Sir, - The Church of Ireland General Synod has on its Agenda for its 1997 meeting on item affirming its opposition to sectarianism. The item calls for a study of those things within the life of the Church which are accommodating to sectarianism and for a report to be made to the 1998 Synod. We consider this a matter of major importance for all members of the Church of Ireland and for the general public.
Whilst warmly welcoming the attention this gives to sectarianism we believe the urgency of the issue does not allow for such a time scale. Moreover, during the past twenty-five years the Church has both initiated and participated in many such studies. In the light of these what is now called for is decisive and specific action by the General Synod.
We are convinced the Synod as a beginning should decide immediately and make public what specific action needs to be taken about manifestations of sectarianism, of which the most pressing at the moment are some of the Orange church parades and the flying of flags on church property. To fail to do this is surely implicitly to accommodate sectarianism.
In so far as the Synod cannot make binding decisions on such matters it should issue firm guidelines, grounded on the inclusiveness of the teachings of Christ and ensure that the outcome is monitored with reports to subsequent Synods.
We appreciate that what we suggest is seriously incomplete in that sectarianism, both so-called religious and secular, is deeply in-grained throughout Ireland, and indeed in many parts of the world and cries out to be addressed in many ways and at many levels. But this in no way diminishes the urgency of the call for specific action by the Synod on the matters mentioned above. Yours etc.,
Belfast Cathderal, Belfast.