PCI General Assembly

General Assembly Review - Wednesday 4 June 2008

Church Must Reduce Carbon Emissions - Mission Overseas (p116-138)

The Board of Mission Overseas reported on the involvement of over 35 personnel in 12 countries around the world. It also highlighted its partnership arrangements with a variety of churches in 19 countries and explained how it continues to change its strategies as relationships develop for the benefit of all.

Rev John Hanna proposed the report. He said, "We as a Board are being helped to ask and answer the question, 'what kind of a partner in mission are we?" As a Board we are committed to continue with the task of answering this question honestly. Regular mutual visits and consultations garner not only warm experience but also rich insights and critical gifts and skills that help us see not only what is, but what might be in our shared faith endeavours.

"We want to pay tribute today to the strengthening of the home base in mission as so many of our congregations take up the challenge to reach out from the end of the pew to the end of the world. Giving is up, giving to projects is up, giving through PWA and YWG, YAC and Junior BB projects continues to encourage as we see partners in Brazil, India and Eastern Europe push on into new mission enterprises with the support of so many here. Teams travel, groups pray, individuals and families respond. The work of the Lord of Mission continues as we commit together in mission in a more realistic way. We long to see this continue and grow."

Rev Uel Marrs seconded the report and spoke about healthcare mission, "There are many interrelated factors influencing and underlining the importance of Healthcare mission today. For example food prices have increased by an average of 40% globally over the past year, leading in some countries to food riots, political instability and growing malnutrition and disease.

"The Board continues to stand with partners around the world, not least in East and Central Africa, as they not only manage and develop mission hospitals, in many cases handed over by western agencies but also take forward new community based primary health care initiatives. As we call upon our church to recognise the broad range of opportunities to share in medical mission, we have thought long and hard over our involvement in healthcare mission."

Speaking about future plans of the Board he said, "It is the plan of the Outreach Ministries Committee to report more broadly next year on Church planting and evangelism in the overseas context and also to look afresh at out relationship to some of the specialist service agencies, engaged to work that is fundamental to global mission, indeed work that governments and secular NGOs and agencies would not normally support. Societies and agencies such as The Bible Society, Wycliffe Bible Translators, FEBA Radio and SAT7 who broadcast the Christian gospel with clarity and cultural sensitivity with significant impact in the Arab world."

Speaking about the dangers facing PCI missionary families, Rev Marrs commented, "BMO is daily conscious of the challenges to the safety of some of our partners, nor do we take for granted the security and well being of any of our missionary families. Behind the scenes a great deal of work goes on in the Mission Overseas Office to monitor the security situations and our security advisor is regularly consulted. Please remember that at present, the Board have two couples working in Central Asia and three families serving in Kenya. Prayerline gives regular updates on them all and your prayers are vital, not only for the effectiveness of their work, but also for their safety and wellbeing."

BMO resolutions were not completed, including a resolution brought by the World Development Committee encouraging the whole church to identify means by which they can reduce their carbon emissions and implement them. This fell into lapsed business and will be dealt with in tomorrow's meeting.

Government Must Fund Learning Disability Provision - Social Witness (p167-189)

In its report (p184) the Board expressed its 'deep disappointment' at what it described as 'the Government's unwillingness to provide funding for services to those with learning disabilities and their carers.' A resolution was brought to the Assembly calling on the Northern Ireland Assembly to provide additional funds for the whole area of learning disability, their carers and respite care. This resolution was passed.

Proposing the report and recognising in particular the work of Chaplains, including those working in hospitals, universities, prisons or with the forces, Rev Roy Vallely said, "As our Church acknowledges Social Witness as one of the Mission Boards of our Church doing mission in social settings then I would affirm that Chaplaincy is mission work. We are indebted to all our serving Chaplains and each has a story to tell of reaching out to the lives of individuals in particular situations and seeking to make a difference in the Name of Christ."

Seconding the report, Lindsay Conway, Director of Social Services commented on the recent success of a Board conference, "A participant at our recent conference on 'The Church and Suicide" -- who came from another denomination, commended us for again tackling an issue that others avoid or neglect. Over 200 attended a full day conference that examined a very sensitive issue in a very systematic and pastoral manner."

Commenting on the Board's implementation of 'Taking Care' Child Protection Guidelines and the failure of some congregations to adopt these guidelines Mr Conway said, "We have to acknowledge that we have a Ministry to those who are currently being abused, those survivors of abuse, the perpetrator and offenders - very distinctive ministries, a process that must comply with the Law of the Land and not place the individual survivors at further risk. I have had the privilege of working with these survivors. They never fully recover, their innocence can never be returned, they carry the scars into their adult life, into parenthood -- many will forgive, learn to live with their abuse, but will never fully forget. I have also worked with many sex offenders and fully understand how their lives have been affected by their offending and rehabilitation."

Resolutions 5-8 moved to lapsed business including a resolution that all concerns, complaints and disclosures in a congregation relating to child protection are reported to the General Assembly Designated Person and Clerk of Presbytery without delay.

Immigration System Undermines Human Dignity - General Board (p215-219)

In the light of the experience of Rev Johnston Lambe and the members of his congregation who were refused asylum earlier this year, the Panel on Race Relations, which reports through the General Board stated that the 'policies and practice of the immigration system frequently undermines the dignity and value of the human beings concerned'. (p50) The report went on to comment that 'the timing of arrests, the nature of questioning, the excessive deployment of security forces in their detention and the transport of the detainees all reinforce this perception.' The report also noted that neither local politicians or church leaders were able to impact the decisions made by the Home Office.

Commenting on this Rev Richard Kerr, convener of the Race Relations Panel said, "I publically applaud Mountpottinger congregation, their Kirk Session and minister Rev Johnston Lambe for the very sensitive, loving and courageous way in which they stood with the Adefowoju and Falode families. Here we have a very public example of how the church can and should stand with the vulnerable; the immigrant, with those whose voice is seldom heard, with those who face an uncertain future."

Rev Kerr recognised the complexities involved with immigration issues and commended resolution 20 to the House -- "that the Race Relations Panel be encouraged to explore ways of improving support to ministers dealing with pastoral issues in relation to immigrants." This resolution was passed.

In proposing the General Board's report, Clerk of the Assembly Dr Donald Watts spoke of the need to look at Church structures, "We have done away with the Synods but are Presbyteries really geared for the work that we expect of them and ask of them? Several of our Boards and Committees have been concerned that we need to give further thought to the function of a Presbytery, the size of a Presbytery and how it may more effectively carry out its work."

Speaking on the Church's profile in society Dr Watts commented, "During the last year there have been times when we have been in the press in ways which I believe are unfortunate. Sometimes the reporting has been unhelpful and certainly when I read headlines like "Church in crisis" I don"t even begin to recognise it as the Church I serve. We are not in crisis. We should try to keep out of the headlines in unnecessary ways. But we are a Church moving forward and we have a story to tell and will tell that story. We have people to influence and we will exercise that influence. We are a Church which I believe is growing in confidence as we look at some of the real issues we face in the world as we move forward under God's strength and guidance. We are a Church with an enormous future to fulfil and we will do so in Christ's way."

Seconding the report Rev Alan Boal brought to the attention of the Assembly various issues facing the Republic of Ireland, including the change of Taoiseach, integration, civil partnerships, Sunday sport and the Lisbon Treaty.

Rev Lesley Carroll spoke as co-convener of the Church and Society Committee, "It is our God-given privilege and responsibility to help shape society with our Christian principles, commitment and behaviour and the outgoing work of local policing is one way in which we can do that. When we urge political parties to continue to work together we must also turn that challenge back on ourselves and hear the call to work together with others in society to shape and create a better future for us all."

Rev Norman Hamilton from Ballysillan commented on peace walls being built in North Belfast, "The effects of such monstrosities on Christian ministry is devastating. How can congregational ministry be effective if we can barely hear people on the other side of the wall even if they shout, or minister to them if we are effectively prevented from meeting them? I do not want these walls taken down tomorrow. But I do want the discourse about what needs to happen to take them down -- to start tomorrow."

Rev Hamilton also spoke about the Eames / Bradley Consultative Group, "As the largest Protestant Church in the province, we have a special privilege and responsibility to accept the Consultative Group's specific new challenge to make a substantial contribution to the well being of this still hurting and divided society, for such work is not new to us. For over a generation we have pastored families and communities ravaged by terrorism and bitterness."

Resolutions 1-23a were passed. An amendment to 23b was passed by 113 votes to 112. This resolution, brought by Rev Trevor Morrow and Dr Gary Millar referred to the site at Lucan and proposed plans to turn it into sheltered accommodation. The amendment reads, "That the General Assembly
(a) instruct the Board of Social Witness to enter discussions with South Dublin City Council in order to develop sheltered accommodation on part of the Lucan site and
(b )agree to transfer the remainder of the site with the residential facilities to the Presbytery of Dublin and Munster."

All other resolutions fell into lapsed business.

Issued by Sarah Harding, Presbyterian Information Services. info@presbyterianireland.org

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