Bishop Miller's Presidential Address Below is the full text of Bishop Harold Miller's Presidential Address to the Down and Dromore Diocesan Synod held on 23rd June 2009. "It would be possible to have a pretty depressing Synod in this year of our Lord 2009. Indeed, it might even be thought that a depressing synod would be a real engagement with the prevailing issues which we, as a society, have been facing over the last twelve months. The very foundations of our society, and in some cases, of the world, have been shaken. Many key areas of our lives have been challenged, and trust in key institutions has taken a battering. I hardly need to give the most obvious of examples: The world of banking and high finance, with the credit crunch The world of politics and politicians, with the expenses scandals The world of religion and institutional church, with the Ryan report and other subsequent reports on abuse of children in the Republic. If we add to that the uncertainties we face in this province about the future of our education system, the appalling spectre of racism, the adequacy of policing numbers, and even a winter of potential swine ‘flu, we could be considered to be living in the most uncertain of times. We hardly need to be reminded of the words of Psalm 146 v2 (in the old Prayer Book version!) O put not your trust in princes, nor in any child of man: for there is no help in them. We live in a time when trust in authority figures, institutions and systems is at a very low ebb, and times like that historically can be both dangerous and creative. Into the midst of that, I want to speak words of encouragement and hope, not least because we are Resurrection people, who understand that the Lord uses the most devastating and traumatic of times to reveal his glory and reaffirm his love. And I want to do that by reminding us of three celebrations which take place this year which profoundly impact us in the Diocese of Down and Dromore. The first is The 400th Anniversary of the Charter of Down and Dromore Cathedrals. Our celebrations began in Down with a wonderful St Patrick's Day. The place is always packed, but it amazes me to meet many people in the diocese who still hardly know that the celebrations happen each year. We meet at Saul for Holy Communion, and then take part in the Pilgrimage from Saul to Downpatrick, where a Celebration Service takes place at the Cathedral, the wreath is laid on the grave of St Patrick, and then there is a great lunch together in the marquee. I truly think we do not realize what we have historically in our cathedrals, and would like you to have a look at this video taken on 17 March 2009, to get something of the atmosphere of the day which began the 400th Celebrations. This is the first time it has been seen. St Patrick's Day video which will be available online close to St Patrick's Day 2010. Dean Henry Hull has put the history of the Cathedral something like this: ‘400 years since the Charter, 800 years since the Benedictines built their monastery on the site, and 1600 years since St Patrick'. That is am amazing history of the faithfulness of God, one which we should and do rejoice in, and one which has planted a DNA of mission to the world in this diocese. There isn't the time to show any other video footage, but I would have loved everyone in this Synod to have been at another of the 400th Anniversary Occasions, the Spirit of Patrick celebration with the New Irish Orchestra, on the Friday before Pentecost. I think all who were present would agree that this was one of the most amazing events they have ever participated in. It was not a concert, though the music was brilliant, not a service, though the presence of God and spirit of worship were palpable. It was really a celebration of five people connected with this diocese, who, in giving their lives to the mission of Christ, were amazing and inspirational examples for a new generation. The video clips about these people, and the interviews with Mark Simpson of the BBC, will be on the website over the next few weeks for you all to see. www.downanddromore.org! But it is not only Down Cathedral which is celebrating; James I (as I have often said, and will promise not to mention again), in between giving his seal of approval to Bushmills whiskey and authorizing the ‘King James Version' of the Bible, gave a charter to Dromore Cathedral, (which later became particularly famous for its association with Bishop Jeremy Taylor, who is buried there) and I think to another Cathedral in another nearby diocese as well! That is our heritage, and we say with some passion Deo gracias. All of that leads me to make a request of the parishes of the diocese in relation to our two cathedrals. Those of you who have worshipped in Down Cathedral or Dromore Cathedral, will know that both buildings have had a great deal of work done on the superstructure, and indeed on other aspects of the buildings, over recent years. However, there is the rather more attractive work which still needs to be done in both on the interior, to make them vibrant places, which serve our worship needs in the 21st Century. I know that both Cathedrals are in the process of developing plans for interior re-ordering, which will include, for example, in Down, better seating arrangements, relighting, redecoration, good up to date sound and audio visual systems, and better arrangements for tourists. It is very important that we support and own our cathedrals, not least because our financial support in some cases releases the possibility of other funding. So I am making a big ask. I don't think I have ever done so before in the diocese, and I hope I won't have to ever again, though that's a dangerous thing to say! I am asking the parishes of the diocese to give 1% of their total income for the next five years to a 1% fund for our cathedrals. I realize, as I am sure you do also, that this is a sacrificial ask, in these stringent financial times. Indeed, I thought of holding it off for that reason, but I reckoned that the 401st year was not quite the same as the 400th. And you will also realize that, if the decisions expected at this Synod are made, there will be no increase in the assessment this year, and there will also be no increase in clergy stipends. If we all participated in this, it would be such a blessing to our Cathedrals. Two thirds would be given to Down and one third to Dromore. If all participated, this would bring in, over five years, around £250,000 for Down Cathedral, and around £125,000 for Dromore. A sign of our investment in the future. This, I add, is not another levy, it is what I think some call, a target of honour. I will personally write to all parishes about the 1% Cathedral Fund in the autumn of the year, and would ask members of this Synod to please help by both explaining and promoting the idea. The second celebration this year is The 150th Anniversary of the Ulster Revival. A celebration of a revival a hundred and fifty years ago carries with it certain attendant dangers. There is the danger of romanticism, of seeing everything through rose-tinted spectacles; the danger of expecting God simply to repeat a formula when we pray for revival in our generation; the danger of discouragement because we do not see the vigour and life in the church of our day which was seen then. It is also true that some of the most secularized parts of Wales, for example, are parts which were centres of revival in the early 20th Century, and where everything appears to have gone dead: the chapels have closed and become offices or warehouses, and the vibrant faith appears to have gone. And it is true that not everyone welcomed the 1859 Revival, not least in the established church of the day. Some saw it as over-emotional, creating spiritual second-class citizens, and causing mental and marital breakdowns. But, having said that, we are holding our Synod, quirkily, today, in a parish which was utterly transformed by the 1859 Revival. Lurgan was the first town in Co Armagh to receive the outpouring. The rector of the town, Thomas Knox, tells us of the immediate results of the revival: ‘First, congregations, both in church and at cottage lectures, greatly increased. The increase is composed in great measure of young men and women who were formerly indifferent in spiritual matters. Secondly,the communicants nearly doubled, and from the same class of persons. Thirdly, adult classes have sprung up of persons anxious for instruction... ...I may also add, that a more religious tone pervades the entire neighbourhood. Drunkenness has declined, and we have observed no case of relapse in those who had really been affected at the period of the revival..' Shankill Parish Church is an ongoing symbol of the 1859 Revival. You may wonder why a church was built to hold more than a thousand in the congregation, and the answer is simple: so many people's faith came alive around the time of the 1859 Revival, that there simply wasn't room to accommodate them in the former church, and a new one needed to be built.