The Church of Ireland today announced a new initiative that will help the Church take a hard look at sectarianism both among its own members and in society.

The Church's recently appointed "Hard Gospel Committee" is working to produce ideas and recommendations on how members of the Church in parishes, dioceses and in its central decision making structures can help people live with difference and encourage good relationships in the wider community.

The Venerable David Chillingworth, Archdeacon of Dromore and Rector of Seagoe Parish, Portadown, is acting chairman of The Hard Gospel Committee.

Archdeacon Chillingworth says: "The Committee has been tasked with a very critical and serious piece of work. In a rapidly-changing Ireland we are linking sectarianism with many other areas of social and ethnic difference. It is no longer 'just a northern issue'"