The Presbyterian Church wants to see what it describes as "momentous changes in society" according to a report presented to its General Board, the most representative body within the Church apart from the General Assembly, which met in Belfast today, Thursday 13 October.
The report from the Presbyterian Church and Society Committee says that it "seeks momentous changes in society arising from the engagement of government, civil society (including the churches) and local communities."
The report believes that the majority of people desire peace and urges prayer that "people may develop and express their will to make peace, thus transforming relationships at every level of society in Northern Ireland."
"The enduring challenge for all," continues the report, "is to heal our society and to that end we must steadily bend our energies and deploy our faith in God, who loved us before we loved him."
The report welcomes the recent act of decommissioning by the IRA which it does in light of the Church's deeply held conviction that "the removal of the threat and the development of trust enable new relationships." The report also "urges and prays" for the decommissioning of all paramilitary weaponry and for loyalist paramilitaries to engage purposefully with the IICD.
The report also looks to the future and the development of a context which enables human flourishing believing that it is time for politicians, members of civil society and every person in Northern Ireland to give attention to issues which affect common humanity.
"Education, poverty, health care, provision for the needs of older persons, attention to youth concerns, security of individuals and communities, freedom to trade without interference from criminal gangs, respectful relationships, the development of the human person to their full potential, justice and equality are matters which impact everyone beyond the boundaries of sectarian or racial division. When these matters are addressed collectively we believe a context for human flourishing will be created and the hope of society renewed. The churches, as members of civil society, can play their part alongside politicians and leaders."
The full report follows:
1. To the committee, as to many people, the time between the declaration of the IRA's intent to decommission and the announcement that final acts of decommissioning had taken place, has seemed very long. Yet, these acts have significance for the whole of Northern Irish society.
2. Since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has both urged and prayed for the decommissioning of paramilitary weaponry. We have accepted the IICD as the body to oversee decommissioning and taken the position that everything that could be done, should be done, to make the process of decommissioning credible to as wide a spectrum of people as possible. We have argued that decommissioning would be significant not only as a symbolic, confidence building measure, but as an integral part of building peace among divided people in Northern Ireland, removing the threat of violence and enabling trusting relationships. It is, therefore, in light of our deeply held conviction that the removal of threat and the development of trust enable new relationships that we welcome the act of decommissioning by the IRA.
3. It is clear that the act of decommissioning is viewed, by the Republican Community, as a momentous act. We hear the message that this is an act of courage, which took strategic and committed leadership and which has transformed the Republican cause into a fully political expression of its goals and aspirations. We see this from the outside and hear the concerns of the Unionist community regarding credibility and acknowledge the sense of this act coming very late in the day. However, while it is our conviction that no one can know if all the weaponry has been given up, we recognise that the amount is very significant, as indeed is the act of decommissioning itself.
4. The Church of Jesus Christ is concerned with peace and love, and with seeking the transformation of individuals, communities and societies towards good neighbourliness, justice, honesty and trusting relationships. It is our responsibility, as the Church of Jesus Christ, to recognise transformation when it happens and to welcome it, particularly when it enables others to move in the direction of their own transformation.
5. We seek momentous changes in society arising from the engagement of government, civil society (including the churches) and local communities. We continue to urge and pray for the decommissioning of all paramilitary weaponry, for loyalist paramilitary organisations to engage purposefully with the IICD on the issue of decommissioning, and for the will to make peace which is somewhat different and more urgent than the desire for peace. The attacks at Carnmoney Cemetery, the threat of further attacks, and the murder of Jim Gray are to be deplored and are evidence of the changes that need to be made in our society.
6. The majority of people desire peace; we pray that the majority of people may develop and express their will to make peace, thus transforming relationships at every level of society in Northern Ireland. The enduring challenge for all is to heal the centuries old fractures in our society and to that end we must steadily bend our energies and deploy our faith in God, who loved us before we loved him.
7. We believe that it is the time for politicians, members of civil society and every person in Northern Ireland to give attention to issues which affect our common humanity. In so doing we seek the creation of a context which enables human flourishing. Education, poverty, health care, provision for the needs of older persons, attention to youth concerns, security of individuals and communities, freedom to trade without interference from criminal gangs, respectful relationships, the development of the human person to their full potential, justice and equality are matters which impact everyone beyond the boundaries of sectarian or racial division. When these matters are addressed collectively we believe a context for human flourishing will be created and the hope of society renewed. The churches, as members of civil society, can play their part alongside politicians and leaders. We do so in the belief that God intends that we keep our tongues from evil, and our lips from speaking deceit; that we depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. (Psalm 34 vv13-14)
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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