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Next week the five Synods that make up the Presbyterian Church will meet at various locations throughout Ireland each bringing together around 200 ministers and lay representatives to take part in a service of Communion followed by a business meeting to discuss a variety of issues including evangelism and overseas mission.
Topping the agenda at the Synod of Ballymena and Coleraine which meets in Cullybackey (see details below) will be a report revealing that only a small number of local congregations have undertaken evangelistic events during the past session.
"If we are honest the matter of evangelism has a low priority in our Church programme. Members are prepared to 'put their back' into a one off special evangelistic event but the regular, ongoing, every member evangelistic activity is not happening."
The report compiled by Ballymena minister Rev Norman Brown from submissions made by each of the Presbyteries that make up the synod attacks what it describes as 'apathy' particularly among communicant members whose poor attendance at congregational prayer meetings is 'worrying and disturbing.'
Mr Brown continues by encouraging Presbyterians to get fully involved in the Life 2 programme of evangelism, recently launched by the Church's Board of Evangelism which "gives us the opportunity not only to put evangelism back on the Church agenda but also make it one of the top priorities. There will be the obvious need to proclaim the good news and in this modern generation we need more imaginative and relevant methods to do this vital task."
The Synod of Armagh and Down will focus its attention on Overseas Mission. "Getting the Vision Right" is the theme of the afternoon conference at the synod which will be lead by Rev Terry McMullen, secretary of the Presbyterian Church's Overseas Board. "Overseas Mission and how we approach it is constantly changing and the synod will have the chance to consider some of the challenges that face our missionaries and the policies that we adopt in working with partner churches around the world," said Mr McMullen.
Details of Synod Meetings are as follows:
- Synod of Dublin
- 10-03-97 at 7.00pm in Blackrock Presbyterian Church.
- Synod of Armagh and Down
- 11-03-97 at 11.30am in Annalong Presbyterian Church
- Synod of Ballymena and Coleraine
- 11-03-97 at 10.00am in Cunningham Memorial Presbyterian Church, Cullybackey.
- Synod of Belfast
- 11-03-97 at 10.00am in Townsend Presbyterian Church
- Synod of Derry and Omagh
- 12-03-97 at 2.30pm in Orritor Presbyterian Church.
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