Day 2
Council for Mission Highlights Successful Global Partnerships
The essential role of mission in the Church of Ireland was highlighted at General Synod today. In proposing the report of the Council for Mission, Sarah Taylor (Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh) outlined their work over the past year and upcoming plans for mission.
On behalf of the council she paid tribute to the members who faithfully served but have stepped down from the council in the past year. She also welcomed their newest members and encouraged any diocese that is not currently represented on the council to consider potential nominees so that their work is covered nationwide.
Ms Taylor encouraged members of Synod to tune into the council’s podcasts – ‘Mission Matters, the Church of Ireland Council for Mission Podcast’ – which are available on all podcast platforms. Covering topics of mission both at home and internationally, she said they are really encouraging and enlightening.
Having welcomed their first Global Mission Partner, the council decided to continue to foster partnerships across the Anglican Communion by welcoming the Revd Frank Bernardi from Tunis, who spoke of his experience of sharing the Gospel in North Africa. She said the stories from Revd Frank and Alan Cousins of SAT–7 were thought provoking and transformative in how we walk with our brothers and sisters in Christ in other parts of the world.
The council is continuing this by sending the Revd Mike Buchanan from Dublin and Glendalough to Egypt, with the help of CMS Ireland.
Seconding the report, the Revd Johnny McFarland (Derry and Raphoe) observed that the completion of the space mission by Artemis II served as a reminder that any significant undertaking required vision, preparation and perseverance. “Yet for the Church, our vision is not something we create for ourselves. It is given to us in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and expressed clearly in the Anglican Communion’s Five Marks of Mission,” he stated.
He spoke of the work of the Council for Mission in support the church in each area of the Five Marks: to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom; to teach, baptise, and nurture new believers; to respond to human need by loving service; to challenge injustice, to seek peace, and to pursue reconciliation; and to care for creation.
“Members of Synod, these Five Marks are not separate programmes, but different expressions of one calling: to glorify God and to make Him known. Mission belongs to God before it belongs to us. We are invited to take part in what He is already doing,” Mr McFarland said. “The role of the Council for Mission is to support and encourage this participation both at home and overseas with our mission partners —to resource parishes, to strengthen leadership, and to enable the Church to remain outward–looking and Gospel–centred.”
Discussion on the Report
Speaking to the report, the Revd Adrian Dorian (Down) commended the work of the council on working towards a common purpose to walk together in unity and mission.
The Revd Patrick Bamber (Elphin and Ardagh) said he had benefited from the opportunity to be with Christians from other parts of the world. He wished the Revd Mike Buchanan. well going to Egypt and he said the visit of the Revd Frank Bernardi was inspirational. He encouraged members to engage with Christians from other parts of the world.
Nigel Quinn (Down and Dromore) spoke about his parish of Drumbeg’s partnership with the Diocese of Egypt. He spoke about the Anglican witness in Egypt which sits at the centre of a ring of fire with every surrounding country at war. He said our Anglican brothers and sisters are stepping up to meet the needs of people impacted by these conflicts. He asked members of Synod to pray for Christians in Egypt.