Day 2
Council for Mission Booklet Aims to Encourage Mission and Discipleship
The Council for Mission’s goal of stimulating and encouraging mission in the Church of Ireland was highlighted at General Synod this afternoon. The council’s report was presented to members and their new mission booklet was launched (download ‘Radiant Faith’ by clicking here).
The report’s proposer, the Revd Adam Pullen, recalled the council’s time of reflection and re–envisioning, enabled by Earl Storey last September, which he said challenged members and drew them back to their core commission: to stimulate within the Church of Ireland a sense of the priority and urgency of mission, to advocate the equality and complementary nature of mission at home and throughout the world. They also looked to the future to see what resources were available and to seek an integrated and holistic model of mission. To do this they looked to the Five Marks of Mission of the Anglican Communion and in particular the first two: Tell and Teach.
To live up to their commission to stimulate and encourage mission within and from the Church of Ireland the council has collected good news stories of mission and discipleship from right across Ireland. These are presented in their booklet “Radiant Faith: Living out the Five Marks of Mission”.
The booklet includes stories from all 12 dioceses including an Eco–Congregation in Cork, Cloyne and Ross; Tuam, Killala and Achonry’s fresh water project in Kenya; The Bible Comes Alive in Clogher; and healing rooms in Redcross (Dublin and Glendalough).
“I have only mentioned some of the many stories demonstrating the living out of the many Marks of Mission, seen in each of these examples. Can I encourage you to read, share, be encouraged, and engage in mission? We would love to hear and know of many more stores of missions and discipleship,” Mr Pullen said.
The report was seconded by Julie Currie. She encouraged everyone to look at the Radiant Faith booklet and show the faith and own and share it. She said the book gave examples of how we can share our faith no matter where we are. She said our mission is to proclaim the Gospel and this should be radiant. She said that the booklet will stimulate ideas and initiatives and encouraged others to share their stories.
The Revd Dr Laurence Graham, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, echoed the Council for Mission’s call to people to familiarise themselves with the Five Marks of Mission and commended the booklet. He said missioned worked by an encounter with the Grace of Christ.
Speaking to the report the Revd Cliff Jeffers (Cork, Cloyne and Ross) also commended the Radiant Faith booklet and said it would be launched at each of the diocesan synods. He highlighted the Council for Mission Facebook page where people could read new stories and share their stories. It can be found at
https://www.facebook.com/Church-of-Ireland-Council-for-Mission-286567374840947/