An Exciting Development for Anglicanism in Ireland

Recently in Christ Church North Dublin, the church plant that I have the privilege to pastor, we have been looking at Mark’s Gospel.

The fourth chapter includes the famous parable of the sower.  It can of course be used as a lively Sunday school story with great effect.  However, in the flow of the gospel story itself, it signifies a very clear departure by Jesus.

Not long after Jesus begins his public ministry he encounters opposition, hostility and rejection.  We read in Ch 3:6 that his fate is already sealed as, ‘The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him’.  So as chapter four begins Jesus sees the need to effectively lay out his manifesto for mission.  This is a hugely significant moment which elevates these stories out of the Sunday school class to the highest level of defiance.

In the face of persistent and determined rejection, Jesus gives his church the method and the means to overcome.  He unashamedly focuses on the tiny, but mighty Word of God to actually accomplish everlasting change in the lives of many.

I have been moved to examine the true foundation of my own ministry in the face of a culture that resists, opposes and choses to ignore the God who has made and sustains it. Of course, for Jesus, it was not just society at large, but the religious establishment, in particular, that set out to oppose him and his ministry.

Such encouragement from the life and ministry of Jesus will always remain relevant for a church that seeks to be faithful to him.

It is with such thoughts in mind that, as director of ICM, I am writing to you at the end of a very significant year for us as an organisation.

With a degree of sadness, after many years and countless attempts by me and ICM trustees to reach a point of reconciliation, the Archbishop of Dublin, has forced the churches of ICM to seek an Anglican home outside of the Church of Ireland.  I understand that this will confuse some of our readers, so allow me to briefly explain.

It must be categorically stated, ICM, and more importantly its churches, never once sought to leave the Church of Ireland.  We were committed to playing our part, especially in the Diocese of Dublin. We remain mystified as to why the Archbishop of Dublin removed us.  Our repeated attempts to get an answer and seek a restitution have failed.  I had my licence removed by the Archbishop and then Immanuel Church Dublin was evicted from the Diocese of Dublin. When we appealed to others in the Church of Ireland some were sympathetic but, officially, diocesan boarders limited their abilities to intervene.  For the last four years therefore we have been working prayerfully and slowly to discern where we might find an Anglican home, especially as the Diocese of Dublin seems itself to desire now to move further away from historic, orthodox Anglicanism.  Needless to say, our decision has not been taken lightly.  However, if our churches are to pursue a confessionally Anglican ministry we have been left with no other option.

We are incredibly grateful to all those within the Church of Ireland, both lay and clerical, who have helped us over the past four years, and we continue to value your on going prayerful, financial and wise support.  Be assured that we will continue to do all we can to start and strengthen healthy Anglican churches both inside and now outside the present structures of the Church of Ireland.

By the time you read this, three church leaders in ICM churches will have been ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Andy Lines into the Anglican Convocation Europe (ACE).  I am deeply humbled to stand with these men, their families and the congregations they represent, as they enter into ordained ministry.  Irish Church Missions encouraged them and their churches to move in this direction, and after considerable consultation with representatives from ACE, Irish Church Missions, as an Anglican mission agency, celebrates this move.  We pray you might be able to enter into our joy.

Irish Church Missions has also supported each of the separate congregations to explore affiliation as local churches into the wider ACE network.  Such affiliations, God willing, are due to take place in 2025.  This will ground them in their Anglican identity, connect them episcopally, encourage them in fellowship and motivate them in their mission to continue to reach the lost people of Ireland with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Irish Church Missions is seeking your prayerful support for these congregations too.

With these churches making this move it is also becoming increasingly clear that ICM’s role is more important than it ever has been.  Our great longing is that healthy evangelical Anglican churches will start and continue long into the future as bastions of truth and hospitals for the spiritually sick.  We want to grow these churches into a state of health, when they can function as mature local congregations, properly led and episcopally governed.

Under God, having achieved this with our current ministries, we do not want to stop here.  The need, if anything, is only growing.

So I am asking you to personally, and perhaps as a local church, to consider how you might financially support us to do the same all over again.  Above all, as in our name, we want to emphasise that this day, remains a great day for mission

Irish Church Missions remains committed to starting and strengthening healthy evangelical Anglican churches all across Ireland, both within and now outside the current structures.  We count on your continued support in every way in order for us together to reach Ireland with the gospel of Christ.

Will you join and continue with us 2025, as we look to the one who can multiply 30, 60 and even 100 fold, to the glory of his wonderful name?