Diocesan Synod: Bishop Harold issues challenge to the local church
Having resolved this year to speak, “only of the Church and to the church,” the Bishop challenged the assembled leaders with the words of Willow Creek Pastor, Bill Hybels: “The local church is the hope of the world and its future lies primarily in the hands of its leaders”.
“Churches must be places of the 'Fourth Dimension' he continued, “places where heaven and earth meet. Everyone who comes to be with us in our worship and life together, and especially those who do not yet believe, has a right to expect that they will meet with the living Lord, and that a spiritual dimension of life will be revealed to them in a way which is not to be found in the world outside. That, in the end, is what the Church is for: to make God’s presence known in and to the world.”
Bishop Harold mentioned his recent appointment as a Vice-President of Tearfund, remarking that its principle of working through the local church worldwide was one to which he was profoundly committed. He called on those present to do the ordinary things of church well in their locality and highlighted the three areas of Welcome, Worship and Witness.
As he concluded, Bishop Harold referred to the momentous publication of the Saville Report and turned to the question of the church’s witness in a sectarian society asking: “How much are we committed to a shared future? How much are we committed to forgiveness? And how might we give a lead, witnessing to the values of Jesus Christ in our particular world of today?”
Synod provided an occasion to publicly congratulate Diocesan Secretary, Mrs June Butler, on the award of her MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Bishop Harold presented June with flowers and passed on the best wishes of the whole diocese as she receives the award for her services to electoral services in Northern Ireland.
All four motions before Synod were passed, including a motion to increase parochial assessments for the General Fund by 2% overall from January 2011. There was no increase in 2010. Synod approved the new diocesan regulations and also the establishment of a Diocesan Youth and Children’s Council. This paves the way for the employment of a Children’s Development Worker for whom funding has been secured. The final motion was to extend by 3 years the companionship link with the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, subject to their approval. 
In the course of the report from The Down and Dromore Board for Mission, Revd Canon Norman Jardine launched a short series of videos showing stories of faith in action around the diocese. Synod watched ‘Prayer on the Street in Bangor’ which features a very simple but effective healing ministry brought into Bangor town centre from the parish church. Visit our YouTube Channel to view all 4 of the Down and Dromore Board for Mission videos.
As well as doing the business of Synod, delegates took the opportunity in the afternoon session to share encouragements from the local church in the Methodist tradition of a ‘Conversation on the Work of God’.
Bishop Harold, in his concluding comments, said that he had been very moved at different stages during the day, especially when people had spoken warmly about their experience of ministry, of God and of reaching out into the world for the sake of the Kingdom. He expressed a sense of honour and privilege in his role as Bishop of the diocese.
Finally, The Archdeacon of Down, The Venerable, Philip Patterson, warmly thanked Bishop Harold, not only for leading the Synod but for his leadership throughout the year. He said that if the diocese was in good heart, it sprang from the leadership that it received and asked the Synod not only to thank the Bishop but to affirm him, which it did with a standing ovation.
You can download the Bishop's Presidential Address in full here.
View the photo gallery here.