The report of the Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue has been received by Synod. Proposing the report, the Bishop of Clogher, the Rt Revd John McDowell, acknowledged the debt of gratitude the commission and the Church of Ireland owed to the Archbishop of Armagh who chaired the commission for five years.

He said that Christian Unity was about getting to know people from a variety of faith backgrounds and getting to trust them. At a slightly deeper level he said it was about an acknowledgement that there was a “possibility that we just might have misunderstood one another from time to time”.

He said perhaps too it was a recognition that what gives family life its interest and vigour is not what each member has in common but what makes each different. “It is the variety and interplay of difference which creates a certain kind of family – a family which is always having to ask questions and wait patiently for answers.” He stated.

The Bishop referred to the Porvoo Communion of Churches in which the Anglican and Lutheran Churches are coming to know each other better. He encouraged those interested in engaging to get in touch with the Church of Ireland representative, Canon Helene Steed. He said they were particularly pleased that this year the Archbishop of Dublin took up the Anglican co chair of Porvoo.

He referred to historic developments between the Church of Ireland and the Methodist Church in Ireland and the developing discussions with the Moravian Church.

“It can be difficult to interest busy people in parishes in inter church projects or dialogue. However, contact with those of other Christian traditions is an explicit part of the mission of the Church. It can be painfully slow and sometimes unrequited, but it springs from a generous impulse of the gospel that difference need not mean division, and that unity should not mean uniformity,” Bishop McDowell said.

He also highlighted the work of the Irish Council of Churches and the Irish Inter Church Meeting.

The report was seconded by Canon Ian Ellis. He reflected on the theme of ecumenism. He asked why bother – why not get on with our own concerns while others get on with theirs. “The answer is quite simple – because it is the command of Jesus,” he said adding that to get closer we need to discuss our differences and resolve them but also act together in the world to show what is right and good.

He said relations with the Roman Catholic Church continued to strengthen right across Ireland but there is still work to do. He said that should there be a Papal visit to Ireland, he hoped the Pope would visit Northern Ireland and hoped that the Church of Ireland would be involved.

Speaking to the report Edgard Hall (Dublin) wondered how far ecumenical relations had come in the last seven or eight decades.

Geoffrey McMaster (Glendalough) urged people not to forget what was happening in the local areas and ensure they were encouraged.

Bishop Alan Abernethy said he was honoured to attend the council of the World Council of Churches. He said meeting people from Syria was very moving and urged parishes to pray for Syria as well as South Sudan.

Canon Brian O’Rourke (Cork Cloyne and Ross) referred to the interfaith conference in the Mary Immaculate College in Limerick which he said was uplifting. He added that interfaith dialogue was so important in Ireland as our community is becoming so diverse.

Sarah Groves (Moravian Church) referred to the discussions between the Moravian Church and the Church of Ireland which she said had been a real joy for the Moravians. She said she believed the discussions between the leaders and bishops would encourage and strengthen existing links and look for more links. He highlighted next week’s launch a Moravian book of research into Moravian families in Whitechurch, Dublin, which will take place in Whitechurch Parish.

The report was received by Synod.

A motion on membership of the Commission was passed by Synod. The members are:

The Archbishops and Bishops, the Revd Ása Bjork Ólafsdottir, Canon Patrick Comerford, Canon David Crooks, Georgina Copty, Canon Ian Ellis, Samuel Harper, the Revd Darren McCallig, Roberta McKelvey, Philip McKinley, Dr Kenneth Milne, Trevor Morrow, Canon Daniel Nuzum, the Revd Niall Sloane, Archdeacon Helene Steed, Catherine Turner.

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