Rev Dr Ivan Patterson, President of the Irish Council of Churches, has responded to my recent research report Something Other than a Building: A Report on Churches on the Island of Ireland during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Some select quotations from his article include:
… The findings of this report encourage and challenge us in equal measure. The report demonstrates the commitment of the local church to the holistic care of our communities, responding to people’s spiritual and emotional needs, as well as providing other forms of support and care through social and charitable outreach.
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A particularly poignant section of Dr Ganiel’s report is the discussion of the area of bereavement where clergy have spoken of their pain at seeing people isolated in their grief, deprived of much of the contact that brings comfort at these times.
Covid-19 has traumatised our society and we will be dealing with the consequences of this for some time to come.
In the Irish Inter-Church Meeting we are conscious of our responsibility to support clergy in responding to this need.
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For clergy the health message of ‘keeping our distance’ has also brought challenges to managing pastoral care.
This is especially true where they are unable to be in close contact with people who are dealing with difficult issues such as sickness, loneliness, mental ill-health and financial pressures.
The frustration felt by some clergy has been detrimental to their own health and we have sought to remind those in pastoral leadership of the importance of self-care and self-compassion.
As a society it is important we do not take our carers for granted, whether they are formally employed in a caring profession, like our healthcare workers who are giving so much of themselves, or providing care in the home for family members.
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Dr Ganiel’s research has highlighted the fact that during the pandemic there has been greater visibility of inter-church cooperation, particularly at leadership level, and this has been a great encouragement to many.
We draw strength from solidarity and coming together and share our burdens. We are conscious too of our responsibility as civic leaders to support and encourage our political leaders in the difficult choices they face on our path to recovery as we seek to ensure that policy decisions are in line with principles of social justice, protecting social cohesion and the common good.
As people of faith we endeavour to bring a much-needed message of hope to a society struggling with a prolonged experience of uncertainty.
We do so without minimising the reality of the suffering endured by so many, or the very real challenges ahead.
We pray that those who are struggling will know Christ’s love and protection, and see these reflected in the care and compassion of their neighbours.