Page 29 - The Church of Ireland Apologetic for Mission?

The diocese of Clogher ‘seeks to promote and nurture a living faith in Jesus Christ among those who themselves seek to serve God in serving their neighbour in parish and community’.41
The dioceses of Kilmore, Elphin and Ardagh state their mission as ‘The Church of Ireland, as an authentic part of the universal church of God, is called to develop growing communities of faith, in and through which the Kingdom of God is made known, and in which the whole people serve together as followers of Jesus Christ for the good of the world to the Glory of God’.42 Their diocesan website notes, ‘In the Diocese of Kilmore Elphin and Ardagh we have set a 20/20 Vision of what we should be like in the next five years to 2020:
• Each local church should be a community which nourishes growth through worship, the Scriptures and prayer.
• Each local church should be welcoming, caring and generous in raising and resourcing ministry and mission.
• Each local church should be a place were ministry and mission is for all: clerical and lay, young and old. People should be trusted and trained for service within and outside the church.
• Each local church should be world looking, visible and active in the community and beyond.
• Each local church should be connected in prayer and partnership with each other and the worldwide church.
• Each local church should prioritize children, from pre-school to third level, passing on the faith to successive generations.
• Diocesan administration and structures should be relevant, accountable, representative and supportive of the local church. Diocesan resources should be released to this end.
The dioceses of Meath and Kildare state
41 http://clogher.anglican.org/
42 http://www.dkea.ie/
43 http://cashel.anglican.org/?page_id=1465
44 http://cork.anglican.org/welcome/mission-statement/
45 http://www.anglicancommunion.org/identity/marks-of-mission.aspx
their mission as being Together in God’s Love Transforming Lives. Arising from this three priorities have been identified:
a. To develop discipleship.
b.To develop different models of ministry.
c. To deliver practical action in our local communities delivered across the diocese.
The diocese of Cashel and Ossory have a Green Charter which notes:43
As Christians and members of the Anglican Communion, we have an obligation to protect God’s creation, not only nationally but globally. The Diocese of Cashel & Ossory affirms its commitment to Environmental Awareness and Protection by:
• Identifying areas of waste and excess.
• Encouraging environmental
consciousness in every parish.
• Promoting environmental responsibility in the broader community.
• Spiritually and financially supporting third world development, supporting fair trade and addressing the effects of climate change.
• Advocating policy change at local and national level that is environmentally beneficial.
The dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross states on its website that ‘Mission
takes place primarily in a local context – congregation, parish, diocese and province – it is the responsibility of every baptised Christian; young and old, male and female, lay and ordained’.44 It then references
The Five Marks of Mission (The Anglican Consultative Council – ACC-6 and ACC-8).45
a. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
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