From the left: the Rt Revd Dr John Kirkpatrick, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland; Archbishop Eamon Martin, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland; Archbishop John McDowell, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland; the Revd David Nixon, President of the Methodist Church in Ireland; and the Rt Revd Andrew Forster, President of the Irish Council of Churches.
Statement from the Church Leaders Group (Ireland):
On 10th April 2023 it will be twenty-five years since the historic Belfast/Good Friday Agreement was signed.
The signing of the Agreement was not the end of the journey to peace in Northern Ireland but marked simply the first faltering steps down a very long road to a new, brighter, and shared future. That road will continue to be shaped by tolerance and respect for our differences, and a recognition of the need for greater understanding and reconciliation. The principles of the Agreement were based on ‘partnership, equality and mutual respect’.
As we reflect on how far we have travelled, we must fully appreciate the sacrifices that were made as we capture a vision for what lies ahead.
Mindful that people from different parts of the community will have different views and emotions about the anniversary of the signing of the Agreement, the Church Leaders Group (Ireland) has prepared resources for use in times of private prayer and public forms of worship marking the anniversary, recalling the events of the past and looking to the future.
In the journey from Good Friday to Easter, from death to new life, the message of the Christian faith is a belief that love is stronger than hate and that the light of hope shines brightly in the darkness.
Resources
Prayer resources shared on behalf of the Church Leaders Group (Ireland) to help in marking the forthcoming 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement:
Belfast Good Friday Agreement Prayer Resources (PDF)
Belfast Good Friday Agreement Prayer Resources (Docx)
Church Leaders Group (Ireland)
Current members of the group are:
- The Most Reverend John McDowell,
Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland - The Most Reverend Eamon Martin,
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All Ireland - The Right Reverend Dr John Kirkpatrick,
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland - The Reverend David Nixon,
President of the Methodist Church in Ireland - The Right Reverend Andrew Forster,
President of the Irish Council of Churches
