortunate as a Church to have our various councils and committees which can focus on specific areas of our mission and ministry – but let us not read their reports in isolation, rather as unique but interconnecting pieces of the jigsaw, the picture of our Church seeking to further Christ’s Kingdom here on earth.