JULY/AUGUST 2018
#pciga18 GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Round-up of the business
SOWING SUPPORT FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE
TRUE MARKS OF MISSION Responding to creation care
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CONTENTS | JULY/AUGUST 2018
FEATURES 14 Sowing support for the countryside A Dromore Presbytery initiative
16 General Assembly 2018 A round-up of the business
35 Tearing the tartan
Interview with the Church of Scotland delegates
40 Proximity
New PCI discipleship resource
42 True marks of mission Responding to creation care
45 A thought-provoking week
One ‘under-30’ representative’s experience of the General Assembly
46 The good news of God’s wrath
General Assembly p.16
God’s anger is a positive message
REGULARS 4 8 9 10 12 13 27 48 49 50 53 54
Letters In this month… News My story Talking points Life lessons Mission Connect Reviews Arthur Clarke Life in PCI Betsy Cameron Crossword
Tearing the tartan p.35
True marks of mission p.42
CONTRIBUTORS William Scholes is religious affairs correspondent at the Irish News. He is a fully communicant member of the Church of Ireland and worships at All Saints’ in Belfast. Ruth Sanderson lives in Co. Down with her husband Harry. She is a freelance radio/television presenter and producer.
Rick Hill is PCI’s Discipleship Officer. He is a member of Carnmoney Presbyterian Church and lives in Doagh with his wife Sarah and sons, Noah and Micah. Andrew Conway is the minister of Hilltown and Clonduff congregations and author of The Shorter Catechism Made Simple.
Cover photo: Jamie Trimble July/August 2018 No. 813 £2.00 (€2.40) Published by: The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW. T: +44 (0)28 9032 2284 E: herald@presbyterianireland.org W: www.presbyterianireland.org
Editor: Sarah Harding Subscriptions and Advertising: Phil Alcorn; Lisa Skinner; Suzanne Hamilton Design and Layout: Edward Connolly Printing: Nicholson and Bass Ltd.
The views expressed in the features, news reports, letters and book reviews of this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor. Editorial comment and signed articles do not necessarily contain the official views of the Church, which can be laid down only by the General Assembly. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply endorsement of the goods or services. The Editor reserves the right to decline any advertisement or letter without assigning any reason. Letters may be edited for publication. No correspondence can be entered into regarding non-publication of advertisements or letters.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is a Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104483); Registered Charity in Republic of Ireland (20015695).
Herald July/August 2018
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MY STORY... Rev. Daniel Reyes Martin, minister of Kilkenny Presbyterian Church, tells the story of his recent sabbatical to the Philippines.
Southeast Asia sabbatical
“Y
ou should consider taking a sabbatical!” Those remote jungle village ‘oozed’ with Word-based, relationallywere the words of a friend to me about a year driven, community-based living. What a joy and inspiration to ago. He vocalised what I had already been be part of such a community! churning around in my mind, on and off, for Stripped of all worldly pleasures, yet there is a joy, a period of time. Last August, when I received an email from contentment and passion for the Lord that is contagious. The Wycliffe Bible Translators inviting Presbyterian ministers to go whole village (including kids) attend worship twice a day at on a vision trip to the Philippines, I knew this was the perfect 6.30am and 4pm. They are simple services centred around opportunity. God’s Word, chatting after the service, In my home country of Spain, although In many ways, God used where some will read with joy a recently the Bible was translated into Spanish in translated portion of Scripture in its final this sabbatical to come 1569 and 1602 originally, it wasn’t widely draft form. They’ll discuss and debate it, near to me and save my and with God’s help, make life application. available to people, especially Christians, until the late 1970s due to persecution and tired heart. Whether it be Safa, Kilkenny, or oppression. wherever you find yourself sitting as Born in the early part of the 1970s, it always fascinated me you read this article, those few days of my sabbatical spent listening to stories of people smuggling Bibles into meetings or in that rural wee village testified to the need and importance homes for the Word of God to be taught to Christians. What of building relationships as a church family – not cluttering I heard in early childhood about courageous servants suffering, ourselves with a flurry of activity, which can often be expensive, even losing their lives for sharing the Word of God continues distracting, entangling and which also isolates us from God and to challenge me. Members of my home church in Granada even one another and limits communication to distant messaging or learned to read and write through studying from one of the few a one-hour service on Sundays. Bibles available in their area. Post-sabbatical, my mind often returns to that village where I My sabbatical lasted four weeks, two of which were spent see the villagers continue to talk and read God’s Word together in the Philippines, visiting various organisations and projects – for them it’s a new ‘final draft’ chapter of the Bible to share. that translate the Bible so that people can have a deeper For me, it’s the passion to ‘cut the small talk’ and build Godengagement with God and His Word in their native language. centred community relationships; reading God’s Word, hearing In the Philippines alone, out of 178 languages presently spoken, Him speak and seeking its life application in a vulnerable, only 90 have the Word of God. The story of Bible translation honest way. In a very secular age where we do not have an throughout the world is ongoing: 1.5 billion are still waiting for automatic opportunity for our voice to be heard in wider society, the Bible in their language! perhaps the most vital step towards finding out ‘how’ we can We stayed in a very remote village (Safa) in Oriental speak the truth with love is to read truth and let God guide us Mindoro, where Hannah Fleming, a young missionary from individually and as a community. New Zealand, lives and translates the Old Testament with the In many ways, God used this sabbatical to come near to help of five local villagers. Her living conditions are simple – no me and save my tired heart (Psalm 34:18). I recommend my TV, cars, bikes, running water; she has a rare home there with colleagues to consider taking a sabbatical, particularly through a a one-bulb electric supply. Her life exemplifies the sacrifice, global mission lens, which will take you completely out of your dedication, effort, patience, challenges and frustrations involved normal ministry, cultural and contextual circumstances. in translating God’s Word. However, those few days in that
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NEWS | PCI
Find out more on www.presbyterianireland.org
News Personnel news Dr. Ian and Pat Hart departed for Myanmar at the end of May to teach at Tahan Theological College, Presbyterian Church of Myanmar for three months. They are due to return home at the end of August.
Colin and Marjorie Dickson are due to return to their work in JETS in July following a short home assignment.
DIARY DATES response to an invitation from the Hungarian Reformed Church in Transylvania for Steve, currently training as a licentiate minister within PCI, to provide leadership for their outreach activities. Steve is going under a joint initiative by the Council for Christian Training and the Council for Global Mission. Steve Anderson completed his assignment in Torre del Mar at the end of June and is returning to Ireland at the beginning of July. Volker and JinHyeog Glissmann, having completed eight years of service in Malawi, have been called to serve with the Theological Education by Extension College
(TEEC) located in Johannesburg, South Africa. Volker and JinHyeog together with their children Lina, Micha, and Lukas will be making the transition to this new role, location, and culture over this summer. Naomi Keefe, who serves in Olinda in north-east Brazil, is due on home assignment in July and will be undertaking deputation bookings in September.
Overseas visits
Rev. Uel Marrs is due to visit PCI global mission partners in Kenya, South Africa and Zambia in August and early September. It is hoped that the Moderator, Dr. Charles McMullen, will be visiting Jordan in August.
Handling the Word Alan and Tracey Johnston returned to Ireland on final home assignment in June, having completed almost four years serving in Sola Grazia congregation in Porto Mantovano, Italy. Steve and Rosie Kennedy (together with their two children Julia and Lucy) left in June to serve in Romania for three months this summer. This opportunity is in
A ‘Handling the Word’ course will take place at Union Theological College in Belfast on six Thursday evenings during October and November. The course is designed to equip church members who give talks to youth fellowship, Presbyterian Women, men’s breakfasts or who occasionally preach from the pulpit. It is also useful for Bible study leaders, Sunday school teachers as well as ruling elders who wish to share God’s Word in pastoral situations. This year there will be an optional seventh session applying what has been learned on the course to handling the Word one-to-one or in small groups. The course also acts as the starting point for those interested in the pathway to becoming an accredited preacher. Further details of the course are available on the PCI website. To register please contact the Council for Congregational Life and Witness office by emailing clw@presbyterianireland.org or telephoning +44 (0)28 9032 2284. Further presbytery courses are also planned. These will be announced in presbyteries and also on the PCI website.
Resources Mad crew
Children’s Ministry Basics
The Coleraine campus of the Ulster University will host MAD from 26th to 28th October – the 20th anniversary of the event. To run MAD, we need a large number of volunteers who love Jesus and want to help see young people meet with Him at the event. So, if you are 18 or over and available during that weekend, why not consider joining our crew? Further information can be found at www.presbyterianireland. org/Events/MAD
A new set of training videos have been released under the title of ‘Children’s Ministry Basics’. These are short videos that help with some key skills in children’s ministry. They will be useful all year round but may also be helpful as you look towards holiday Bible club season. The initial set of videos are on ‘Leading from the front’, ‘Teaching a memory verse’ and ‘Telling the story’. A new resource to help congregations to connect and build relationships with their local schools’ ministry has also been recently launched. Both of these resources are available online at www.presbyterianireland.org
July Summer teams
Ballyweaney – Saturday, 30th June to Sunday, 8th July Mullingar – Friday, 6th to Saturday, 14th St. Andrew’s, Bangor – Saturday, 14th to Saturday, 21st Abbey, Monkstown – Saturday, 21st to Sunday, 29th Dungannon – Saturday, 21st to Saturday, 28th Seaview – Saturday, 28th to Sunday, 5th August
August Summer teams
Whitehouse – Saturday, 4th to Sunday, 12th Co. Cavan – Saturday, 11th to Saturday, 18th Friendship House – Saturday, 11th to Saturday, 18th Grange, Ballymena – Saturday, 11th to Sunday, 19th
September Handling the Word
Deadline for registration – Friday, 21st
October Handling the Word
Union Theological College, Belfast – starts Thursday, 4th
MAD weekend
Ulster University, Coleraine – Friday, 26th to Sunday, 28th
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General Assembly photography by Jamie Trimble
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2018 | OPENING NIGHT
Christ’s love compels us to relationship In his address at the Opening Night of Assembly, the new Moderator, Dr. Charles McMullen unveiled his theme for the year, ‘Building Relationships’, saying that he was “simply overwhelmed to have been called to the moderatorial chair.” In developing his theme, Dr. McMullen said that it came with a strapline that he took from 2 Corinthians 5:15, “For Christ’s love compels us”. Written by the Apostle Paul, the Moderator said that Paul proclaims “what should be the motivation for everything we are, think, say and do: the all-consuming, all-constraining, all-compelling, allcommanding love of Jesus Christ.” In building relationships Dr. McMullen spoke of a ministry of reconciliation and the challenges that come with it, “On the one hand, we can insist that everyone becomes like us. We can become exclusive, cutting ourselves off from those with whom we disagree, until we find ourselves splendid in our own isolation…On the
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other hand, we can be too inclusive as we accommodate ourselves to the spirit of the age, diluting truth, biblical integrity, the exclusive claims of Jesus Christ…ceasing to be counter cultural. “We need to be centred between love and unity on the one hand, and truth and holiness on the other hand…It’s what we
might define as a generous orthodoxy in our dealings with others. Confident of who we are in Christ, we are enabled and empowered to reach out the hand to others,” he said. Turning to political events, he also
addressed “the present political impasse” in Northern Ireland. “It has been simply appalling that attitudes have become so embittered and entrenched with such adverse effects on our schools, hospitals, businesses, the economy and the many victims and survivors.” Earlier in the evening the outgoing Moderator, Dr. Noble McNeely reflected on his year in office. He revisited his theme for the year, which had been ‘Everyday disciples’, saying that in the gospels Jesus had called His disciples “to become followers of Jesus who would catch people... My experience over the past few months has been of a Church with great potential…of congregations engaged in numerous ministries and work...But, are we seeing the net catching the people Christ has sent us out to catch? “As everyday disciples…is there another way to cast the net as we seek to witness to God’s grace. When radical change is required and the net is cast on the right side, Jesus can surprise us. The nets may be full again some day.”
GENERAL COUNCIL | ASSEMBLY 2018
Visiting delegates This Assembly welcomed delegates from partner churches around the world, including the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, the Presbyterian Church of South Sudan and the Church of North India. The Moderator of the Church of Scotland, Rt. Rev. Susan Brown greeted the General Assembly with the words, “Peace be with you,” which was the theme of the Church of Scotland’s recent General Assembly. She said, “May that peace be with you – as together our voices unite with yours to sing the praises of the God we all worship.” She continued, “May peace be with you as the eyes of the world beyond the Church look to you to see Christ-like compassion, generosity of spirit and a real passion for social as well as spiritual justice.” Rev. John Gondwe, Moderator of CCAP Synod of Livingstonia in Malawi, addressed the House saying, “Let me register my sincere and heartfelt thanks to PCI for all the work you are doing to each of the Churches represented here today and in particular my Church. You are contributing a lot in areas of leadership development by providing scholarships for both ordained ministers and lay leaders, supporting our health sector mainly in areas of HIV/AIDS and also early childhood development, just to mention a few. “Although the Church is growing so fast in Africa, we do have our own particular challenges which may be different from yours. Therefore, my appeal to this Assembly is that we still need your continued partnership, prayer support and encouragement.”
Same-sex couples and the sacrament The General Assembly heard a report by the Doctrine Committee on same-sex couples and the sacraments, having been asked by the General Council to prepare guidelines for kirk sessions to address the issue of same-sex couples who may seek communicant membership, or who may request the baptism of a child. The focus of the report was on the “specific theological question of what constitutes a credible profession of faith and how it is to be understood and applied in these particular circumstances”. Speaking to the report, Prof. Stafford Carson said, “It is crucial that we speak the truth in love to those who make such requests.” He continued, “We cannot say other than what God’s Word says about those who live in a way that is contrary to God’s will, and whose lifestyle does not match their profession.” Prof. Carson highlighted that this applies to all who seek admission to the Lord’s table or the sacrament of baptism, but it was only this particular issue that the committee was asked to address. An amendment asked for that section of the General Council report to be received without the appendix on credible profession of faith, thereby rejecting that appendix. Rev. Cheryl Meban brought the amendment, saying, “If we accept this report, we are colluding in continuing to treat LGBT people as ‘other’, different, somehow more dangerous to the health of the church than the rest of us.” In seconding the amendment John
Hunter said, “Over the last nine years I have observed our Church becoming more harsh and judgmental in its attitudes, more concerned with breaking rather than building relationships, and more anxious to pursue doctrinal purity at the expense of love and grace. I regret to say that there is evidence of all these characteristics in the Doctrine Committee’s report.” A lengthy debate followed. Of those in favour of the amendment, Rev. Wilfred Orr said, “Our process is confrontational. If we issue a directive it does damage. It is instructive, telling them what they should believe. There is a climate of fear.” Nadine Knight, the under-30 representative from Moneydig congregation said, “The practical reality is this is making a hierarchy of sin. It creates a society of ‘us’ and ‘them’.” Arguing to reject the amendment, Rev. Andrew Conway said, “I am thankful for this report because of its clear call to ‘speak the truth in love’. “Rev. Jonathan Boyd agreed saying, “Doctrines and policies that may seem like cold, hard words in their abstract form can be received much more warmly in the context of a loving, welcoming relationship.” Quoting Scripture, Rev. Eddie Kirk said, “Wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God… The Word of God condemns their sin. It’s sin, pure and simple.” In a similar vein, Rev. Richard Murray said, “I am glad this report is a trumpet giving a very clear sound… We need to go down the road of ‘Go and sin no more’.” The amendment failed and the full report was passed by the House, meaning that the policy outlined in the appendix on credible profession of faith becomes the policy of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Herald July/August 2018
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