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In comments reflecting on his year of office, outgoing Presbyterian Moderator Dr Trevor Morrow, who stands down at the opening meeting of the General Assembly this Monday 4 June (Church House Fisherwick Place 7.00pm) has said that the most testing issue to which we need to respond is how we deal with our past.
'How we individually and collectively deal with our past,' says Dr Morrow, 'will determine our future both North and South.' He sees three options. The first is a 'form of amnesia' brought about by drawing a line in the sand on the basis that 'time will allow us to forget injustice and the creative process of rebuilding will help in our corporate redemption.' The second 'presupposes a need to know the truth and with it a demand for justice. Only those who have felt the moral outrage of being treated unjustly can identify with the passion for Tribunals and Judicial Enquiries. However,' concludes Morrow, 'the naked pursuit of justice, especially if it is seen to be only for a few, will simply polarise us even more.'
The option proposed by the Moderator is based 'on the principle that we have all sinned and have been sinned against , we seek the truth not only in our own interests but in the pursuit of a greater justice for us all. To bring about a just society we need not only to seek the truth but we need to offer the truth offering the account of our involvement and responsibilities.' This, thinks Dr Morrow 'may be a painful even traumatic process but it provides a context in which we can truly understand and be understood, where we can console and be consoled , where we can acknowledge and be acknowledged, where we can repent and practice forgiveness and so establish reconciliation. This seems to me,' concludes the Moderator, 'to mirror the principles of the Kingdom of God.'
Turning his attention to the victims of various atrocities and murders whom he has had the opportunity to meet during the last 12 months Dr Morrow has found them to be 'gentle, vulnerable and hurting people.' Commenting on their treatment he continues, 'I am alarmed how poorly they have been treated by government bureaucracy and the lack of adequate compensation for them has been simply outrageous. So therefore, the recent additional funding for victims which has been announced by the government is to be warmly welcomed.'
The Moderator has praise for the agricultural departments both North and South and their respective ministers, Brid Rodgers and Joe Walsh whom he considers to have done an outstanding job in protecting us from the worst excesses of the Foot and Mouth virus. . 'The blight of Foot and Mouth added still further stress upon the farming community and has created major economic hardship for many in the Tourist industry. We, as a church have sought to show solidarity with those who are feeling the strain and we have been much in prayer for them.'
In many of the contentious issues facing the community the outgoing Moderator sees a strong moral dimension.
On Parades. 'The matter of parades place in tension two rights, the right to parade and the right to protest. It has been the consistent policy of our GA that local accommodation ought to be secured but when this has not been reached then the decision of the Parades Commission is the law and ought to be obeyed.'
On Policing. 'Insofar as the Police Bill is now law, whatever our reservations and objections, we believe, the New Police Service of Northern Ireland ought to be supported in its implementation. Parliament has the right to alter this legislation in the future but we cannot morally justify the withholding of support from a police service, which is legislated for, until we have secured all that we would want.'
On Decommissioning. 'We have also argued that decommissioning is a moral imperative especially on the basis of the Mitchell principles, which established the framework for the Good Friday negotiations and the present arrangements for the government of Northern Ireland. Whatever the merits or demerits of how the law is formulated and maintained in the two jurisdictions, or whatever our political aspirations, there can only be one law enforcement agency in any stable and just society. Our political realism recognises that decommissioning will be a difficult process but it needs to begin. Such a gesture would not only build trust in Northern Ireland but it would give us fresh hope for all our future on this island.'
Lastly in considering the state of the Presbyterian Church Dr Morrow sees some 'amazing strengths,' coupled with 'striking weaknesses.'
'When we work within our own subculture, that is among God fearing, law honouring people who live on the basis of traditional values - we do things very well. We still have throughout Ulster strong congregations full of faithful and Godly people. The potential and actual spiritual resources within our community are extraordinary. To have almost 3,000 women at a PWA AGM or for Union College to be awarding nearly 300 certificates to those who have undergone leadership training in Youth Work and Sunday School is just a sample of what is possible through the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. I was also thrilled by the generosity of our people to the Moderators Gujarat earthquake appeal which is now approaching £700,000.'
'However to an increasing number of people on this island, we are irrelevant. What we do and how we do it is for them - the land of Zog. It is like another planet. The way we do things, in terms of our life and worship, is our subculture. It runs parallel with our contemporary sub culture, or how most people do things. There is apparently no point of contact, where they can connect with us and us with them. For years we have trained our missionaries for cross cultural communication so that they can relate to peoples of other nations who are different. In Ireland today, the widening cultural gap between church goers and the secular world means that every minister, elder and Christian leader needs to be trained in this area. Our kirk sessions need to have this as a priority on their agenda.. How we 'do' church is so different from how ordinary people 'do' just about everything else. That's why Irish Christians in the 21st century desperately need to rediscover the incarnation. Amazing as it is, the Son of God set aside the cultural and subcultural privileges of glory and became one of us, we who do things so differently, in order that he might save us. This is how radical we need to be. It means that in terms of our church's life and worship and ministry everything ought to be negotiable, except the gospel.'
For further information visit the General Assembly section
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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