Day 3
Plight of Persecuted Christians Worldwide Highlighted at Synod
A motion calling on General Synod to acknowledge the rapidly increasing levels of the persecution of Christians worldwide and requesting that Standing Committee would explore ways in which this issue could be brought more fully to the attention of Synod in 2020 was proposed at Synod today.
Proposing the motion, Derek Neilson (Glendalough) referred to a recent article by Breda O’Brien highlighting the persecution of Christians around the globe and saying that Christians were the most persecuted people.
He said “Some people might say, why should this motion single out the persecution of Christians when there are many other peoples and religions persecuted throughout the world and I would accept that argument. I would be willing to support motions asking synod to support others who are persecuted. However, if this General Synod is going to highlight persecution and to make a real stand, then we must start that somewhere and this motion seeks to do that in asking that concrete action be taken to support persecuted Christians around the world”.
The Revd Mark Harvey said he had driven to Synod today from prison. He had spent the night in Crumlin Road Prison as a fundraising opportunity. Driving back to synod he reflected on freedom and said that freedom was something we took for granted. He said that synod members had gathered over the last three days free from the fear of attack or being watched by secret police, free to worship as they choose, as people who are free to work without prejudice.
He highlighted the Open Doors watchlist of the top 50 countries where Christians face persecution. He said so many of our brothers and sisters around the world have no voice and we need to be the voice for the voiceless.
Geoffrey McMaster (Glendalough) supported the motion and mentioned an article by David Quinn who said that governments were slow to react to the persecution of Christians and churches were slow to let their people know of this persecution. He said the church had to show leadership.
The Revd Criag McAuley (Kilmore) said that on Easter Morning hearts were filled with sadness as the news of the devastating bombs in Sri Lanka. He said his mood changed to anger at the thought that Christians and holiday makers were killed for celebrating the risen Christ. He was angry at the media and politicians, as there was no like for like response between the lack of reaction to Sri Lanka and the huge response to the shootings in Christ Church. He said that they had failed Christians. He said it was a disgrace that so many politicians did not acknowledge that it was Christians who were killed. He said that many were persecuted for their faith and we in the church had to say we stand alongside them where the politicians and media fail them.
The motion was passed by members.