A motion to approve the range of issues dealt with by the Church in Society Committee and to encourage it in its exploration of further issues was passed today by the General Synod of the Church of Ireland.

Submitting the motion, the Very Revd Gordon Wynne (Cashel and Ossory), Chairman of the Social Justice and Theology (Republic of Ireland) Sub-Committee of the Church in Society Committee, suggested that “the Church in Society committee can feel disconnected from the church.”

Offering an explanation, Dean Wynne suggested that “the particular hand of cards that history has dealt to the Church of Ireland leads to a church that is seen from both within and without all too often as a club, and a small club at that, and one whose introspection, conservatism and timidity are all but crippling.”

He continued to argue that “this is unworthy: unworthy of the best in our tradition, unworthy of Archbishop King, of Swift, Berkeley and the wider Anglican history of social concern.”

Members of the General Synod then suggested issues for the Committee to consider.

Mrs Hilary McClay (Down) urged members of the General Synod to consider the role of debt in people’s lives, and expressed her view that the Church should put in place support structures for those whose lives are debilitated by debt.

“Huge pressures and tension come from our debt crisis and from the credit crunch. Such tension can push people to become suicidal” she said.

Mr Peter Read (Killaloe) told members of the General Synod that “The Church of Ireland is beginning to be heard. The Church and the Churches must speak out in the present situation. Young people are waiting for a lead. We want to hear the Church being heard on all issues.”

The Revd Dr Ron Elsdon (Connor) raised the matter of global warming and the world’s dwindling supply of commodities, and asked members of the General Synod to consider the type of spirituality that Christians can offer during such change, and in the worst case scenario should it arise.

He told Synod members that the Church must present “a spirituality so imbued with Christian hope that we can see through the situation.”

The Bishop of Clogher and Chairman of the Church in Society Committee, the Right Revd Dr Michael Jackson, finished the debate by asking members of the General Synod to come to him if they had any insights or examples of best practice in ecological and environmental matters, so that they could be considered by the Committee and its Ecological and Environmental Sub-Committee.