Page 30 - The Church of Ireland Apologetic for Mission?

b. To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
c. To respond to human need by loving service
d.To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation
e. To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth
In addition it notes the Mission Statement devised by the Church of Ireland House of Bishops.
2016 is the year of Come & C in Dublin and Glendalough. The initiative is designed to equip people for discipleship and deepen their understanding of their own faith. Come&C is centred around the Five Marks of Mission of the Anglican Communion which have been distilled to the Five Ts: TELL – To proclaim God’s Kingdom; TEACH – To teach, baptise and nurture; TEND – To respond to human need; TRANSFORM – To transform unjust structures; and TREASURE – To safeguard creation.46
The dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry notes on its website that it is an apostolic church, maintaining an unbroken link with the early apostles and drawing on the apostolic faith in its teaching and worship.47
On its website the Diocese of Armagh states that it is not about a great inheritance or even a vibrant present. It sets its face to the future also. One of the great challenges we now must face with energy is the equipping of all the people of the Church to be evangelists for the faith. All Christian disciples must be enabled
to account to others for the faith they claim for themselves. In the secularised culture of Ireland, north and south, east and west, the great commission of the Church is to equip all the people of God to speak persuasively with both confidence and clarity of the Gospel that is theirs to share with the world.48
http://dublin.anglican.org/Come-and-C http://www.tuam.anglican.org/what-we-believe/ http://armagh.anglican.org/AboutUs.html http://www.limerick.anglican.org/
The dioceses of Limerick and Killaloe
states on its website that it is an Anglican community, bearing witness to the one God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, who creates
and redeems all things. It also says it has a common purpose – to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in our local area. We believe that our faith can transform lives and that God continues to be at work in the world through his Spirit.49
No central record exists of all funds given by dioceses or parishes to mission, either in Ireland or globally. However, examples available as a matter of public record, suggest that significant sums are given to mission:
Contributions (from the Annual Report) of a specimen diocese in the Republic of Ireland) to Missions and Charities 2013 give an indication of support for mission.
Overseas Missions Home/ General Missions Charities & Miscellaneous
2. Long Term Church
€41,558 €33,031 €33,215
The Church of Ireland’s Long Term Church initiative seeks to equip and support those serving the Church as it readies itself for a challenging future.
In line with the vision of the Archbishop
of Armagh for the future of the Church, Long Term Church combines a number of strategic projects which will develop and re-organise the central Church in order that it can better support the missional and pastoral strategy of the whole Church of Ireland.
The objective is not that the Representative Church Body (RCB) would prescribe mission but rather that it will better support the initiatives coming from the House of Bishops, General Synod, Committees, dioceses and parishes. It should be emphasised that the RCB is not seeking to “do mission” but rather to facilitate, support and encourage the real mission of the
46 47 48
30 49