The rise in marriage and family breakdown has prompted a call on the Church of Ireland to refocus its mission on the biblical values of marital indissolubility.

The call was made in a report by the chairperson of the Church’s Marriage Council, the Revd Jonathan Campbell–Smyth, at the COI’s General Synod in Derry last week.

He said that the rate of marriage in the UK and Ireland had reduced significantly over the previous fifty years, while the rate of divorce increased dramatically in the UK. He said it was a “startling statistic” that in 2017, 42% of marriages in England and Wales ended in divorce, and added, whilst this is out of the COI’s jurisdiction, it gives an unhealthy picture into the future.

He said this called for the Church to refocus its support and mission in favour of the indissolubility of marriage even as society considers such values to be outdated.

He added that marriage breakup has a dramatic impact on children, and suggested that different bodies within the Church work closely “to ensure children of divorced couples or those witnessing frightening disruption within the family home are supported properly by the Church”.

In the written report, the Council noted that Tusla’s financial support of marriage counselling had been reduced from a one time high of €40,000 to just €5,000 last year.