Presbyterian Herald Autumn 2021

Page 51

AS I SEE IT...

A centenary and the church’s mission Trevor Morrow

O

f the 100 years since Northern Ireland was formed, I, as of unionist and republican nationalism of 1921 no longer exists. an Ulsterman born to the sound of Lambeg drums, have The Republic in which I have lived and ministered for close to spent over one third of its existence in the Republic of four decades is not only not a Roman Catholic state but is possibly Ireland. more secular than Northern Ireland. What then is the mission of The rationale of Northern Ireland was an expression of the God to which we are called today as those who are members of resurgent nationalism of that era in which it was thought helpful to churches on the totality of the island? It cannot be surely the mere create national boundaries based on cultural and religious identity. preservation of our identity despite the numerical decline in church An all-Ireland state would make the Protestants in the minority, so membership and the waning influence of the church on public to alleviate their fears, six counties, in which the Protestant majority policy, North and South. could be guaranteed, was constituted as Northern Ireland within I think two clear commands of Christ are before us in terms of the United Kingdom. The Churches then, as now, were all-Ireland the missio ecclesiae for Ireland. First, we are to make disciples of all institutions. How then did the creation of nations/peoples and that must include the Northern Ireland affect their understanding British Irish and the non-British Irish in …as all-Ireland of their mission on the island? that “every nation tribe and tongue” will be Churches…we will need part of this. Second, we are to seek first the Expressing and preserving their identity was essentially their mission. We see this in of God and his justice so that the radical communities that kingdom three ways. First, structures were clarified to prayer Jesus taught us may become a reality, ensure that their branch of the Church would will be known above all that his kingdom will come and that his rule be maintained by servicing congregations done. else for practising grace. willSo,bewhat or parishes in their tradition. This was does this mean in practice? If the particularly so in parishes of the Church of kingdom of God is first in our thinking, then Ireland and in home mission congregations for the Presbyterians the church as a sign of that kingdom, must be willing to adapt to and Methodists and especially in border areas and those scattered whatever political structures on this island would best express and throughout the island. extend the kingdom, both in terms of evangelism and in pursuing Second, in terms of education. In the Republic of Ireland schools the justice of God. The new social order in Christ in which Jews were primarily under Roman Catholic Church patronage. This and Gentiles are one did not mean that Jews ceased to be Jews or enabled the Protestants to have their own schools and so express Romans ceased to be Romans. Our expectations are; therefore, that and maintain their identity. In the North, again, education was whatever institutions will be in place in the future that might best segregated with Roman Catholics having their own schools and enable the coming of the kingdom of God, unionists will not cease the Protestants attending schools, which, although under the to be unionists and nationalists will not cease to be nationalists. state, nevertheless had key board appointments to maintain the For us, in the Reformed catholic tradition, we cherish what Protestant ethos. Christ has done for us as sinners in terms of his amazing grace. The third key aspect was that the majority Church or Churches If as all-Ireland Churches with a heart for the kingdom rule of in the two jurisdictions could now influence social morality God, we will need radical communities that will be known above according to their respective traditions and again to express and all else for practising grace. On the basis that God did not treat us preserve their identity. Protestants may have been aghast that as we deserved but instead for us became a servant, who died for potential legislation in the Dail was first sent to Drumcondra for our sins, then it would be transformative to our mission to have the approval of John Charles McQuaid, the Archbishop. However, communities that would serve, seek justice and love extravagantly the majority Protestant Church in the new Northern state was those who are different from us and may even have caused us Presbyterian. In the DNA of the Presbyterian Church is a belief unimaginable pain. In this way we will be a blessing to all of Ireland in a national or state Church in which the rule of Christ can be and we will experience a foretaste of that day when Lambeg drums expressed. So, the Presbyterian Church became the unionist party will sound the rhythm for Irish dancers as they enter the City of at prayer. They used their influence to effect an expression of their God. Reformed social morality. Today the situation is radically different. A secular world view is Very Rev Dr Trevor Morrow is minister emeritus of Lucan the prevailing faith commitment in both jurisdictions. The rationale Presbyterian and a former PCI Moderator. Herald Autumn 2021

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