Archbishop of York reflects on ‘Christian Citizenship Today’in Belfast; Bishop Williams tribute to the Revd Dr Ray Davey; Evangelicals in conference; Kilmore anniversary; Special services and events tomorrow; Dublin Growth and Development Forum; Connor Vision Strategy process continues.
Archbishop of York reflects on ‘Christian Citizenship Today’in Belfast
The Archbishop of York yesterday gave the keynote address ‘Christian Citizenship Today’ at the Citizenship, Covenant and Christ Conference at Belfast City Hall.
The Archbishop explained: “Any understanding of Christian citizenship must take into account that we are citizens of Christ’s Kingdom. We belong to Christ and we owe our loyalty to Him. Yet if we are tempted to conclude that this releases us from obligations as human citizens of a modern state, we need to think again.”
“Christian citizenship today involves being willing to participate at every level in the societies in which we are based whilst holding fast to the values of Christ’s Kingdom. It is integral to Christian discipleship.”
“At a national level, Christian public engagement with politics will involve what I call ‘critical solidarity’. This means that the Church stands in solidarity with those who are its elected representatives. However, it is a critical solidarity because it is unafraid to ask difficult questions when necessary to maintain a vision of what the world could be if God’s call to humanity is taken seriously.”
The Archbishop also reflected on the need to put God back at the centre of our thinking and the importance of volunteering. He said: “Whilst some churches and church leaders will fulfil a national role in this capacity, every Christian is called to be an active citizen, seeking to contribute to the building of policies and structures in which all people may flourish. This involves not just voting in elections, but being willing to play a direct part in helping build communities which work.”
“More people volunteer their time to projects, groups and initiatives run by the church in local communities than any other single organisation in our country”.
The Archbishop also raised concerns about barriers to the development of mutual flourishing in our societies and the negative term of tolerance. Dr Sentamu said: “A distressing and evil aspect of our political and civic life today is that so many people feel excluded. We need to understand the reasons for this sense of exclusion otherwise we cannot hope, as Christian citizens, to build societies that are safe, generous and magnanimous. The implications of exclusion, whether it is actual or perceived, can have terrible consequences.”
Closing his address, the Archbishop explained: “We are still in the glorious season of Eastertide in which we celebrate Christ’s victory over sin and death by the Cross and his resurrection. This is the most important image for us to hold onto. For it is in the transforming love of Christ that we are given a sign of how we too may change and be agents of change in our communities”.
Following his address the Archbishop joined a Question Time Panel with Deputy Dara Calleary TD, Cllr Tom Hartley SF, Philip Orr, Nelson McCausland MLA and Minister of State, Hugo Swire. The Conference programme was organised by the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.
Bishop Williams tribute to the Revd Dr Ray Davey
On the occasion of a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of the Revd Dr Ray Davey to be held in Fisherwick Presbyterian Church, Belfast on Friday 20th April, The Rt Revd Trevor Williams, Bishop of Limerick and former leader of the Corrymeela Community from 1993 to 2003, paid the following tribute:
Ray Davey influenced for good the lives of thousands of individuals and I am grateful to be among them. Ray always put people and relationships first; a principle grounded in his Christian Faith. He never settled for things as they are, but always was open to new possibilities. His experience as a prisoner of war and the horrors he witnessed had a profound impact upon him. When he returned to Northern Ireland, reflecting on the human cost of conflict, he committed himself to the pursuit of peace.
His path of peacemaking led to founding the Corrymeela Community, an ecumenical Christian community, committed to living out the possibility of reconciliation. That vision was shared with tens of thousands who took part in Corrymeela’s programmes during the years of the Troubles, when communities became increasingly segregated on religious grounds through fear. He inspired many to explore new ways of being Church.
His vision was for a Church beyond the boundaries of division, and the separation of sacred and secular. He believed that individuals and groups could learn from and be enriched through their diversity as they sought to follow in the footsteps of Jesus the peacemaker. Corrymeela continues to live out of that vision, finding new ways to express it in practical action.
One of Ray’s great contributions was in creating a space where individuals and groups through working together could implement new possibilities even when many were saying there is nothing that can be done. Through his practical Christian faith, his compassion and concern, and his belief in the potential for good in each person he met, Ray had a profound influence on the lives of countless individuals, and played no small part in what has been able to be achieved in the pursuit of peace in Northern Ireland and many other places besides.
Evangelicals in conference
The Rt Revd Harold Miller, Bishop of Down & Dromore; the Rt Revd Ken Clarke, Bishop of Kilmore and the Rt Revd Ken Good, Bishop of Derry & Raphoe will participate in the ‘First Things – Affirming the essentials of the Christian Faith’ conference at the Jethro Centre, Lurgan at 2pm and worship at Shankill Parish Church, Lurgan at 7pm on Saturday 21 April 2012. Keynote speakers will be the Rt Revd Michael Nazir–Ali and the Rt Revd Greg Venables.
Kilmore anniversary
St John’s church, Lanesborough, Co. Longford, is celebrating its 150th anniversary. Today (Saturday) there will be an Open Day with an exhibition of church history and tomorrow afternoon (Sunday) at 3.30pm there will be a Service of Celebration at which the preacher will be the Bishop of Kilmore.
Special services and events tomorrow
Tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon the Bishop of Cork will attend the opening, by President Higgins, of the new Marymount Hospice in Curraheen, Cork, while in Aghavea parish church the Clogher Diocesan GFS service will be held. At Choral Evensong in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh two ecumenical canons will be installed – the Revd Dr Donald Watts is Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and Dom Mark–Ephrem Nolan OSB is Superior of Holy Cross Monastery, Rostrevor. The ecumenical theme will be continued at 6pm in Dublin when the choir of St Paul’s Church, Glenageary, will sing at Mass in the neighbouring Church of Our Lady of Victories.
In the first of three institutions next week the Bishop of Cashel & Ossory will institute the Revd Patrick Burke to the incumbency of Castlecomer in St Mary’s church tomorrow (Sunday) evening. On Wednesday evening in Dunlavin the Archbishop of Dublin will institute the Revd Olive Henderon to the Donoughmore group of parishes and on Friday evening in Banbridge the Bishop of Down & Dromore will institute the Ven. Roderic West, Archdeacon of Dromore, to the incumbency of Seapatrick.
Dublin Growth and Development Forum
A Dublin & Glendalough Diocesan Growth and Development Forum takes place in the Church of Ireland Institute of Theology on Thursday April 26 starting at 9.15 am. The main speaker on the day will be George Lings and the seminar will also hear from Canon Neil McEndoo, Revd Rob Jones, Ruth Jackson and Revd Roly Heaney.
Connor Vision Strategy process continues with first Rural Deanery meeting
Connor Diocese’s Vision Strategy moved on a stage on Tuesday April 17 with the first of nine Rural Deanery meetings taking place in St Peter’s, Antrim Road, Belfast.
Clergy, select vestry members and parishioners from churches across the North Belfast Rural Deanery attended the meeting which was led by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy.
Around 180 people were welcomed by Bishop Alan, who spoke about the background to the Vision Strategy and the reasons for it, in particular the need for churches to adapt to the changing culture and communities in which they minister.
Mr Roy Totten, a member of the Vision Strategy Group, gave a brief outline of the findings of a survey of parishes in the diocese, highlighting both the positive and the negative outcomes. Bishop Alan then addressed some of the specifics of changing culture and context, something he had explored in depth in his recent series of Lent seminars.
As part of the process, the Vision Strategy group has been identifying examples of good practice in parishes across the diocese, and a Powerpoint presentation on some of the projects and ideas parishes have found successful was shown. This illustrated the breadth and variety of projects that have been initiated, highlighting the positive outcomes of each project as well as identifying things that, with hindsight, parishes would do differently.
At the meeting each parish was given a copy of the presentation to take back to their churches to prompt ideas and inspire parishes to consider what projects might best serve the needs of their community. Bishop Alan then asked everyone to break off into parish groups, and each group discussed a series of set issues relating to changes in the context around their parish, signs of a widening gap between the church and the community and their fears and hopes about engaging with the community. They were also asked to think about possible next steps for their parish.
These discussions will continue within parishes as the strategy progresses. Following a break for fellowship and refreshments, kindly prepared by the ladies and gentlemen of St Peter’s, Bishop Alan responded to comments and questions and spoke about how the diocese would assist parishes on this ‘journey.’ The meeting closed with a short act of worship led by the Rev Canon Nigel Baylor, Rural Dean for North Belfast.
The next meeting takes place in Derryvolgie Parish on May 2 and is for the Rural Deanery of Derriaghy. For a full list of meetings and further information on Connor’s Vision Strategy, please follow the link to the left of this page.