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At 9.30am the Assembly will hear the report of the Church and Government committee presented by Dr John Dunlop. This committee has wide ranging brief representing the General Assembly in matters arising between the Church and Government authorities and in other matters of public interest.
The emphasis of the report is that while it would be easy to write in an attitude of complaint there is a recognition of the dramatic improvement of what the report calls our privileged society. In respect of the new policing arrangements the committee does comment that it is regrettable that Nationalists, Republicans and the Roman Catholic Church have not encouraged recruitment to the new police service. The Assembly will be asked to issue a further call for decommissioning and that the new Police Boards be brought into action immediately.
The Committee is also presenting its submission on the Bill of Rights while an additional late resolution draws attention to the increase in what is described as vigilantism which it describes as something which should not be accepted as a normal way of ordering society.
The Assembly will be asked to express its sympathy to all in the farming community and other affected by the foot and mouth outbreak
After lunch (2.00pm) the Board of Social Witness presents its report entitled 'Engaging with the Community: the Challenge of Mission in the 21st Century.' This discussion paper is in response to the attitude that the church is no longer the bedrock of Irish society, doesn't have the final word on morality and isn't even asked for its opinion on some issues. A series of authors including Sir Fred Catherwood and Esmond Birnie MLA argue the case for Christian social action alongside participation in the political process.
Later in the afternoon at about 3.00pm in the Board of Mission in Ireland report on the whole issue of planing guidelines in the Republic and their restrictive nature. New guidelines prepared by the government recognise the need to respect 'liturgical' requirements but refer to balancing these with the protection of the character of the interior of a building. In its report the board comments that Churches could find themselves maintaining buildings they do not need out of funds they do not have for people who do not go. The Assembly will be asked to encourage the Church Leaders to raise this matter at the highest level with the Government of the Irish Republic.
For further information visit the General Assembly section
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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