THE Anglican Communion, of which the Church of Ireland is a part, is having a difficult time maintaining a distinctive identity and coherent Christian witness.

Globally, it is afflicted by a number of questions concerning its own authority and matters of church order and doctrine. In Ireland these issues are further complicated by the question of where Anglicanism is supposed to stand (or is perceived by others to stand) in the spectrum of Irish Christianity.

Thus, depending on one's perspective, the Church of Ireland can be interpreted as being at almost any position on the Protestant/Roman. Catholic continuum and indeed it has, curiously, come in for criticism, at different times as being both too "Protestant" and quasi Roman. Small wonder that even many Anglicans themselves seem unsure of who they are.

It is easy to see why this over identification with other denominational traditions should occur, for there are substantial ties in both directions. The Church of Ireland shares much of church order (for example, the three fold order of ministry of bishop, priest and deacon) and a significant amount of liturgical tradition with the Roman Catholic Church; and it has certain historical (and sometimes political) links with Presbyterianism and "Protestantism" generally.

However, I would argue very strongly that it is precisely the presence of these wide ranging connections which should preclude us (especially here in Ireland) from making any too naive or over simplified identifications. If these can be avoided, then I believe the Church of Ireland is perhaps in a unique position to extend the hand of ecumenical friendship across the whole spectrum of the Irish churches, while also offering its own distinctive witness to what it perceives as the core of our common Gospel. To say this much is to voice a worthwhile aspiration, but the question remains: what might be the particular contribution of Anglicanism through the Church of Ireland to the Irish churches and to Irish society?

The answer lies, I believe, in the Flexibility of Anglicanism and in its ability to be at once broad minded and courageous in its outlook as a result of its freedom from any absolute strait jacket either of dogma or tradition. Certainly Anglicanism respects both of these elements of church life: it has a firm doctrinal foundation and some excellent doctrinal scholarship flourishes within the communion and it has always valued its distinguished and ancient traditions.

Equally important, though, its own self understanding rests on the three pillars of scripture, tradition and reason, and it is the parity of esteem accorded to reason alongside the other two elements which enables Anglicanism at its best to remain at once true to its ancient and doctrinal roots and yet respond with flexibility in the face of an unknown and sometimes uncertain future.

Thus, I suggest, Anglicanism is uniquely positioned to look backwards to the core of faith common to all Christians and yet to have the courage to free this from past constraints and draw it into the present and forward into the future.

At the heart of this common core is, of course, the person of Jesus Christ, but a major problem for all the churches is how to allow the Jesus of 2,000 years ago to live for today, for even the Son of God is too easily stifled by his Church.

WE ALL recite creeds and confessional statements, but for the most part Jesus remains a shadow who is imprisoned by these things rather than mediated by them. Either dogma or Church tradition and structure have become things of the first order rather than of the second order.

Thus - and I intend no disrespect to anyone - much of non conformist belief has become conditioned by certain ways of thinking and even particular dogmatic formulations and much of Roman Catholic believing is overburdened by the immense weight attached by tradition to what "happens" in the Mass.

A good "Protestant" may say with utter conviction, "Jesus died for me", but the real question is whether he lives for me and in me and through me; many Roman Catholics will speak of the presence of Jesus in the Mass, but he must live vibrantly and dynamically not only in the Chapel but in the world.

Similar difficulties exist for Anglicanism and therefore within the Church of Ireland. Jesus has a tendency to exist on a remote and nebulous level from Sunday to Sunday.

Anglicanism, however, is bound by no exclusive confessional formulations and by no overriding tradition centred in a magisterium and perhaps, therefore, is uniquely able to draw renewed attention to Jesus as the core of our faith - not as he is mediated through the structures and formulas of the Church, important though these are, but rather as heard in his own fundamental call to discipleship: "Follow me".

Such a following must be a radical one: it will not dispense with the "Christ of faith" as he is found in the mysteries of worship and sacraments - indeed, worship and sacramental life, once renewed, will become more profoundly important but this discipleship will find again the qualities of Jesus himself which are sometimes obscured by the more obviously "churchy" aspects of faith. Discipleship must mean endless compassion, a simplicity of life and purpose and a sense of the overwhelming importance of God.

This Jesus exists and may be found within any church tradition, and there is much holiness of life in every church family. Dogma and tradition can all too easily overpower the tender growth of holiness, however, and all of the churches need to find again the simplicity of an authentic discipleship.

Anglicanism, with its relative freedom from confessional and traditional restraints, is well placed to offer a lead in this respect with its unique inclusiveness and tolerance.

Such a witness would represent an invaluable contribution to society and to the churches.

Anglicanism has, in turn, many things to learn from other traditions, but it must have the courage to realise its own potential and to articulate its own distinctive witness (based on the values and living presence of Jesus) and to grow with all of the other branches of the Christian family into an increasing understanding that the life and witness of each church, Anglicanism included, is an essential part of our common search for truth and true discipleship.