Bishop of Derry Hopes for Progress in Northern Ireland

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Rev Ken Good, has expressed his hopes for progress in relations between political parties in Northern Ireland.

Bishop Good reflected on decades of violence and "tragic loss of life" which he said had "left a legacy of communal mistrust and a polarised shift of population".

He said that the political progress in Northern Ireland in recent years had "too often been characterised by frustrating setbacks and disappointed hopes".

Bishop Good welcomed, however, the progress that had been made at the meeting between the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein in St Andrews earlier in the month, which he said "could well prove to be a genuine step forward in the process of trust building".

"Tribute needs to be paid to those who have demonstrated courageous leadership in their efforts to move the situation beyond the current impasse," said Bishop Good in his presidential address to the Synod of the Diocese of Derry and Raphoe Wednesday.

"This opportunity must be grasped and not squandered, and those who are working hard to lead courageously have my, and I trust our, support in their efforts to create a fair and just society in which we can all enjoy a shared future."

Looking to the future, Bishop Good expressed his hope in a fully functioning Northern Ireland Assembly.

"My personal longing is that when we gather again at next year's Diocesan Synod we will be able to look back with gratitude and a sense of achievement on some months of a Northern Ireland Assembly that has not just been up and running, but which has been working effectively on the many significant issues that are best resolved by locally elected and locally accountable politicians."

Turning his attention to church affairs, Bishop Good urged Synod to learn from the power of Jesus to attract listeners to him and thoroughly transform their lives with his message.

He said the good news that Jesus proclaimed was welcoming of everyone but not 'inclusive', warning Synod against a 'dumbing down' attraction that accepts the lowest common denominator, in favour of one "that has real substance, genuine content and the possibility of life-change".

Bishop Good praised the new Diocesan Centre in Derry, officially opened by Archbishop Robin Eames earlier in the year with the hope of playing a central role in bringing reconciliation within the wider community.

He said the newly refurbished premises were now a "catalyst for fresh and more dynamic life and ministry" and said that the interest of people was now being attracted to the activities of the Church of Ireland in the city.

Reflecting on what the Archbishop of Canterbury defined as the need for a 'mixed economy' in terms of how the Church meets and worships, Bishop Good urged Synod to look beyond corporate Sunday worship to other possibilities on other days of the week, at various times of the day and in settings and venues beyond the norm.

Bishop Good appealed for more parishes to help people discover and explore the basics of the Christian faith, encouraging the use of well-developed courses such as Alpha, Emmaus, or Exploring Christianity.