The Hard Gospel Project, an initiative of the Church of Ireland, is transforming the way in which churches in northern and southern Ireland are engaging with their local communities and the difficult issues they face as they strive for a lasting peace and mutual understanding.

"The Hard Gospel Project has been asked to hold a mirror up to the Church of Ireland. Northern Ireland is emerging from a time of violent conflict," said Rev Earl Storey, Hard Gospel director. "The Republic of Ireland has experienced phenomenal economic, social and religious change within the last decade. Both communities are on a journey to something. It is a moment of opportunity and challenge for the Church of Ireland."

Hard Gospel has developed two courses to encourage church engagement with Protestant unionist loyalist communities. While one focuses on the needs of rural Protestant communities, the other addresses the needs of marginalised disengaged loyalist communities in an urban area.

The urban area project in particular supports Church of Ireland parishes in proximity to loyalist communities to reflect and act on local issues, taking great care to work in close partnership with local stakeholders.

The aim of the urban project is to develop vibrant and confident communities and transform their attitudes towards the church as a relevant institution with a role to play.

Archbishop Robin Eames is the President of the Hard Gospel Project. He said previously: "The Hard Gospel...represents a sincere and prayerful self-examination of how this Church approaches difference at all levels in its daily life."

The project is also responding to immigration, an issue of growing importance and relevance to churches, through a series of diocesan Immigration Consultation Evenings.

'Beyond the Box' seminars, meanwhile, are public events designed to facilitate new thinking and energetic public debate on key issues both inside and outside the Church. Forthcoming issues will explore the extent to which communities are coming to terms with the events of the Troubles and racism as the new sectarianism.

Archbishop Eames said of the Hard Gospel Project: "It involves examination of attitude, organisation, activities, contact with society, influence and leadership.

"It asks hard questions - and expects hard answers...it represents for me the sincerity and integrity of internal examination on the same basis the Church has often demanded of society."