St Patrick’s Chapter appointments; Connor Vision Strategy Processes; Ireland is becoming land of saints and secularists
St Patrick’s Chapter appointments
The Chapter of the National Cathedral of St Patrick, Dublin, earlier this week made various appointments. The Revd Mark Gardner was elected to the prebendal stall of Maynooth. The Revd Dr Heather Morris and the Revd Fr Kieran O’Mahony were elected ecumenical canons for the next five years.
The Very Revd Stephen White offered his resignation from the Chancellorship, having been appointed to a parish in England. The Dean has appointed the Revd Patrick Lawrence as Chancellor in his place. It is hoped to fill the vacant stalls of Tipperkevin and Monmohenock when the Chapter meet again on 10 September 2012.
Installation of new prebendaries and dignitaries will take place during Evensong on Sunday 30 September at 15.15.
The Revd Dr Heather Morris is a minister of the Methodist Church and its President-elect. She lectures in Edgehill College, Belfast. The Revd Fr Kieran O’Mahony is an Augustinian and is a well-known lecturer in biblical studies.
The Chapter conveyed its thanks to the Very Revd Stephen White for his contribution and wished him well in his future ministry.
Connor Vision Strategy Processes
Over the past few weeks, the Diocese of Connor has been progressing its Vision Strategy at Rural Deanery meetings across the diocese.
The meetings began in North Belfast on April 17, and since then the Rural Deaneries of Derriaghy, Antrim, Ballymena, Coleraine and Lisburn have met.
At each up to 175 parishioners and members of select vestries from each parish within the Rural Deanery have gathered to hear the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, Bishop of Connor, and the Diocesan Vision Strategy team talk about how ministry must evolve to engage with our changing culture.
At the meetings Bishop Alan outlines the plan for the evening and refers to the three strands identified in the Vision Strategy: Empowering Ministry; Engaging Culture and Effecting Change.
A member of the Vision Strategy group gives a presentation on the background to the strategy, focusing on the findings of a parish survey conducted last year.
http://ireland.anglican.org/news/4119
Ireland is becoming land of saints and secularists
Belfast Telegraph – Ed Curran, former editor writes – I ask the questions in the light of opinion polls which reveal not only a startling decline in religious belief and church-going among Catholics in the Republic, but also that many people in Northern Ireland do not wish to be termed Protestant or …
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/ed-curran/ireland-is-becoming-land-of-saints-and-secularists-16170604.html