October 2001

Dear Friends,

The attacks on the U.S. on September 11 have had a deep impact on the people of Northern Ireland. In part this is because many here knew someone working in lower Manhattan or have family ties to the US. In part it is because this community has itself all too often experienced the devastating impact of terrorism, although on a smaller scale.

Many events here in the aftermath of those attacks have moved us greatly. One was Northern Ireland’s fire-fighters’ efforts to raise funds for families of those killed in New York. In one day our local station raised £13,780 ($20,000) with a car wash! Another was the speech by the U.S. Consul at a service in Belfast attended by thousands. She used the opportunity to strongly encourage local politicians and paramilitaries to see the events of September 11 as a wake up call to redouble efforts to overcome the obstacles that have been inhibiting progress toward reconciliation here. She stated that she believes that for millions of U.S. citizens, such movement toward lasting reconciliation in Ireland would be a positive contribution to the healing so badly needed following the tragedy of September 11.

This time last week the power-sharing regional government set up after the 1998 Belfast Agreement seemed doomed to collapse. Unionists had withdrawn, feeling they could no longer share in government with Sinn Fein while the IRA refused even to begin a process of disarmament. In response, Sinn Fein insisted that IRA decommissioning would not take place under pressure from Unionists. Then, at last, on October 23, it was announced that the IRA had begun to decommission its weapons in a manner supervised and verified by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning set up as part of the 1998 Belfast Agreement.

Many factors helped bring this step about, but it is clear that international reaction to the events of September 11 has been significant both in exerting extra pressure on the IRA and in providing them an opportunity to take a step which has long been difficult for many of their supporters to accept.

Now it is important that the British government, Unionist politicians and Loyalist paramilitaries respond generously to this IRA action—however much they feel it is long overdue. Already Unionists have reinstated their ministers in the power-sharing Executive, and the British army have begun dismantling four further army bases in Northern Ireland as part of a wider process of demilitarisation.

It is equally imperative that ordinary people do not simply look on as spectators, thinking that peace-building is the responsibility of politicians alone. Support for grassroots reconciliation efforts also needs to be re-doubled if the momentum regained by this week’s actions is not to be lost. For us this means continuing work with various denominations and local inter-church projects: facilitating dialogue, helping churches identify steps they can take to heal local divisions, and equipping clergy and lay leaders to pursue the calling we all have as disciples of Jesus Christ to be peacemakers and agents of reconciliation.

One way the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) supports grassroots reconciliation in Northern Ireland is through the Young Adult Volunteer program. Over the past eight years 38 YAVs have served with 16 church and community-based ministries in Northern Ireland. Seven new volunteers arrived September 1. Part of our role is to oversee their placements and meet regularly with the volunteers for worship and reflection. It was uplifting to spend two days last week with the current group and listen to their joys and struggles. Several work near inter-face areas of North Belfast where conflict has erupted regularly in recent months. The rest are in settings where problems may be different—but equally difficult. Through after-schools and youth clubs they offer positive outlets to children and youth all too familiar with "recreational rioting" or lacking many positive adult role models. Through contact with young women’s groups and senior citizens they offer practical assistance and friendship. Through youth fellowships, Bible classes, and other church activities they wrestle alongside others trying to understand what commitment to Christ mean in a society—and a world—too often divided by a mixture of "religion" and politics. And in the midst of all of their serving and giving, they are also learning and receiving in ways that are moving to hear them describe.

Three ways to get info on the Young Adult Volunteer Program:

• (888) 728-7228 x5296
• www.pcusa.org/pcusa/wmd/msr/
• Mission Service Recruitment, 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202
  
  Our denomination has one-year positions for Young Adult Volunteers in the U.S. and ten international locations, including Northern Ireland. In August, Doug took part in a consultation in Louisville reviewing recruitment for the YAV Program worldwide. Currently, only enough candidates are coming forward to fill 50 percent of the possible placements. We have identified a number of strategies to redress this. However, we know the key is pastors and mission committees informing their young adults of this opportunity and encouraging participation. As you give thanks with us for a beginning to decommissioning of IRA weapons and pray for the ongoing work of YAVs in Northern Ireland, look also for young adults who could use their gifts to make a difference in any of the settings served by this program—and for whom such an experience could make a lifelong difference for themselves.

Faithfully yours,

Doug and Elaine Baker

The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 81