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Editorial:
"Know Thyself"
Alwyn Thomson
Comment:
Illiberal Democracy
Alwyn Thomson
From
the Director: Good News People?
David W Porter
Balancing
on the Edge
Tony Davidson
Grateful
to God
David McMillan
Space
& Freedom
David Hewitt
Imaginative
Engagement
Keith Getty
No
longer at ease with this dispensation?
Mike Wardlow
Living
with our deepest differences
Os Guinness
Deep
Questions
Johnston
McMaster
Steady
presence
Cecelia Clegg
No
longer lonely
Joseph Liechty
Something
to give
Ingri Sakaria
Bible
study series: Faith in the future
David
W Porter
Review:
The Elusive Quest, Reconciliation in N I by Norman Porter
Bill
Brown
Review:
Journeying Towards Reconciliation, A Song for Ireland by Ruth Patterson
Lynda
Gould
Review:
Islam in Conflict:Past Present and Future by Peter G Riddell &
Peter Cotterell
Alwyn
Thomson
Review:
The R Option - Building Relationships as a Better Way of Life by
Michael Schluter & David John Lee
Anna
Rankin
Review:
Blue Diary by Alice Hoffman
Glenn
Jordan
Summer
School Poetry
Various
For
God and His Glory Alone:
Study 6: Truth
GRATEFUL TO GOD
OVER THE PAST decade and a half ECONI has been one of the greatest influences on my thinking as a Christian. Involvement in ECONI has provided me with an opportunity to take a stand publicly in seeking to disassociate the gospel from the yoke of contemporary Protestant political allegiance and the destiny of Northern Ireland. It has also forced me to ask searching questions about myself, my tradition and my theology that I might otherwise never have asked. It led me to ask the question, "How do others understand me and my community?" and in the process helped me understand more fully the causes and roots of division and conflict that have been our experience for so long.
Discussion and debate within ECONI have forced me to approach my reading and use of scripture in a different way. I have learned to come to scripture with questions and a questioning disposition expecting the Bible to challenge, inform and reshape my thinking and not simply reinforce my views or theology.
My involvement has led me into encounters, and in some cases friendship, with people across political, religious and paramilitary boundaries. In the normal run of things I would have chosen to ignore or avoid many of these people. This encounter with a wide range of people and views has helped me better understand myself and my own boundaries. I am still a conservative evangelical who lives and works within a conservative fellowship of churches and I am content with my vocation. Over the years I have learned that others are often far more gracious towards me and far more understanding of my limitations than I and some of my fellows are of those with whom we differ. In addition, ECONI has been a good environment in which to learn how to make common cause with and respect other evangelicals, while still being able to disagree on a whole range of social and theological issues. For me, involvement has brought the enrichment of new friendships and fellowship forged in the context of discussions and debates about our community, our calling and the desire to approach problems with biblical integrity.
Difficult experiences and public criticism over the years have taught me how to get on with life even if others are disapproving of my stance. I have learned not to take myself too seriously and keep in perspective that it's not the end of the world if people question my integrity and motives or deliberately misrepresent my position and cause trouble.
I am grateful to God for the opportunity to have been involved in ECONI.
I have no doubt that ECONI's contribution to the wider religious and political sphere has been significant, not least in its commitment to providing a 'safe space' for people to explore difficult issues and get to know those they could not normally feel safe to meet. I am conscious that for some ECONI has been a disappointment and has not delivered what they would have wanted or expected. On the other hand, its very existence has been a source of annoyance to others.
However, an assessment of ECONI.s contribution I am content to leave to others in the knowledge that I believe ECONI has sought to be faithful to its own calling.
DAVID McMILLAN
is Pastor of Windsor Baptist Church in
Belfast and is a Member and former Chair of the ECONI Board.
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