The Director of the Church of Ireland's Hard Gospel Project has welcomed the launch of Sinn Fein's "Charter for unionist engagement" in Stormont on Thursday.

The charter is a new initiative aimed at bridging the gap between the republican Sinn Fein and the unionist community, and is intended to build upon years of what the party terms 'outreach' work with unionists. This has included meetings with a number of Protestants and unionists including church and civic leaders.

Commenting on the charter, the Director of Hard Gospel, Rev Earl Storey, said: "A public commitment to an open and peaceful process of engagement from Sinn Fein towards the unionist community is to be welcomed."

The Hard Gospel Project was founded by the Church of Ireland in 2005 to address the hard issues of sectarianism and to stimulate fresh and creative thinking about finding a shared future in the Ireland of the 21st century.

Rev Storey continued: "Sinn Fein will understand the difficulties the unionist community feel, given the nature of republican violence against the unionist community during the Troubles. However, engagement between the communities offers the only hope for a peaceful future. Engagement involves listening by all sides and a willingness to face difficult questions."

The launch of the charter was attended by Mid Ulster MP and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.