Bishop addresses troubled times at synod

He said: “In 2011 many people find themselves ... navigating their way through very challenging and troubled times, where the way forward is uncertain and where solutions are unclear.”

He spoke of the challenging times economically stating: “We are all living with the consequences of cutbacks in state budgets in both jurisdictions, and there are more to come.

He addressed the related issue of joblessness stating: “Households in every community and in every parish in the diocese are being impacted by high unemployment figures, by poor job prospects and by the emigration of young people who have little or no choice but to seek work elsewhere in the world.”

And Bishop Good referred to the challenging times morally, saying: “This Diocesan Synod is aware that there has been of late a widespread degree of uncertainty in the Church of Ireland around issues to do with relationships and the Christian understanding of the appropriate context for sexual expression.”

He suggested a conference in spring 2012 to discuss these issues.

The Bishop said that whilst it was a challenging time for Churches, faith grows in difficult times.

“We don’t have to be experts in anatomy to know that muscles become stronger by being stretched and exercised, and that, by contrast, when they remain idle and under-used, they become weaker,” he said.

“The same pattern is true of faith. When our faith is exercised and used, when it is put to the test during times of risk-taking and challenge, then it is more likely to strengthen and grow. So the times we are living in, far from weakening our faith, can strengthen and develop it. And I am pleased to be able to say that I am seeing signs that the challenges in parishes are being met with faith, with vision, with imagination, with commitment and with fruitfulness,” he added.

He concluded by saying: “As bishop of this diocese, my deep desire, my single-minded focus, my longing is to see parishioners and parishes grow in faith, become more confident and hopeful in our trust in God, respond more wholeheartedly to God’s call to radiate Christ and to transform community.

“As that continues to happen, we will be in a stronger position to respond positively to the demands and challenges which society is facing.”