Reverend Daniel Kane:

We confess to not always having got this right ourselves. Recent practical examples of how the PCI has tried to live this out include our book, a copy of which we have just given to the Chair, Considering Grace: Presbyterians and the Troubles. It tells the stories of 120 Presbyterian people during the Troubles. It is an interesting collection and read. This publication has acted as an invitation for others to share their own stories of hurt and grief. The "On these Steps" event last September sought to mark the creation of Northern Ireland and the partition on the island of Ireland by inviting representatives from different political traditions to share what the centenary meant to them and their hopes and aspirations for the future. This was the only event which brought together the different parties in the Northern Ireland Executive, along with the United Kingdom and Irish Governments. Both these projects were supported by the Reconciliation Fund of the Department of Foreign Affairs. We pay tribute to this.

Whatever the nature of future relationships across these islands, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland's call and purpose remains the same - to continue to bring what we believe is good news to everyone in society and to be salt and light in the communities in which we are placed. We also recognise the significant contribution of new communities in Ireland, North and South. We feel it is important that their voices and views are heard too. Let me leave the committee with a quote from the "On these Steps" event Ms Jardine mentioned earlier. It is from our previous moderator, the Very Reverend Dr. David Bruce, who himself ministered for a time here in Clontarf. This is what he said on that occasion:

North, South, east and west on these islands presents us with a web of opportunities to grow – economically, culturally and spiritually if we have the vision for it. [In a] post-Brexit protocol environment some of this has been made more complicated, but if anything it has been made more urgent. We must work tirelessly to sort out the new configurations of our cultural, commercial and spiritual connections. [...] Whatever a new Ireland resembles, it will not be because someone was victorious, while another was defeated. If it looks like that, it won’t be a new Ireland.