In proposing the report of the Commission of Christian Unity and Dialogue, Canon Patrick Comerford said it was important to invest time and energy on developing relationships within individual dioceses, Church of Ireland and the Anglican Communion.

Referring to ecumenical affairs, Canon Comerford drew the attention of Synod to the developing relationship with the Moravian Church in Ireland and the work with the Porvoo Communion. He said that the commission had produced the Directory of Anglican, Porvoo, Ecumenical and Inter–faith links which is available at www.ireland.anglican.org/ccud/directory.

Canon Comerford referred to the Anglican Consultative Council 15 meeting last autumn and the work carried on there. He said the commission was in the process of circulating the resolutions passed at ACC15 to the relevant committees in the Church of Ireland.

The report was seconded by the Revd Darren McCallig. who outlined the work of the commission’s Inter–Faith Working Group noting that it had been another busy year for the Group as they sought to support and resource the Church’s engagement with people of other faiths.

He highlighted a contribution to the group’s Belfast seminar – ‘Education for Understanding’ – by the Revd Dr Inderjit Bhogal (the text of which is available on the Church of Ireland website). Mr McCallig said his story was a good model for inter faith dialogue. “Inderjit’s address shows how it is possible to hold together a passionate and lively commitment to one’s own faith with a profound respect and a deep reverence for all that is good and true and holy in the faith of others. The two are not mutually exclusive – rather they are mutually enriching,” Mr McCallig said.

Contributions to the debate were heard from Bishop Trevor Williams, the Revd Sarah Groves the representative of the Moravian Church, the Archbishop of Dublin and the Archbishop of Armagh.

The report was received by Synod. The members of the committee were confirmed as the Archbishops and Bishops, the Revd Asa Bjork Olafsdottir, the Revd Canon Patrick Comerford, the Revd Canon David Crooks, the Revd Daniel Nuzum, the Revd Niall Sloane, the Revd Canon Helene Tarneberg Steed, the Revd Canon Dr Ian Ellis, Ms Georgina Copty, Mr Samuel Harper, Mrs Roberta McKelvey, Mr Philip McKinley, Dr Kenneth Milne, Mr Trevor Morrow and Ms Catherine Turner.