12th
July 2004 Resolutions
THE FAITH: As Orangemen we have experience of the
problems confronting Christians in this secularised society.
We recognise the weakened state of some churches and the
numerical, theological, liturgical and ethical issues that
threaten them and their future well being.
We resolve as Christians to stand firm for the faith, Christ-centred
and Bible-based. We believe in the divinity of our Lord Jesus
Christ; His pattern of living and teaching; the efficacy of
His sacrificial death; and the reality of His resurrection.
We further deplore the way in which the teachings of our
Protestant Reformed Faith are being denied, eroded and undermined
by those Protestant Ministers who have aligned themselves
with the Church of Rome.
Our primary commitment is to Jesus Christ and what the Bible
says about Him, and we have experienced the good effect He
has on the lives of those who believe in Him. This is the
faith we share together and declare to others.
We deplore the attempts of some clergy and laity to rewrite
the Gospel while remaining in churches whose Articles of Religion
and Confessions of Faith are their accepted and stated beliefs.
We are much concerned about how the churches deal with the
major moral issues which are being debated today - homosexuality
and same sex partnerships among them. There is the danger
that these issues will so dominate church thinking that the
primary duties and responsibilities of the churches will be
neglected. What must be paramount is the preaching of the
Gospel and the building up of believers in their most holy
faith.
As Orangemen we accept our responsibilities and opportunities
to use our influence and strength to so live our lives that
we shall persuade people to believe in Jesus Christ, to seek
His salvation and to possess and enjoy, God's provision for
their deepest needs.
LOYALTY: That we, the Orangemen assembled at
.
in commemoration of the 314th Anniversary of the Battle of
the Boyne do hereby reaffirm our devotion and loyalty to the
Throne and Person of Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Elizabeth
II, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland and Her other Realms, Defender of the Faith.
As Her Majesty's Loyal Subjects across the United Kingdom
commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Normandy Landings,
by which the tide of war was turned in 1944 and victory secured,
we give thanks for those brave men of the United Kingdom,
the Commonwealth, and the Allied Nations, who fought that
the flame of freedom might not be quenched. We are mindful
in particular this year of those of our brethren who fought
for the freedom of others and the triumph of democracy in
the Second World War, and bring to mind that many of them
made the supreme sacrifice.
THE STATE: The voice of unionism is stronger now
and should be heard clearly and determinedly. It should make
the Government and Irish nationalists and republicans realise
that they must listen to what unionists are saying to them
and to act positively on what they hear. A refusal to take
sufficient note of unionist convictions and opinions has produced
many of the inequities and imbalances that have made devolved
government in Northern Ireland impossible at this time.
The unionist demand is for the democratic principle to be
observed - politicians do not share power with those who have
in place a private army. As Orangemen, and as unionists, we
add our support to the unionist political leadership in their
determination to have an administration worthy of the support
of the people, whatever their religious persuasion and political
party preference, race and colour.
We utterly condemn the paramilitaries, loyalist and republican,
for crimes by which they dominate and destroy the lives of
people and their communities. We condemn, too, the arsonists,
vandals, burglars and petty thieves. The present level of
lawlessness with its victims of all ages must be ended by
the forces of law and order.
We are concerned that the Police have been so weakened by
the implementation of the Patten Report, in particular the
50/50 recruitment policy, the loss of manpower and at leadership
level, that it is unable to properly cope with its huge problems.
Change of governmental attitudes is required in these crisis
circumstances.
As Orangemen we are determined to secure for ourselves and
those who come after us a Northern Ireland which is peaceful
and prosperous, well governed and much respected everywhere.
We have a dream. We want to make it a reality.
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