The Presbyterian Church in Ireland Vision For Society statement was adopted by the Church at its General Assembly in June last year. The unique Statement poster below is just one element of a package of resources to promote the Vision for Society initiative. This is available to all PCI’s 500-plus congregations. The poster has been produced by four Belfast-based artists who worked in collaboration to create this beautiful hand drawn piece of art.
The poster created by four Belfast-based artists is one element of a number of resources available to congregations to promote the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Vision For Society Statement.
The 146-word Statement seeks to continue to place peacebuilding firmly at the heart of Christian discipleship and the PCI.
Launching the poster, which he described as ‘inspiring’ the Presbyterian Moderator, Rt. Rev. Dr. Frank Sellar said.
“The Bible tells us that the first person to be filled by God with His Holy Spirit was man called Bezalel. He was a skilled craftsman who was commissioned by God to bring to life His plans for the Tabernacle.
Today, our God is the same creative and loving Father who uses all believers to further His Kingdom with both their natural skills and God-given ability. This poster, which illustrates our Vision for Society Statement, is a wonderful example of this. I hope it will inspire.”
Speaking about the Statement itself, Dr. Sellar said.
“I would warmly commend its vital content to our congregations for careful and prayerful use. As a people who have been saved by grace, we are called to live grace-filled lives. We are filled by God’s Holy Spirit to radically new attitudes that promote the counter culture of Jesus. When we don’t do that, it is a disgrace, but when we do the whole of society benefits.”
Rev. Stephen Johnston, minister of Kilkeel Presbyterian Church is convener of PCI’s Good Relations Panel.
This panel is responsible for promoting the Vision For Society. Rev Johnston said that the Statement is a “declaration of belief, confession, affirmation and aspiration for our members across Ireland as disciples of Jesus Christ and as peacebuilders.”
“The Prince of Peace, our Lord Jesus Christ, calls us to be peacebuilders. He was unequivocal when He gave us the Great Commandment to ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.’ Jesus then went further and introduced a radical counter cultural second element. That is to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself,’ (Mark 12:30-31), the heart of peacebuilding.
Peacebuilding, however, will look different in my own community of Kilkeel, County Down as it will in Belfast, Dublin, Londonderry or Cork. But its centrality to Christian discipleship remains the same wherever we are. It is my prayer that our Vision for Society Statement and our continued commitment to peacebuilding will bear much fruit.”
You can read more about the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Vision for Society Statement on their website here. This includes a series of blogs and videos about the creation of the poster and the Vision For Society Statement.
