|
|
|
Dr Alastair Dunlop has become only the third son of a Presbyterian Moderator to be appointed to the same office when he was installed as moderator in succession to Dr Trevor Morrow at tonight's (Monday 4 June at 7.00pm) opening session of the General Assembly meeting in Church House, Fisherwick Place, Belfast. Dr Dunlop's father, Dr James Dunlop was moderator in 1964.
Addressing the 1200 delegates and invited guests, who were expected to include Sir Reg Empy and Lord Alderdice, members of Dr Dunlop's Knock congregation, the Moderator introduced his theme for the year 'People Matter to God,' comparing it to the forthcoming election in which it was the also people, the voters, who really mattered.
Highlighting the continuing surfacing of community tensions set against the progress in many areas, 'some things never seem to change,' said Dr Dunlop. 'Despite all the political process in these islands, and the best minds of able people, the deep things, the fundamental things, the crucial relational things seem to follow an unending cycle of mistrust, recrimination, tension, bitterness and, eventually, violence.'
Though believing that 'political process is always important to the health of any nation or community, and that it is critically important here at this present time,' the Moderator continued that 'Political processes alone don't seem to be able to do the business. No,' said Dr Dunlop, 'it is not political process that is the hope of the world. It is the church.'
However the Moderator was quick to define his use of the word church. 'Not a stale church that does business as usual, with no clear idea of why it exists and what it is supposed to be doing. But a church with vision. A church that doesn't just talk about vision, but a church that is seeing its vision become reality. Nothing is more important to the future of this land than local churches in which and through which God is at work, touching and changing local communities.'
'What is your vision for the village or community or town or city where you live? What is your vision for Ireland, for the world, for the church?' challenged Dr Dunlop. 'As Moderator I set before the Presbyterian Church in Ireland a vision. It is a vision of how church ought to be, a vision for the local congregation in each place. It is not a vision for the sake of the church, the people of God, we who are 'insiders'. It is a vision for the sake of the people of our land, all the people of our land, the vast majority who are 'outsiders'. People matter to God.'
Dr Dunlop first considered this vision in terms of service to develop churches that would connect with communities.
'Worship is not just what we do on Sundays in church. It is the offering of ourselves to God in service. We need in our congregations to develop a process to help and enable every member to find a place of meaningful service, not just within the congregation, but in our communities. We exist for others, not for ourselves - for outsiders, not for our members. We need to find creative ways to make connections with local communities all around us. We need to get involved, to serve people, to show them that we care, that God cares. People matter. People matter to God. They will not hear what we say unless and until they see the local church prepared to get its hands dirty working with them, sitting where they sit, in an attitude of servant-hood. And even if then they do not want to hear, or will not hear, we need to go on serving them in the name of Jesus, because people matter, and they matter to God.'
Developing the vision Dr Dunlop suggested discipleship or spiritual growth as another important aspect that would allow alignment of our values with God's values..
'Here is something else necessary - a way of helping new Christians grow. Not just the acquiring of knowledge, but a clearer understanding of self, and of life, and of other people, from God's perspective. An alignment of values with God's values. A development of character in terms of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. An intentional discipleship process within our congregations which doesn't just facilitate knowledge, but facilitates growth. Discipleship seldom happens haphazardly.
Fellowship too is import and in this vision churches should be places to belong argued Dr Dunlop.
'I firmly believe that church must be not just a place to attend, but a place to belong, a place to be accepted, a place where forgiveness and love are practised, a place where the hurting, the depressed, the frustrated and the confused can find help, hope, forgiveness, guidance, support and encouragement. In other words, congregations must become biblically functioning communities. So we are called to practice and model the good news of Jesus Christ in all our relationships simply because each person matters to God. No matter who that person is. No matter what that person has done. God's grace has reached into our lives in Jesus Christ to change us, despite the marred image that was and is still there. He did it to renew the image, to restore it one day to pristine condition. So we despise no-one. So we respect everyone.'
Concluding the Moderator said that a church would show fulfillment of this vision through its worship.
'Our churches must be marked by freshness and reality in public worship, by an overwhelming spirit of gratitude and adoration of a God who can touch and change lives for all eternity.'
Earlier in the evening outgoing Moderator Dr Trevor Morrow had thanked the Assembly for the 'honour and privilege of being Moderator for the last year. It had been exciting, exhausting and a great joy.'
Reflecting on his year Dr Morrow saw both tremendous strengths and striking weaknesses in the church. '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. 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. There is apparently no point of contact, where they can connect with us and us with them. How we 'do' church is so different from how ordinary people 'do' just about everything else. 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.'
The Assembly continues its meeting in Church House, Belfast until Friday, June 8, where it will appoint a successor to present Assembly Clerk Dr Sam Hutchinson, announce a new programme to train Presbyterian youth leaders to deliver effective reconciliation programmes, consider whether to produce a new hymnbook and discuss a report entitled 'Engaging with the Community: the challenge of mission in the 21st Century' written by the Board of Social Witness. Business sessions and Assembly Worship at lunchtime 12.15pm 1.00pm, conducted by the Moderator and Rev Alastair Morrice are open to the non members of Assembly.
For further information visit the General Assembly section
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
PCI Home . . . Press Office . . . News Archive