The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Wales has called for better understanding between churches and society in the face of the present economic difficulties and terrorist threat.

In his Easter message, Reverend Haydn Thomas says that Easter is an opportunity for Christians to raise awareness of their faith, although not everyone will listen to their message.  He calls for greater sympathy towards churches’ work, as well as personally challenging former members to return to the churches.

“We, the members of Jesus’ Church, must have conviction in our faith and creed so that we can convince those around us,” he says ” We will be ignored by many but that is no excuse not to share our beliefs with others.  I believe that thousands of people seek salvation, peace of mind and conciliation.  This is particularly true during this time of economic difficulty, which has caused hardship for many families and which has led us to question the morality of the market and the present economic system.

“But I also call upon society to respect the place and work of the Church, even though every part of society may not be ready to receive our message.  Faith communities contribute more than £100m worth of voluntary services to the Welsh economy annually, not to mention offering spiritual nourishment and community to tens of thousands of people.  I hope that we all can see that churches of all kinds offer something valuable to Wales today.  And in the face of the threats from religious extremists, I call for religious tolerance and respect for each other’s beliefs.  We must respect others, whatever their background, their language, their traditions and their religion.

“But what about those who have turned their backs upon the church?  Thousands of people who were born and brought up within a church have turned their backs on it for various reasons.  I would like to extend an invitation and a personal challenge to these people: come back.  The Church wants your talents, your abilities and your vision.  If you are critical of the Church and its work, come back and share your vision on how to make our mission more effective.

“So my message to Jesus Christ’s Church is this: be aware of Easter, its message and meaning.  The Festival is more than just a few days off work: it’s an opportunity for us to stand for what we believe in and to declare it anew with the conviction it deserves.  And it is an opportunity for us to win the respect of society and to regain those who have turned their backs on the Church.  It is evident that the world is thirsty for love, justice and peace.  Let us not disappoint it.”