Alliance welcomes call by Consultative Group on the Past to build for a better future
30 May 2008
Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland has called on the Church to take up the challenge from the Consultative Group on the Past to play a key role in building and sustaining a better future for Northern Ireland.
Lord Eames and his co-chair Denis Bradley have outlined key areas that need to be addressed if Northern Ireland is to move forward and claim that leadership from the churches is vital ‘if we are to take on the scourge of sectarianism’.
Karen Jardine, Public Affairs and Development Officer Evangelical Alliance Northern Ireland, said:
“We welcome the acknowledgement by the Consultative Group of the positive role churches can play in our society, particularly around this difficult issue of dealing with the past.”
She added:
“Truth, justice, reconciliation and forgiveness are not only key tenets of the Christian faith, but are also vital components in the search for a better and shared future for Northern Ireland.
The challenge for us within the Church now is to grasp the nettle and ensure we play our part in taking a lead in developing and supporting the generosity of spirit that is required on all sides to find a way forward.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
The Evangelical Alliance, formed in 1846, is the largest body serving evangelical Christians in the UK, and has a membership including denominations, churches, organisations and individuals. The mission of the Evangelical Alliance is to unite evangelicals to present Christ credibly as good news for spiritual and social transformation. According to a Tearfund survey (Churchgoing in the UK, 2007), there are approximately 2 million evangelical Christians in the UK. For more information, go to www.eauk.org. The office in Northern Ireland was opened in 1987.
