Lord Eames challenges the church on its relevance
At the Ordination and Consecration of The Very Revd Patrick Rooke as a Bishop appointed to serve in the Dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, the preacher at the service, The Rt Revd The Lord Eames of Armagh challenged the Church on its relevance and how to transmit its ancient message to a restless world. He said:
‘A key word for society is relevance. In all aspects of our lives the question is being asked about relevance and usefulness in, for instance, institutional life, political life and the role of charities. Society is asking, “What are the real essentials for satisfaction in life?” A wind of change is blowing through what people consider those essentials to be. Economic realities are compelling many to review those essentials. The Church is itself under new scrutiny as to its relevance in our society. We cannot escape this questioning – nor can the Church avoid searching questions it must ask about itself. What is its real message to a world which is becoming more and more cynical about the nature of authority, traditional attitudes to moral issues and what is the real meaning of life?
‘Real conversations and dialogue is needed within the Church as to its relevance and how it transmits its ancient message to a restless world. How does the Church confront the marketplace with a message of a God of love at a time when there are so many conflicting recipes for what really matters in life?’
Lord Eames also commended the new Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, Patrick Rooke, to his new diocese and in his new role within the Church as a bishop.
(The ordination and consecration took place at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, on Thursday 8 September 2011).