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Front Page
All-Ireland survey prompts call for new approaches to ecumenism
By David Masters
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| Dr Gladys Ganiel |
Christians on the island of Ireland generally place a high value on ecumenism, although some Christians are unsure what the term means, and a small number view it as outdated and irrelevant, an island-wide survey of religious leaders and laypeople has found. Speaking last week at a public lecture at the Belfast campus of the Irish School of Ecumenics (ISE ) as part of Community Relations Week 2010, Dr Gladys Ganiel, research co-ordinator, said most Christians in Ireland had a positive view of ecumenism. "Fifty-eight per cent of laypeople in Northern Ireland reported that they had a positive conception of ecumenism," she said. "This contrasts with the Republic, where seventy per cent of laypeople reported a positive conception."
Editorial
Nuclear Non-Proliferation
This month, for over three weeks, the Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is being held in New York (Insight, page 8). This vitally important gathering of representatives of many States has been hailed by the General Secretary of the World Council of Churches as an "opportunity for success". Christians around the world will rightly pray for a constructive engagement by all participants and for a successful outcome. The conference has a very wideranging agenda and the themes have been carefully chosen through a preparatory process. Full Text
Home News
‘Staggering’ achievement of restoration of ‘iconic’ Dublin inner-city church
By Garrett Casey
Preaching at a recent special thanksgiving service in St Stephen’s church, Dublin, to mark the completion of an extensive programme of refurbishment, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd John Neill, said it was "staggering what a small congregation has achieved." The service, which was attended by a large congregation led by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Emer Costello, was to give thanks for the restoration which cost in excess of €600,000. It involved the removal of inappropriate cement mortar and the repointing of exterior walls, together with repairs to the roof, windows and stonework.
President McAleese to address inter-Church gathering
The President of the Republic of Ireland, Mary McAleese, will be one of the speakers at an inter-Church gathering in the Dromantine Centre, near Newry, Co. Down, on Saturday 8th May, to celebrate 100 years of the ecumenical movement. The Revd Ruth Patterson, Director of Restoration Ministries, will also speak at the event, the theme of which will be ‘How far have we come, how far can we go, 1910-2010?’.
King's Hospital Sit Out
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Some students of the King’s Hospital School, Palmerston, Dublin, are pictured during a recent sleep-out which they undertook in Dublin’s College Green in aid of the Fr Peter McVerry Trust, a homeless charity in Dublin. They were accompanied by the chaplain of King’s Hospital, Canon Peter Campion (back row, 2nd left).
Church urged to invest in clergy lifelong learning and training
By Karen Bushby
The Connor Diocesan Training Co-ordinator, Peter Hamill, has had a paper published in The Journal of Practical Theology and also online. The article is entitled ‘Lifelong learning for ministry: Mapping the current situation and the future potential among clergy in the Church of Ireland in Northern Ireland.’ Mr Hamill, who completed a Master’s Degree in Lifelong Learning in December 2008 after three years of study, based his paper on research carried out during 2008. The article was commissioned by the Connor Diocesan Training Council in 2009 as an academic paper.
CMS Ireland ‘hits the road’ to promote mission
Over the next four weeks, the Church Mission Society Ireland (CMS Ireland) will be ‘on the road’ to host a series of special Roadshow events in 12 locations throughout Ireland. As with last year’s tour, these events are designed to encourage and inspire individuals and parishes to play their part in God’s mission.
Derry Diocese presentation
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Wilsie Moore (seated) is pictured with (standing, from left) Robin Clark, Canon Raymond Stewart and Timothy Dowie following a presentation to Mr Moore of an armchair to mark his retirement as sexton and in appreciation of over 30 years’ service to St Nossonus’ church, Innisrush, Tamlaght O’Crilly Lower, Diocese of Derry. (Photo: Robin Clark)
Details announced of festival of music to celebrate eminent Irish composer
By Michael Webb
Sir Charles Villiers Stanford was born in Dublin in 1852 and received his early musical training at the city’s two Church of Ireland Cathedrals - St Patrick’s Cathedral and Christ Church Cathedral - and at St Stephen’s church, ‘the pepper canister’ (Home News, page 3). He moved to Cambridge in 1870 and went on to build a stellar musical career. He was appointed Professor of Composition at the Royal College of Music in 1883 and Professor of Music at Cambridge University in 1888. Stanford was knighted in 1902 and, following his death in 1924, his ashes were interred in Westminster Abbey.
Bishops’ Appeal ‘thank you’ for Haiti relief
On behalf of the Bishops’ Appeal Advisory Committee, Martin O’Connor, the Bishops’ Appeal Education Adviser, has thanked all Church of Ireland members who responded so generously to the appeal from the Archbishops and Bishops following January’s Haiti earthquake disaster. As the emergency relief phase of the appeal draws to a close, to date, the totals received amount to €172,662 and £58,378; the response came from every part of the Church of Ireland.
Annual lecture to consider Celtic spirituality and contemporary life
This year’s annual St Comgall Lecture, hosted by ‘The Friends of Bangor Abbey’, will be given by the Revd Grace Clunie, Director of the Centre for Celtic Spirituality, an inter- Church project based at the Church of Ireland’s St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. The lecture will take place in Bangor Abbey church, Bangor, Co. Down, on Monday 10th May, at 8.00pm; admission will be £5.
New worship leader for Dromore Cathedral
Dromore Cathedral, Diocese of Dromore, has appointed Karen Bowden as its new part-time worship leader, in succession to David Lowry, who served as a volunteer worship leader for several years. Mrs Bowden will be involved mostly with the 10.00am Sunday service, but she will also have a major role in the development of the music team.
Irish College of Preachers’ conference, 2010
The annual conference of the Irish College of Preachers will be held in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, Dublin, from 8th to 10th September. The conference, which is residential, is designed to encourage preaching and help clergy and lay readers communicate biblical truths. The keynote speaker this year will be the Revd Ian Coffey, Director of Training at Moorlands College, Christchurch, England. Mr Coffey is a pastoral practitioner, with a strong interest in preaching and writing. His most recent book, Shock and Awe - tasting God’s outrageous grace, was published last September by the Bible Reading Fellowship.
World News
President Obama meets Billy Graham at evangelist’s home
The US President, Barack Obama, and the ailing evangelist, Billy Graham, have exchanged prayers during their first meeting at Dr Graham’s home in western North Carolina. President Obama had travelled to nearby Asheville, North Carolina, and requested the visit - the first time a sitting President had visited Dr Graham at his residence. Billy Graham, who is aged 91, issued a statement saying he was pleased with the visit and encouraging "Christians everywhere to pray for our President".
Hindu governor praises Christians at Presbyterian gathering in India
At a mass gathering of Presbyterians, the Hindu governor of India’s Meghalaya state has hailed the positive role of Christian missionaries in spreading a message of "love, trust and peace in the turbulent tribal societies" of the country’s north-east. The presence of Governor Ranjit S. Mooshahary and his sermon excited many delegates at the 39th general assembly of the Presbyterian Church in India. Still, some Church leaders said they were angry because a non- Christian had been allowed to address a solemn worship service.
Shell must do more on Niger Delta, says Church-linked group
The oil giant, Shell, continues to face scrutiny over its operations in Nigeria, with a British Church-based investor coalition saying the company needs to take longer-term action to reduce the negative impact of oil exploitation in the Niger Delta. "After years of unresolved community tensions, Shell could reap benefits by making accountability to local people a higher priority," said Miles Litvinoff, co-ordinator of the Ecumenical Council for Corporate Responsibility (ECCR). It released a report in February that said the oil company’s operations in the Niger Delta had a negative social and environmental impact.
Insight
World Council of Churches leader sees UN nuclear non-proliferation treaty conference
as ‘opportunity for success’
The 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is being held from 3rd-28th May at United Nations headquarters in New York. The President-elect of the Review Conference is Ambassador Libran N. Cabactulan of the Philippines. The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, has described the NPT as "the most important disarmament agreement of all". The UN has indicated of this month’s New York conference: "The NPT is a landmark international treaty, the objective of which is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament. The NPT represents the only binding commitment in a multilateral treaty to the goal of disarmament by the nuclear-weapon States.
Soap
Down At. St. David’s
By Ted Woods
It was all a terrible mixup and Bishop Priscilla Barker regretted that she had ever accepted the invitation in the first place. The invitation had been to speak about ‘Pink Glass Ceilings’ at a fringe event during a Civic Week in an important county town. Obviously, having been elected a bishop, Priscilla had broken through the ecclesiastical pink glass ceiling and was, therefore, regarded as a certain role model. It had been a long drive to the event, but Priscilla relaxed listening to CDs and tuning in to various news programmes.
Popular Culture
Winning
Gareth Higgins
A couple of weeks ago, President Obama announced, in one of those characteristically dramatic-sounding ways, a new ‘Nuclear Posture Review’. In short, the US will only target its nuclear weapons at nations that also have them. So, now we know: Wales, the Shetland Isles and Liechtenstein can sleep easy; Iran and North Korea, not so much. While the review fell short of a no first strike policy, it fleshes out Obama’s desire to eradicate nuclear weapons entirely. He backed up the policy with a comment about the prevailing US superpower status, including the humble caveat: "Whether we like it or not."
Life Lines
Rebecca, the dog and the pack of butter
Ron Elsdon
For just a few moments, forget general elections, hung parliaments, national debts, health and safety - let’s have a bit of a laugh. A few days ago, I visited in hospital a member of our church family who has had a long and dreary chapter of ill-health. She was upset. There were a few tears. I’m not surprised. Then she talked about her family and her face lit up. One of her granddaughters is Rebecca, who is 2 years old. A little while ago, Rebecca went to the toilet. After a while, mum and dad wondered why the house was so quiet. Was Rebecca still sitting on the loo, contemplating infinity? No, she wasn’t. They eventually found her playing with the dog. What a great game they were having!
Crosbhealaí
Aonghus Dwane
An tEaglaiseach Gaelach - Dónall A. R. Caird
Tá cáil mhór ar an Easpag Dónall Caird, a théann i bhfad thar limistéar phobal Eaglais na hÉireann. Tá an-suim curtha aige sa Ghaeilge, san Oideachas agus san Fhealsúnacht le linn a shaol. Rugadh Dónall i mí na Nollag 1925. D’fhreastail sé ar Choláiste Wesley ó 1936 go 1944, agus is sa thréimhse seo a chuir sé suim sa Ghaeilge ar dtús.
Book Reviews
THE GOSPEL IN THE GLOBAL VILLAGE
Author: Katharine Jefferts Schori
Publisher: Canterbury Press
God’s Green Book - Seven Bible Studies about the Environment
Authors: Charlotte Sleigh and Bryony Webb
Publisher: SPCK; pp.99
Price: £8.99
MORE SECONDARY SCHOOL ASSEMBLIES
Edited by: Ronni Lamont
Publisher: SPCK; pp.155
News Extra
Former Archbishop of Dublin awarded prestigious Irish language and culture prize
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| Nancy Caird (2nd right) receives the Patrick Pearse Award on behalf of her husband with (from left) Bláthnaid Ó Brádaigh, secretary of the Pearse Foundation; Pat Carey TD; and Senator Labhrás Ó Murchú, chairman of the Pearse Foundation. |
The former Archbishop of Dublin, the Rt Revd Dr Donald Caird, has been awarded the 2010 Gradam an Phiarsaigh - the Pádraig Pearse Award. Dr Caird is well-known and highly respected throughout the Church of Ireland community and far beyond for his great interest in the Irish language, philosophy and education. He was chosen to receive the Award in recognition of his tireless efforts to promote and advance the traditions of the Irish language and culture during his ministry of over 50 years.
Church of England central investments performing well
The Church of England’s Church Commissioners achieved a 15.6 per cent return on their investments during 2009. Results announced last week show that the fund has now outperformed its comparator group, WM All Funds Universe, over the last year, as well as over the past five, 10 and 20 years. The results mean that the Commissioners’ current level of support to the Church of England - including increased pensions costs - can be maintained, in cash terms, for a further three-year period, from 2011 to 2013.