Global concern a priority, says Presbyterian Moderator Dr Frank Sellar

Dr Sellar, addressing a 1,000-strong congregation at the opening service of the Presbyterian General Assembly on Monday night, underlined his message with the Old Testament story of Jonah, who was reluctantly sent by God to the people of Nineveh, in what is modern-day Iraq.

Drawing on his Moderatoral theme – ‘A Community of Global Concern’ - he said that unlike the reluctant Jonah, the Church is called to act with compassion.

“We must share and learn from and share with our brothers and sisters in the world church, while recognising with them those issues of concern for our stewardship of the world’s resources where together we must challenge injustice, poverty and oppression in Jesus’ name,” said Dr Sellar.

Dr Sellar connected a range of global issues from the story of Jonah, referring to the human problems of the modern world.

“Every time any species of plant or animal is obliterated, or the sea and dry land is subjected to rising temperatures due to selfish human activity, the poorest peoples of this world suffer most.”

He also spoke specifically of bigotry, selfishness and lack of care for the spiritually lost and for God, who created the environment.

These failures, the Moderator said, he also saw at home, in Ireland, north and south, failures that needed to be “acknowledged and confessed”.

“As Presbyterians, called by God to grace-filled relationships, we should be ambassadors of Christ’s Kingdom in a broken and divided world: the good news of Jesus Christ challenges and equips us to develop radically new attitudes and relationships with our neighbours across Ireland.

“We confess our failure to live as Biblically faithful Christian peace-builders and to promote the counter culture of Jesus in a society where cultures clash. We affirm Christian peace-building as part of Christian discipleship.”

Dr Sellar, 58, a Coleraine man, added: “Jesus extends His invitation to repent; to be converted all over again; to re-prioritise and receive a brand new start. People matter, the God of our environment matters, right and wrong matters.

“May we as God’s people repent of our lack of care and be a community of global concern.”

Outgoing Moderator the Rev Dr Ian McNie spoke on the unique role the Church plays in society.

“The Church today is entrusted with a responsibility and message from Jesus Christ, that no other organisation or institution is mandated to share. It is the unique gospel message of Jesus Christ, His birth, life, teaching, death and resurrection, and the implication of this for everyone.”

Dr McNie spoke of the importance of having freedom to disagree in a society of competing ideologies. These included freedom of conscience and the historic and Christian understanding of marriage. He encouraged the Church to step into the world as radical disciples to proclaim the “agenda of the Cross”.