Disestablishment 150
‘How can we better influence our society?’
The Venerable Robert Miller, Archbishop’s Commissary and Archdeacon of Derry, focused on the authority to influence the decisions of our society, strengthened by a lived–out faith, at yesterday’s Derry and Raphoe Diocesan Synod.
In his address to members of the synod in An Grianán Hotel, Burt, Co. Donegal, Archdeacon Miller recalled that, at the time of disestablishment, some “felt that the Church was being shorn of her power; they viewed disestablishment as a loss from which the Church might never recover.” However, to others, it presented an opportunity: “The Church of Ireland had to change. It no longer possessed power and status; now it could only influence society by an authority that came from its witness.”
He posed the question – “How can we better influence our society?” – and added that “we must live out that transformation first and foremost in our own lives and relationships.”
Archdeacon Miller outlined contemporary political challenges at length, describing our world as “fragmenting at a frightening rate” with Western civilisation “seeking to build bigger walls rather than longer tables” when Jesus calls us to live differently and more generously.
“In Ireland, we have sought to shape our society by a gentle authority,” he continued. “We are called to remember the pain of the conflict here, the hurt and trauma of which some still carry in broken bodies and scarred minds. However, we do not simply remember; we invite God to minister through us to redeem that very pain and trauma.”
Archdeacon Miller called for a commitment to pray for the resolution of the impasse at Stormont and honesty with ourselves as members of an electorate “which has allowed the ‘fixed–position politics’ – perhaps even the ‘trench warfare politics’ – of Northern Ireland to continue for far too long.” He highlighted the suffering of many in society, including those not yet born: “The lack of governance at Stormont has – as of yesterday – paved the way for radical change to abortion law in Northern Ireland, with obvious dangers for unborn children and health risks for women.” Homelessness in the Republic is also “at an unprecedented high.”
With optimism, he remarked: “I believe that we have an opportunity to do good, an opportunity to transform our community, by radiating Christ. In both Northern Ireland and in the Republic, the Church must seek again to influence society, not because of any selfish desire on our part for power and status, but in order to extend God’s Kingdom.” This must be done “by using the humble authority that comes from following Jesus with integrity.”
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