Irish Church leaders: We cannot be complacent about peace process

(Vatican Radio) Church leaders in Ireland concluded a two-day international conference entitled ‘Faithful Peacebuilding’, held at the Hilton Belfast Templepatrick, on Friday.

Over the past few years, Irish Churches Peace Project (ICPP), has developed materials to help local communities work on issues such as reconciliation, dialogue, and forgiveness.  The organization brings together members of the four largest Christian communities in Ireland:  Catholic, Presbyterian, Church of Ireland, and Methodist, as well as the participation of the Irish Council of Churches.

At the end of the conference, the Church leaders issued a statement saying they "cannot afford to be complacent" about he peace process in Northern Ireland.

The two-day conference  featured Terry Waite, who spent over four years in captivity in Lebanon, and Rwanda-genocide survivor, the Rev. Emmanuel Murangira.

At the end of the conference, the Church leaders released the following statement:

“Against the backdrop of continuing political instability, the experience of the Irish Churches’ Peace Project (ICPP) highlights the contribution of local leadership in rebuilding trust and overcoming remaining obstacles to peace in our society.  Notwithstanding the considerable achievements of the peace process, seventeen years on from the Good Friday Agreement there is still significant untapped potential for the development of new relationships in local communities across Northern Ireland and the border region.  We welcome the commitment of the European Union to further peace funding, as advocated by the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government.

Our pastoral experience makes us acutely aware that we cannot afford to be complacent about the enduring impact of division in our society, which manifests in multiple, often inter-connected, forms of exclusion.  The threat to social cohesion arising from growing socio-economic inequality is a particular concern, notably in its implications for the younger generations.  As the ICPP enters the final phase of its work we will be reflecting together on how we can continue to build on the new relationships that have been established to facilitate a truly inclusive dialogue about the kind of future we want for our local communities.

We have been greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm and openness local churches have brought to this project, building on existing models of good practice in partnership with statutory agencies, the Community and Voluntary sector and political leaders.  With funding for peace-building work increasingly scarce, the time and energy of volunteers can make a crucial difference.  We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of all those who have taken up the challenge of the Irish Churches’ Peace Project.  The work of peace is central to the Christian call to love of neighbour and as Christians we have a particular responsibility to be agents of reconciliation in our communities, seeking to bring a message of hope and healing to those who are suffering.”