Stating that the Belfast he grew up in was not as segregated as it is today, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy told the 350 Synod members that society in this post peace process period was more polarised than ever.
Addressing Connor Synod in St Brigid's Parish Church on Tuesday (June 24), Bishop Abernethy referred to the House of Bishops' Mission Statement which set out a vision for the Church of Ireland.
"I want to focus on three words - growth, unity and service - as I try to give a picture of a better future that will motivate us to action," the Bishop said.
He went on: "For too long we have almost apologised for being Church of Ireland. We have a very rich heritage of daily prayer and spirituality that we need to foster. We need to look for growth not just in terms of numbers but in quality and depth."
Bishop Abernethy said the Church needed to stop using the language of decline or despair. "We need to see the challenges we face as opportunities and remember who it is we serve and whose church it is," he said.
The Bishop added: "There may also be the need to find different ways of doing church that can engage with so many people that have disconnected from formal religion and church life."
He said one of his main roles as Bishop was to be a figure of unity, adding that Connor Diocese had diversity and depth which should be celebrated and parishes needed to find ways of engaging with one another.
"Our present culture has worshipped at the shrine of individualism for too long," the Bishop said. Stating that society was more polarised than ever, he added: "We need in local parish life to ensure we are developing common life and action with other Christian traditions."
Bishop Abernethy said he looked forward to working closely with Monsignor Noel Treanor, Roman Catholic Bishop-elect of Down and Connor. "In my experience unity is something we can find when we are in relationship with people," the Bishop said.
He urged Synod to pray for the Lambeth Conference. "There is no doubt this is a very difficult time for the Anglican Communion where there is very deep division and pain," he said.
Addressing the word 'service,' the Bishop told Synod: "We are to engage compassionately with a world and society in all its rich variety of need and opportunity."
Bishop Abernethy, consecrated Bishop of Connor in June last year, said he had visited various groups who are seeking to serve the needs of society. "Those who are working with the homeless, those who are seeking to focus society on the rising trend of suicide, those working in parts of north Belfast with a community that is battered and bruised and feels forgotten," the Bishop said.
"The constant need that I heard articulated was for better housing and more funding for education. I do appeal to our Assembly on behalf of people who feel they have no voice, that action will be taken on both the housing and educational needs of so many. I also ask that serious consideration is given to finding ways of helping the many homeless in our community."
The Bishop went on: "I believe we have to increasingly become more aware of the important need to serve our communities, not just preach at them." He urged those who grew up in areas that are now struggling, to offer some of their time and talents back to those communities.
During his address Bishop Abernethy paid tribute to staff and clergy in the diocese and to his wife Liz and children Peter and Ruth. He also spoke of the election of the Rev Canon Trevor Williams, rector of Holy Trinity and St Silas with Immanuel, Ardoyne, as new Bishop of Limerick and Killaloe. "I am delighted that his gifts have been recognised by the wider church," Bishop Abernethy said.