Preaching in St Nicholas Collegiate Church in Galway at a Eucharist for members of the Church of Ireland General Synod, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill said that the crisis in the Anglican Communion “can be viewed positively.” His comments come in the lead up to the 14th Lambeth Conference when he, for the third time and the Archbishop of Armagh and the other Bishops of the Church of Ireland will travel to Canterbury England for a once a decade conference of worldwide Anglican Bishops.
The full text of the Archbishop’s Sermon can be found here
Speaking on the broad topic of unity in diversity, the Archbishop said “In the Church of Ireland, we have set a great store by the fact that we have been able to remain one in times of deep political division, and in spite of the fact that our ministry, North and South, is in a very different context. This is something that must not be taken for granted.”
Turning to the forthcoming Lambeth Conference (16 July – 4 August) which will bring together the Bishops of the Anglican Communion he will say that the crisis that Anglicanism faces has “enabled us to discover more of what it means to wrestle with the recognition of diversity and the call to unity which is of the very nature of the Church” adding “To settle too easily for one at the expense of the other is to miss something of the challenge of the Gospel.” Continuing he will say “Members of other Christian World Communions have commented that the issues that we are facing as Anglicans are there for all Christians, even if below the surface, and it may well be our vocation to pioneer a way forward. Indeed it is only together that Churches today can really make a difference and seize the opportunities for service and mission that are there.”
Concluding the Archbishop said “The Church of Ireland, side by side with other churches on this island, has a task to fulfil – opportunities to be grasped – and grasped when they present themselves. The call of the Scriptures through which God speaks to us as we worship reminds us of the priority of abiding in Christ, growing through worship and prayer. We are to express the urgency of being called together to unity whilst maintaining the richness of diversity. We are to proclaim the joyful hope that is at the heart of our entire ministry, lay and ordained – to bring good news, to offer a mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit.”
The General Synod of the Church of Ireland continues until Thursday 15 May. During proceedings today -14 May, the Synod will be addressed by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.
Ends
Item from: The Church of Ireland