The report of the Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue has been presented to the Church of Ireland General Synod this afternoon.

Highlighting the work of the commission, the Ven Helene T Steed, Archdeacon of Clogher, said that the Church of Ireland had continued to be active in the area of ecumenism. ”When I think about ecumenism, its various themes and methods, the image of dance and music come to mind. The music is there and churches and denominations are dancing to the beat of the rhythm. Sometimes the ecumenical dance resembles a disco. Everybody is dancing on their own, and some are better than others. Sometimes, pairs appear on the dance floor. And watching, it is obvious that some have danced for years and years, they know their partners, they know the steps and they enjoy the flow of the music. Even so, these experienced dancers may stumble or step out of rhythm from time to time,” she said.

The Archdeacon spoke of the Church of Ireland’s involvement in the Porvoo Communion, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2016. She said the theme for the celebrations of this milestone was twinning and partnership.

She also spoke of the growing relationship with the Moravian Church in Britain and Ireland and outlined informal discussions with the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.

The Church of Ireland continued to take an active part in the life of the Irish Council of Churches and the Churches together in Britain and Ireland as well as internationally through the Conference of European Churches and the World Council of Churches, she added.

Last year the Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue established a European Affairs working group and the speaker expressed thanks to those who have agreed to take part.

She also paid tribute to the Revd Darren McCallig and Philip McKinley who had moved on from the commission.

The report was seconded by Ms Kate Turner and adopted by Synod.

A Motion on the membership of the Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue has been passed by General Synod.

The motion, in the names of the Ven Helene Steed and Ms Kate Turner, proposed that the following be appointed members of the commission:

The Archbishops and Bishops
The Revd Ása Björk Ólafsdöttir
The Revd Canon Patrick Comerford
The Revd Canon David Crooks
Ms Georgina Copty
The Revd Canon Ian Ellis
Mr Samuel Harper
Mrs Roberta McKelvey
Dr Kenneth Milne
Mr Trevor Morrow
The Revd Canon Daniel Nuzum
The Revd Niall Sloane
The Ven Helene Tarneberg Steed
Ms Catherine Turner

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