Press Releases06 Jul 04

Church seeks answers to sectarianism

CHURCH SEEKS ANSWERS TO SECTARIANISM

Tuesday 6th July 2004

The Church of Ireland today announced a new initiative that will help the Church take a hard look at sectarianism both among its own members and in society.

The Church's recently appointed ttee is working to produce ideas and recommendations on how members of the Church in parishes, dioceses and in its central decision making structures can help people live with difference and encourage good relationships in the wider community.

The Venerable David Chillingworth, Archdeacon of Dromore and Rector of Seagoe Parish, Portadown, is acting chairman of The Hard Gospel Committee.

Archdeacon Chillingworth says: "The Committee has been tasked with a very critical and serious piece of work. In a rapidly-changing Ireland we are linking sectarianism with many other areas of social and ethnic difference. It is no longer just a northern issue."

The Committees work follows extensive consultation over the past year with the Church's 12 Diocesan Synods. These were based on the Hard Gospel Report, a study which described the attitudes of members of the Church of Ireland in the area of sectarianism. In Lent this year study material distributed to parishes linked main themes of the Report with passages of scripture.

"The Report tells us what the Church of Ireland thinks and feels about sectarianism and other living with difference issues. But it does not tell us what to do. Thats what we aim to explore and discover," says Archdeacon Chillingworth.

The Committee is to offer members of the Church of Ireland, clergy and people, the opportunity to explore the issues around sectarianism in greater depth. It will also develop ideas about the nature and purpose of the institutional and decision-making life of the Church of Ireland.

Archdeacon Chillingworth adds: "Change does not happen quickly. But we are on the move and the work of learning how to live with differences is continuing and will hopefully become imbedded in the life and mission of the Church of Ireland."

The members of the Hard Gospel Committee are:

Ven David Chillingworth (Acting Chairman); Mrs Joan Bruton, Meath; Rt Rev Ken Clarke, Kilmore; Rev Eileen Cremin, Cork; Rev Kenny Hall, Armagh; Ms Ruth Handy, Dublin; Rev Michael Parker, Down; Lady Brenda Sheil, Down; Rev Earl Storey, Derry; Ms Kate Turner, Connor; Mrs Elaine Way, Derry; Canon Trevor Williams, Connor; Rt Rev Michael Jackson, Clogher.