The General Synod of the Church of Ireland today received the report of the Church in Society Committee.

Revd Kenny Hall (Armagh), Chairman of the Social Justice and Theology (Northern Ireland) Sub-Committee, proposing the report stated: “the role of the church in society starts closest to home and moves outward.”

“Our faith is not only intended for instruction, it should have a performative dimension- we should act differently as a consequence of it. Obeying Jesus’ words will strengthen the church in the rest of the commission to go and make disciples” he said.

“The Church in Society works to enable the church’s effective contribution to community, economic and social transformation, so that the full potential of all communities may be realised.”

Responding to the report, the Revd Brian Harper (Armagh) welcomed the priority afforded to the issue of suicide by the Social Justice and Theology (Northern Ireland) Sub-Committee, and commended other groups working hard to provide support structures for those who need them. Thanking Irish Church Missions and the PSNI for their involvement with young people, Revd Harper was keen to highlight the positive role played by young people.

“Young people themselves brought an immense healing to the community” he said.

Canon Adrian Empey (Dublin) outlined for the members of the General Synod the work of the European Affairs Working Group, and encouraged Synod members to support the Lisbon Treaty when the Republic of Ireland holds a referendum on the matter in June.

The Bishop of Cashel, the Right Revd Michael Burrows, also encouraged Synod members to support the Lisbon Treaty, telling members that “I have always been a Europhile and I hope when the vote comes people will vote and will vote generously.”

The Bishop also encouraged Synod members to take the concerns and anger of farmers seriously. While he argued that the prospect of a protest vote from the agricultural sector needs to be avoided, he also argued that farmers must be treated fairly and respectfully.

The Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Right Revd Harold Miller, highlighted the progress of the Human Embryology Bill through Westminster, and suggested that it was a pity that the Medical Ethics, Science and Technology Sub-Committee had only been observing this “potentially dangerous and fundamentally life-changing Bill.”

Seconding the report, the chairman of the Church in Society Committee, the Bishop of Clogher, the Right Revd Dr Michael Jackson, thanked the members of the Committee and its panels and commended their work.

The report of the Church in Society Committee will continue tomorrow.

Sub-Committees

• Ecological and Environmental
• European Affairs
• Legislation and Politics (NI)
• Legislation and Politics (RI)
• Medical Ethics, Science and Technology
• Social Justice and Theology (NI)
• Social Justice and Theology (RI)

The Church in Society Committee and its specialist sub-committees serve to identify, contribute to, challenge and develop issues where the mission of the Church can be active and the love of God shared. It provides reports and resource materials that apply theological perspectives to public issues, and partakes in consultation processes in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland.