The Church of Ireland has spent much of the past week at its General Synod wrestling with its collective conscience over Drumcree. It has been an entirely edifying spectacle; the debate has been calm and serious. There is the strong sense that the church, which has been criticised for the inadequacy of its laissez faire approach to events at Drumcree in the past, has a clearer focus on its responsibilities. And there is a new recognition of the critical importance of the Drumcree issue, for the church and for the future of society on this island. Dr David Stevens, the general secretary of the Irish Council of Churches declared that only the upheavals surrounding the establishment of the Irish State had caused the church more disturbance than Drumcree. Events in Portadown, he said, had challenged the self-image of a church which wanted to move out of a pan-Protestantism into a wider world of ecumenical relationships.
The Church of Ireland Primate, Dr Robin Eames, whose handling of the Drumcree issue has been somewhat low-key and uncertain in the past, has now, commendably, taken up a more robust approach. His condemnation before the Synod of the cancer of sectarianism could scarcely have been more unequivocal. The bitter, resentful response that his remarks about the Orange Order evoked among some elements in Portadown underlined the great distance between the leadership of the Church of Ireland and the minority element within it who would be only too happy to see trouble develop yet again at Drumcree this year.
But it is clear that the relationship between the Church of Ireland and the Orange Order remains a complicated and difficult one. The strident, uncompromising approach of the the rector of Drumcree, the Rev John Pickering, who voted against all three motions arising from the issue, underlined the competing pressures bearing down on the church's leadership. To its credit, the Synod voted overwhelmingly to adopt a constructive approach towards the various motions on, amongst other things, the flying of the Union flag, links with the Orange Order and the three pledges which exhort those protesting at Drumcree to obey the law, to avoid any provocative action and to respect the integrity of the Church of Ireland.
More could have been done. Legislation could have been presented to the Synod which would have enabled Dr Eames to withdraw the invitation to Orangemen to attend the July service if he deemed this necessary. As matters stand, it is clear that Mr Pickering will proceed with his invitation to the Portadown Orangemen to attend the service at Drumcree on July 4th next. The best hope of averting conflict, perhaps, remains the ongoing talks between local residents and Unionist leaders. For all that, the Church of Ireland has given a clear lead to its flock. Faced with a difficult and divisive issue, its Synod was an exercise in democracy and transparency. Open, honest debate of this kind sets a headline for other churches and must ultimately have an influence for good.