Sectarianism concerns laity and clergy

A survey to be presented to the Church of Ireland General Synod in Dublin today has found that 92 per cent of rectors participating and 67 per cent of lay people believed that sectarianism was "one of the most important issues facing the Church of Ireland".

Just 40 per cent of rectors (and 62 per cent of lay people) felt the church was dealing "reasonably well" with the issue.

The Scoping Study Report to the Sectarianism Education Project of the Church was undertaken by Dr Gareth Higgins and his research team Mr Michael Blythman, Ms Cathy Curran, and Ms Sarah Parkinson.

The study found that between 40 and 50 per cent of clergy, and 25 to 35 per cent of laity believed that peace and reconciliation activities aimed at dealing positively with sectarianism and difference were currently "important characteristics of Church of Ireland identity."

It noted that "some respondents, particularly in the Republic, felt that the image of the church has been if not tainted, significantly affected by the Drumcree controversy."

It also found that "sectarianism can exist at the deepest level among those who are ostensibly most committed to its eradication. That is, it is all too easy to assert friendship and boundary crossing between Protestants and Catholics; but some Protestants have not treated their conservative co-religionists with the same respect."

Only 38 per cent of clergy agreed slightly (10 per cent of clergy agreed strongly) with the statement that "the Church of Ireland teaches truer doctrines of Christian faith than other churches."

It found "the consensus was that the Church of Ireland is one of many valid expressions of Christian faith, and that even those who believed the Church 'taught truer doctrine' did not think this meant the Church had a monopoly on Christian teaching."

The great majority of clergy and lay people surveyed considered "Christian" to be their most important identity label. "Church of Ireland" was next, closely followed by "Catholic" (as in one Catholic Church). Just 28 per cent of clergy, (58 per cent of laity) had a fourth preference for "Protestant" which some considered "a loaded term with negative connotations, especially in Northern Ireland." Many preferred to see themselves as "Reformed" rather than "Protestant."

Eighty per cent of clergy and 50 per cent of lay people agreed that "being Christian includes crossing the boundaries in this society. This will mean getting involved in peace and reconciliation work."

It was also found that repondents felt greatest affinity with the Methodist and Catholic Churches, followed by Presbyterians. "Few respondents felt that they or their parish related well with conservative evangelical churches such as the Free Presbyterian Church or independent gospel halls."

The study was described to the General Synod yesterday by Archbishop Robin Eames as "one of the most significant documents in the long history of the Church of Ireland.

". . . As a Church we have begun a profound and extensive examination of sectarianism within our structures and within our attitudes. We will find a great deal to make us all feel uncomfortable as a Church.

"We must recognise failure, we must address attitudes and we must recognise that this is not a problem which only causes riots or murders or which is confined to concerns for our Church in the North only".