Representatives of the ICC will be met with Richard Haass on Thursday 19th November 2013 together with the Methodist Church Delegation.
A number of ministers and priests have gathered together over the last few weeks to consider how we can make our voices heard in a positive way as US diplomat, Richard Haass begins his work in Northern Ireland.
“As Richard Haass arrives to help to see us through our current impasse we, as members of different church traditions, want to encourage our leaders and our community as a whole to seek the common good at this most opportune of times.”
The statement reads:
HUMILITY
We believe that in all acts of reconciliation we need to accept humbly our own part in how the past has shaped the present; our complicity in the divisions within our society and our contribution to the pain that different people across the spectrum of our society have experienced. We need to seek forgiveness for the past and change the way that we live and speak and act in the present, in order to foster a shared and peaceful future.
HEALING
We believe that key Gospel principles have much to contribute to the wellbeing of all of our community whether we are Christian, atheist, agnostic or of any faith. Central to them all is Jesus’ command to “love God and love our neighbour”; not a passive sentimental saying, but a radically transformational idea, especially as he went further and demanded that we also love our enemies, and forgive those who have done wrong to us.
Forgive us, as his followers, where we have failed to follow his words and actions in this regard.
we need to accept humbly our own part in how the past has shaped the present
Join us as we seek to make such high ideals our contribution to our shared space; as we seek to address the pain of the past and the tensions in the present, so that they may not limit the possibilities that lie in the future.
HOPE
We believe that there is hope. Our country has come a long way in twenty years. There are relationships at political, Church and community level that would have been unimaginable in 1993. However we need to draw on sources of imagination, generosity and endurance to go further, going beyond pragmatic, political structures that are based on a lack of trust and common feeling, and seeking to establish a truly peaceful society, where there is not only an absence of violence and the threat of violence, but a common sense of stability, respect and opportunity for all.
This begins with a commitment to listen truly to one another, then resolving to work together so that all our children and our neighbours’ children will flourish in a new Northern Ireland, a society that is truly at peace.
The website invites people to sign up to the statement on humility, healing and hope by tweeting support to #hopeandhistory
For more information see www.hopeandhistory.com
Presbyterian Delegation
A delegation representing the Presbyterian Church met with Richard Haass on Wednesday 18 September.
Presbyterian Moderator Dr Rob Craig led the delegation in the meeting that lasted 45 minutes. He was accompanied by the convener of the Presbyterian Church and Society Committee, Dr Norman Hamilton and Clerk Designate of the General Assembly, Rev Trevor Gribben.
Commenting on the meeting Presbyterian Moderator Dr Rob Craig said, “We appreciated the opportunity to meet Dr Haass and his team, to listen to what they had to say and tell them of our observations, comments and hopes.
“We were very impressed with the grasp that they all have of the issues they are dealing with and the complexities involved.
“We are convinced our politicians have made a good choice in Dr Haass and his associates and that they will make every effort to hear and to take account of as wide a range of views as possible in their discussions.
“We left our meeting sure that we had been listened to and understood, with confidence in those taking part and in the process being undertaken.
“We wish these talks well and have assured Dr Haass and his team of the prayers of our Church for all involved.”
