Sir, - Rodney Donaldson and others raise important and urgent issues when they mention Orange church parades and the flying of flags on church property. But they are being somewhat unrealistic in thinking that the General Synod might be able to agree on guidelines for action to be taken.
Those of us who brought forward the motion on Sectarianism saw it as the long-overdue beginning of a process. We had two aims. The Church of Ireland clearly needed to find a way of constructively talking about the tensions which had been created by the events at Drumcree in 1996. Churches are very quick to pass judgement on the actions of others. We believed that to debate Sectarianism would enable the church to recognise its own share of responsibility and to examine its actions in every part of Ireland. Our second aim was to provide support and encouragement for clergy and people, particularly in parishes in Northern Ireland, who want to begin to examine how the church can minister with courage and integrity in what is at present a cauldron of sectarianism. That means, for example, quiet and reflective examination of where an entirely proper respect for flag and political and cultural tradition ends and sectarianism begins.
The church is changed most effectively by what happens at the level of the parish. Events are moving very quickly. But our hope is that this week's debate will be one small step in preventing the church and its people from being simply swept along in what happens. - Yours etc.,
Very Rev. Dean of Dromore Seagoe Rectory, Upper Church Lane, Portadown