Page 38 - The Church of Ireland Apologetic for Mission?

• Select Committee on Human Sexuality in the Context of Christian Belief
• CovenantCouncil
• ChurchofIrelandCouncilforMission
• ChurchofIrelandMarriageCouncil
• Church’sMinistryofHealing
12. Miscellaneous Church of Ireland organisations with charitable purposes
There are a range of bodies, run by the Church of Ireland, with the purpose of meeting practical need. These include charitable foundations such as Protestant Aid, Boards of Social Action, retirement homes and other initiatives. The Church of Ireland Directory lists over forty national organisations. There are also many diocesan and local bodies.
The Church also run a large number of schools (National and Secondary level), particularly in the Republic of Ireland. There are also chaplaincies in various institutions in a wide range of institutions.
Enabling the above to function effectively involves significant financial commitment as well as volunteering of time and expertise.
The Church of Ireland Directory 2015 lists a wide range of organisations associated with the Church of Ireland, at least 20 of which have clear objectives of service, outreach or that address important social issues.55
13. There are high levels of volunteering amongst members of the Church of Ireland, contributing to local communities, meeting practical need and contributing to mission initiatives beyond the Church of Ireland.
14. Addressing contemporary social issues
In recent years the Church of Ireland has established mechanisms to address significant social issues, including:
Hard Gospel Process
The Hard Gospel process was established by the Church of Ireland to address issues of sectarianism and living constructively with difference. It began in the tense atmosphere
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38 56 p 3-4 Hard Gospel Project Evaluation Report
of Drumcree and a general context across the island of Ireland where it was very difficult to talk about sectarianism. The process included:
• TheestablishmentofaChurchofIreland Sectarianism Working Party in 1997.
• ThesettingupoftheSectarianism Education Project in 2001.
• ThecommissioningoftheHardGospel Report (received by General Synod in 2003) to ascertain the attitudes, needs and experiences of clergy and lay people regarding sectarianism and living with difference.
• TheestablishmentoftheHardGospel Project in 2005.
An independent Evaluation noted:56
• TheHardGospelProjectinitiated, developed, supported and coordinated
a wide range of activities involving more than 7,500 people across every diocese in Ireland ... This is the most substantial denominational church initiative of its kind to have taken place in Ireland.
• TheChurchofIrelanddemonstrated
its commitment to the development
and implementation of the Hard Gospel Project through the level of time and resources invested in ensuring it made
a difference. The project was managed effectively through the Hard Gospel Committee and a high level of activity was stimulated and delivered by the small project staff team.
• Discussionof‘HardGospelissues’has become normative within the Church of Ireland. The issues and approaches of the Hard Gospel are becoming mainstreamed into the Church and there has been a degree of culture change towards more open discussion of diversity issues. This enabled the Church to take a series of new initiatives and some of these had an impact in the wider community.
• Theprojectenhancedtheoverall capability of the Church of Ireland to take initiatives to build peace and transform