An in-word of the new millennium is "partner" and it is a word that is both strong and good. Wife, husband and spouse are replaced by "partner." It is an accurate description of such a union, which is undoubtedly a partnership of penitence and privilege, suffering and achievement, and of forgiveness and joy.
Trade union agreements have become "partnerships", replacing the old class confrontations. Political parties in Northern Ireland have become "partners" in government.
Even churches no longer talk of "missionaries", a relic of colonialism, but speak of "mission partners". Partner is the post-modern word because it indicates the privilege of choice; and this is the age of the personal option.
It includes applying the principles of inclusiveness, equality and mutual respect. Without an effort to build relationships there is no basis for a healthy society or a better future as a community.
Partnership is the millennial challenge to both parts of Ireland and the question being asked is can we share this small piece of earth with others. I refer to political power-sharing in the North and to the welcoming of the new Irish who are the refugees in the South.
We Irish, who have been accepted all over the world, are sometimes not so good at accepting one another at home or including the newcomer. We need to move beyond the boundaries we have created and put behind us the failure to accept legitimate and different identities and the tragedies and sufferings of old divisions.
In the North of Ireland the return of a power-sharing Executive is to be welcomed. Sectarianism is the opposite of Christ's teaching that we must love God and our neighbour as ourselves. Moving on to the politics of accommodation involves a difficult journey to help put right the damaged relationships that are the cause and product of our conflict.
In the Republic we have a wonderful opportunity to apply the principles of inclusiveness, equality and mutual respect as we welcome asylum-seekers and refugees. Here, too, Christians are glad to welcome these new Irish, many of whom are enriching the life and worship of our churches.
The holy family fled to Egypt, so Christians should know all about refugees since their founder was one. The effort to speed up the vetting process is helpful and we are grateful for the generosity of health board staff.
Disciples of Jesus are conscious of their calling to love their neighbour, the biblical command to live at peace with all people so far as it depends on us and the divine imperative to uphold justice. This requires a willingness to make peace if and when the opportunity presents itself and to act justly in all our relationships. Asylum-seekers should meantime be allowed to work in mutually-responsible partnership.
There are some partnerships that are given to us and are not initially a matter of choice. We don't choose our parents or the place of our birth, yet these original partnerships are fundamental to our identity. So life is made up of both the given and the chosen.
We are all given our common humanity. We can take the sectarian or racist route and reject the notion of common humanity or we can take the inclusive way where all races, irrespective of origin or creed, are neighbours in the global village.
Recently, I returned from a visit to Sierra Leone. In the drug-crazed butchery perpetrated by rebels who briefly invaded the capital city of Freetown, adults and babies were mutilated and many were brutally murdered. Neutral we cannot be when we see another human being suffer. The work of UN peacekeeping troops is partnership for peace and we remember Irish daughters and sons who serve in Lebanon.
At the root of the sectarianism in the North and racism in the South is fear. Perfect love casts out fear. If we love our neighbour we can learn to celebrate difference and not fear it. A Christian life that doesn't begin with the individual doesn't begin, but a Christian life that ends with the individual, ends.
A Christian response is to create space to demonstrate that we are partners together in a new era of co-operation, reconciliation and mutual respect, where sectarianism and racism play no part. The only ultimate boundaries are the boundaries of the love of God. Words of welcome will open up worlds of discovery.
Our journey together can become a pilgrimage of hope. This is consistent with the biblical imperatives to love our enemy, to make peace and to pursue justice. Those who have partnership with God will seek partnership with all whom God has made.
Ken Todd is the new president of the Methodist Church in Ireland.