We can resolve gay row, says new C of I Primate; Election of primate welcomed; DUFEM Godfrey Day Lecture; Priory Singers Coleraine concert; Cork palliative medicine workshop; Two same-sex partnerships every day since law change; ‘Children’s referendum will change nothing’; Irish Mormon Church hit by 30pc cash slump
We can resolve gay row, says new Cof I Primate
The Newsletter reports – Hours after his surprise election as Church of Ireland Primate, Bishop Richard Clarke said that he believed the Church could solve its long-running internal row over homosexuality.
In an interview with the News Letter after being unveiled as the successor to Alan Harper, the current Bishop of Meath and Kildare said that the debate was “not going to be an easy solve”, but that the Irish church could find a solution which may help other Anglican provinces.
The widower, who lost his wife Linda three years ago, also said that when he assumes the role in December it will be “lonelier” without her presence.
The 63-year-old, who was described by one church observer as “a conservative liberal”, insisted that he was “not a caretaker”.
When asked whether he had any fear that, given the recent crisis in the Church over homosexuality, he may be the primate who presides over a split, Archbishop-elect Clarke said: “I would be concerned if I believed that that is a certainty.
“What I would say is that I have hope that as a church we will continue a very careful process of discernment… and I would believe that there is the will within the Church of Ireland north and south to find a way through.”
See separate report posted yesterday on this site with the Newsletter interview.
Election of primate welcomed
The election of Bishop Richard Clarke has been elected as the new primate of All-Ireland has been welcomed by the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland, the Reverend Kenneth Lindsay.
Rev Lindsay said Dr Clarke had worked closely with the Methodist Church in Ireland.
“In 1997 he was a rapporteur at a mile-stone conference in the life of the Methodist Church,” he said.
“On behalf of the Methodist people of Ireland I pray God’s richest blessing upon him as he enters into a new stage of his ministry.” Dr Clarke was educated at Wesley College, Dublin.
The Most Rev David Chillingworth, Bishop of St Andrews, Dunkeld & Dunblane and Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church says “I warmly welcome the election of Bishop Richard Clarke as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland. I have known him and worked with him over many years and look forward now to working closely with him in the relationship between the Celtic Churches.
“There was a former companionship relationship between the Diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld and Dunblane and the Diocese of Meath and Kildare; as a result of that he is an Honorary Canon of St Ninian’s Cathedral, Perth. We hold Bishop Richard in our thoughts and prayers as he prepares to take up the Office of Archbishop”.
Bishop Harold Miller writing to the people of his Diocese states, “I commend the new Archbishop of Armagh, Richard Clarke, to the prayers and love of the people of the Diocese of Down and Dromore.
“Richard began his ministry in Holywood Parish in the 1970s, so was formed in those early days by his experience in this diocese.
“He brings many important gifts to his new role, as a clear–thinking theologian, a direct and clear communicator, and a person who has proven his faith in Christ in difficult times.
“He takes up the new role of Archbishop of Armagh at both a challenging time, and a time of great potential for the Church in Ireland, and I warmly welcome his appointment as both a fellow–bishop and a friend over more than forty years.”
DUFEM Godfrey Day Lecture
The Godfrey Day Memorial Lecture 2012, under the auspices of the Dublin University Far Eastern Mission, will be held in the Neill/Hoey Lecture Theatre, the Long Room Hub, Trinity College Dublin from 7.00pm to 8.30pm on Thursday 18 October.
This year’s speaker is Dr Gareth Jones, Principal of SKH Ming Hua Theological College (Anglican Province of Hong Kong & Macau). He will speak about “Multiculturalism and Christianity in East Asia.” The lecture will be preceded by Choral Evensong in College Chapel at 5.15pm and a reception in House 27 at 6.15pm. Admission is free and all are welcome.
A graduate of Jesus College, Cambridge Dr. Gareth Jones was Oxford University’s Bampton Junior Research Fellow at Keble College, from 1988 to 1991, when he moved to Birmingham University as Lecturer in Systematic Theology. After working in Canterbury as Professor of Theology, during which time he participated widely in theological education in Africa, Dr. Jones is now Principal of SKH Ming Hua Theological College in the Anglican Province of Hong Kong & Macau.
His lecture, entitled “Multiculturalism and Christianity in East Asia”, will focus on the particular relationship between China’s historic Christian missions and its present identity. In particular he will interrogate whether the description of Christianity in China as an “emerging” faith is appropriate to describe the process of Christianity’s remarkable growth and development in that country.
Priory Singers Coleraine concert
St Patrick’s, Coleraine, welcomes the Priory Singers for a concert on Saturday October 6.
Conducted by Robert Thompson and accompanied by Phillip Elliott on the organ, the Priory Singers will be performing ‘Songs of Farewell’ by Parry and ‘Messe Solennelle’ by Vierne in the concert which begins at 7.30pm.
The evening will also include music by Rutter, Lauridsen, Whitacre, Mealor, Balfour Gardiner, Purcell among others. Admission is £10 on the door
Cork palliative medicine workshop
Dr Michael Kearney, one of the world leaders in palliative medicine, returned to his native Cork on Thursday, 27 September to lead an inspirational, fully-booked, day-long workshop at the recently opened Northridge House at St Luke’s Home, Cork. Michael Kearney has hugely shaped the palliative care world through his natural, expansive and holistic approach to end of life care. He has inspired many practitioners of all disciplines through his insights into the spiritual anguish of suffering and what he describes as “soul pain”. Kearney’s book Mortally Wounded. Stories of Soul Pain, Death and Healing is to be found on the bookshelf of most palliative practitioners and therapists.
Using the image of “Learning to breathe underwater”, Kearney with co-presenter Dr Radhule Weininger, explored the nature of caregiver stress, burnout, compassion fatigue and how the approach of ‘exquisite empathy’ can transform, inspire and energise those who work in painful situations of care. Exquisite empathy as coined by Harrison & Westwood 2009 is possible when clinicians develop and practice a high level of self awareness: being able to be emotionally present to the person we are caring for. Those who provide spiritual care will recognise this approach as being at the heart of pastoral care. The presence of a wide diversity of disciplines at this workshop – medicine, nursing, chaplaincy, education and therapies of many kinds – is testament to the high esteem that Dr Kearney is held in.
This workshop through theory and practice brought the participants to a deeper level of appreciation of the importance of emotional awareness that bears fruit not only for practitioners but more importantly for those we are privileged to care for in a way that enables us, even in the most stressful situations, to recognise, come close to, and remain emotionally available to patients in a deep and transformative way.
At a time when many are expressing concern about the human reality of pain, illness and suffering, when healthcare budgets are under unprecedented pressure, this conference organised by St Luke’s Education Centre and co-sponsored by the Irish Hospice Foundation is timely.
Two same-sex partnerships every day since law change
Irish Examiner – Two same-sex civil partnerships have taken place in Ireland every day since the unions became legal last year, including ceremonies for 14 people of pensionable age.
Figures from the Office of the Registrar-General revealed by a leading support group show 862 same-sex couples have tied the knot across the country in the 17 months since the first ceremony in Ireland took place.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/two-same-sex-partnerships-every-day-since-law-change-209775.html
‘Children’s referendum will change nothing’
Examiner – The children’s rights referendum will “bring no change” when the State has just 10 places for troubled teenagers in need of secure and special therapeutic care, a judge has claimed.
Judge Ann Ryan, at the Dublin Children’s Court, said the shortage of places for children needing special therapeutic care was “a shame, a sin, and a disgrace”.
Her comments came during a case involving a girl, 17, who is in the throes of a drug addiction and keeps absconding from care. The girl has been living in a residential care unit and had been ordered as a condition of bail to obey a curfew there.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/childrens-referendum-will-change-nothing-209924.html
Mormon Church hit by 30pc cash slump
Irish Independent – The Irish Mormon Church has blamed increased unemployment and emigration for a drop of almost 30pc in donations by its members last year. Mormon Church rules state members should donate 10pc of their income to the church through a ‘tithe’.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/mormon-church-hit-by-30pc-cash-slump-3249423.html