Rt Rev Russell Birney
Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland



We in Ireland have come a long way in recent years. However, in Northern Ireland, with the suspension of 
the Assembly we find ourselves standing at a familiar cross-roads.  Looking back we see that "cease-fires", 
conferences, agreements and, even opportunities to govern ourselves, do not bring peace in themselves. 
They simply provide opportunity for peace to be made and remain as fragile as our ability as a community 
to make peace with one another. Neither can statesmen nor politicians make peace for us.  The dynamic for 
real peace rests in each of us. We have to make the conscious decision to cross over into unfamiliar 
territory and engage with those whom we may have even considered to be our enemy. 

This is what Jesus, the Prince of Peace, not only taught but did. The baby of Bethlehem was Emmanuel, God 
with us.  God crossed the divide between the divine and the human and became one of us-the Word made flesh. 
What he did in this wonderful single act of grace ultimately cost him his life but it also revealed him as 
the Son of God.  God¹s children too are called to make peace. Our mandate is clear,  ³Blessed are the 
peacemakers for they shall be called children of God²(Matthew 5: 9). To fail to engage in the task is a 
denial of our calling. 

May I wish you a very happy Christmas and a peacemaking New Year. 

Ends
13 December 2002