Archbishops and Bishops message to G8 Summit; Church needs to transform says new Moderator; Bishop Good Welcomes Presbyterian General Assembly; Chetam’s student comes home to help church cause; Cork appointment; 200 confirmees reunite; Priests’ role in society ‘must be reimagined’; CCMS undertaking recruitment review
Archbishops and Bishops message to G8 Summit
Ahead of the G8 Summit meeting on 17-18 June at the Lough Erne resort, the Archbishops and Bishops of the Church of Ireland extend their welcome to the world leaders and their officials who will be visiting County Fermanagh.
They commend the work of civic government as a calling which can lead to blessing, stating that ‘the equitable management of economic affairs has the potential to bring many benefits to a de-moralised world’. The bishops also recognise that journalists from across the world will gather to cover the summit and both welcome and wish them well in the difficult task they perform, saying ‘The demands of insightful reporting and making fair comment are very great as is the responsibility that goes with their vocation.’
In praying for a fruitful series of meetings, the bishops call for a renewed ethical focus on economic life across the globe and, echoing the collective voice of the General Synod in May, express wholehearted support for the IF Campaign which proposes practical ways towards achieving equity in food availability worldwide. They say: ‘It is an unequivocal good that fewer people should have to go to bed each night hungry. We would urge the leaders of the G8 to make this fundamental goal into a reality.’
Concerning Ireland, North and South, the bishops state that ‘ordinary people from both jurisdictions have felt the heavy weight of austerity economics, and are in desperate need of a positive vision to guide them into a secure future’. Specifically regarding Northern Ireland they say, ‘It is beyond doubt that wholesome economic life (and especially useful investment) requires social stability, a regard for the rule of law, and good community relations. Much has been achieved in these areas in recent years and again it is our prayer that the fruits of this work will be clear for all our visitors to see.’ Relating especially but not exclusively to the Republic of Ireland, the bishops call for ‘very open dialogue with both commercial and personal customers’ by the Financial Sector which, in having received special rescue measures, owes to people ‘complementary special responsibilities’. The Archbishops and Bishops also call for a dynamic focus on providing special measures to remedy youth unemployment, as a ‘means to develop both the good of society and the capacity of the individual’.
In closing their statement, the bishops express their support for the PSNI and those involved in the policing operation at the G8 summit and urge practical cooperation and support from all.
Senior Church of Ireland clerics issue plea before G8 summit
Irish Times – The Church of Ireland archbishops and bishops have issued a strongly-worded statement in advance of the G8 summit in Fermanagh calling for “alternative economic models beyond those of a particular form of financial capitalism”. They pointed out that …
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/senior-church-of-ireland-clerics-issue-plea-before-g8-summit-1.1417183
Church needs to transform says new Moderator
Londonderry Today – Incoming Presbyterian Moderator Dr Rob Craig has called on the Presbyterian Church to become ‘a place of transformation’ where he hoped people would be challenged and changed for the better ‘having encountered the living God’ through the worship and in the lives of the people they meet within the Church.
Dr Craig was speaking at the opening session of the Presbyterian Church’s General Assembly held this evening, Monday 3 June at 7.00pm in the Millennium Forum in Londondonderry after he was installed as Moderator in succession to Dr Roy Patton. It is the first time in 80 years that the annually held General Assembly has met in Derry coming to the northwest as its contribution to events taking place during the UK City of Culture year.
Dr Craig, Minister of the Kilfennan congregation on the city’s Waterside for the last 19 years, welcomed the 1,000 delegates and guests to his city referring to the spotlight that is currently on Derry Londonderry, its culture and the celebration of creative arts.
But in his first address as Moderator Dr Craig asked his listeners to consider a view of culture that was wider and, he admitted, maybe more simplistic, thinking of it as “the way things are done around here.”
Viewing it in this way Dr Craig argued that those not aware of their own culture, saw nothing wrong with it and believed that “if only others could see things our way and adopt our culture then the world would be a much better place.”
“If within the church we are to honour our calling to be a place of transformation then we dare not become prisoners of our own church culture,” he said.
To emphaise this Dr Craig paid tribute to the founder members of his own congregation who had had embraced change and transformation when reluctantly they had closed the Great James Street Church on the Cityside to form the new Kilfennan congregation on the Waterside.
“More than 30 years ago the Presbyterian congregation of Great James Street underwent its own kind of transformation leaving a lovely building where Christian worship had been conducted for some 140 years to begin the new congregation of Kilfennan with no assurance of what the future would hold; leaving very much against their will, as one of the older members put it to me ‘We had to go, but we didn’t want to.’ Yet within a very short time few within the new congregation of Kilfennan doubted the wisdom of the move; and those of us who have benefited from that move have often saluted the courage of those who were willing to respond positively to what was happening around them, and who did not remain prisoners within their own culture.”
Praising those working to transform life within Ireland, particularly police officers, community workers, politicians, businessmen and women, teachers and parents, he said: “There are few, if any, who do not want Ireland, North and South, to be a better place for their children: a place where jobs and opportunities are being created, where sectarian hatred is being eroded and where a shared future has become a reality. There are people who share our Christian faith; others have walked away from their Christian heritage; and they are those who even are opposed to our Christian way of life,” Dr Craig said.
He suggested the Church could have a transformational role in wider society, partnering with those who share common ground, working together for the common good and to transform the lives of others, particularly the weak and marginalised who could not speak for themselves.
He said there was a challenge to the church to speak up and speak out explaining the good and positive lifestyle contained within the way of Jesus: “While we cannot be true to our calling and endorse every lifestyle or government policy we must demonstrate to our community that Jesus came to bring life to the full.”
More at:
http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/community/features/church-needs-to-transform-says-new-moderator-1-5151113
Bishop Good Welcomes Presbyterian General Assembly
Bishop Ken Good, Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, has welcomed the fact that the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has come to Londonderry in this year of the UK City of Culture.
He has also expressed his pleasure that the incoming Moderator is the Rev Dr Rob Craig, from Kilfennan Presbyterian Church. Addressing members of the General Assembly he said, ”This is a city where, in the face of challenges, people have shown a willingness to be courageous in grasping nettles and in thinking imaginatively to find creative solutions”. He wished the Assembly well in its discussions and decision–making, and assured Dr Rob Craig of his prayers as he presides over the various debates.
The Bishop reminded the Assembly of the Churches’ ‘Free Gift For All’ bible initiative in this Year of Culture, in which 37,500 copies of Luke’s Gospel have recently been distributed to every household in the city.
Bishop Good presented a copy of ‘Luke’s Book’ to the new Moderator and said that a free copy is available to the members of the Assembly as a reminder of their visit to Londonderry in this special year.
Chetam’s student comes home to help church cause
Fermanagh Herald – On Friday night local singing prodigy Andrew Irwin held a concert in Boho Parish Church and entertained a packed house with a mix of sacred, Italian, show and traditional Irish music.
Andrew, from Monea, who has just completed his first year at the prestigious Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester offered to do the concert in Boho as a way of raising funds for the refurbishment of the church, which originally dates back to 1777.
Around 120 people backed into the quaint Boho Church and Andrew was grateful to the respectful and supportive crowd.
“The crowd are always very supportive, always talking to me after saying how they feel I’ve improved and it’s just always great to be back.”
It has been a year of significant change for Andrew moving from Fermanagh over to Manchester, but one he remembers fondly.
“It’s been wonderful, it’s a great opportunity and I wouldn’t really look back, although I love Fermanagh the opportunities over there are just too great. I have done things I never thought I would be able to do and I feel as though development towards the future career has really come out.
Andrew’s hopes of making as a professional singer have only been heightened in his first year at Chetham’s and although he admits to at times missing home, he is just delighted to be living his dream.
“When singing and doing music I’m in a different world really, it doesn’t matter where I am, but when taking a rest I do sometimes think of home and want to be there, but overall I really do think and still feel right to be over there.”
Andrew is forever grateful to his Mother Catherine and his singing teacher Gillian Rutherford for their help in developing him as a singer and their role in getting him to Chetham’s. Each played on Friday night accompanying him.
“Mum has always been there throughout everything, spoke to Gillian and got me a singing teacher and Gillian was absolutely wonderful and Mum let her take over really, but Mum was always there to support and is still there and is still on the phone to me making sure that I’m working hard and Gillian I can’t really thank her enough for getting me into Chetham’s, I’m having a wonderful time.”
Cork appointment
Reverend Sue Watterson has returned to the Diocese. On Sunday 2nd June, Sue was installed as Dean’s Vicar at St Fin Barre’s Cathedral. Having served a number of years ago as Rector of Youghal, Sue then went to work for the Church’s Ministry of Healing and, latterly, has been Priest in Charge in Killarney, County Kerry.
200 confirmees reunite
The Parish of Douglas Union, with Frankfield (Cork diocese) recently had a parish BBQ, and made a special point of inviting back nearly two hundred young people and young adults who were confirmed by the Bishop there in the past 10 years.
Priests’ role in society ‘must be reimagined’
Irish Examiner – The Church has little choice but to ordain married men and welcome former priests back into the clergy if it is to exist in Ireland in 20 years time, a founding member of the Association of Catholic Priests claims. Kieran, 8, finishes marathon in …http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/priests-role-in-society-must-be-reimagined-233163.html
CCMS undertaking recruitment review
BBC – The body that oversees Catholic education in Northern Ireland is planning to look at how it recruits and selects teachers in Northern Ireland.
Read more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22770289