Irish church leaders meet to tackle 'sense of weariness'

More than 80 church leaders from across Ireland will gather in County Down today to seek fresh ways of moving forward together whilst maintaining diversity.

The meeting, hosted by Restoration Ministries, takes place against the backdrop of remarkable changes in Ireland's political landscape, including the new power-sharing government many hope has brought lasting peace after decades of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

In spite of the positive developments, the head of Restoration Ministries, the Rev Ruth Patterson is concerned over a "sense of weariness in the Churches" in Ireland.

She attributes this weariness in the North to the Troubles, and in the South to increasing secularism and materialism, as well as a sense among some that they have been betrayed by the church.

Patterson believes, however, that now is not the time for the island's Churches to be weary.

"Now is the crucial time for the churches to be aware, alert, relevant and envisioned," she said.

"We need to ask, 'Where will the energy and the vision come from? What are the things that we need to leave behind in order to move forward together and to celebrate the diversity that is God's gift to us? How can we leave behind our hurtful past and in humility recognise that together we have, even yet, something of hope to offer to the world?'"

Church leaders will spend the day trying to answer these questions and reinvigorate their hope for a united future. They include guest speaker Jean Vanier, founder of the L'Arche Community, the Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland Archbishops of Armagh, the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, and the President of the Methodist Church of Ireland.