Ousted minister ‘still has future within church’; Minister ‘devastated’ by church move; Archdeacon’s illness; New rabbi in Belfast; Belfast City Council row another dent in city’s prestige; Ireland’s educational system is the most unjust structure in our society today
Ousted minister ‘still has future within church’
News Letter – A Presbyterian Minister who was removed from his post last week may continue his ministry within the church in the future, the organisation’s communications officer has said.
Reverend Stephen Dickinson was dramatically removed as Minister of both Cairnalbana and Glenarm churches, along with the elders of the Cairnalbana congregation.
The Rev Dickinson, who less than a decade ago was Deputy Grand Master of the Orange Order, said he has been devastated by the decision of the Judicial Commission of the General Assembly.
The church’s highest governing body said the Rev Dickinson’s usefulness within the church had been seriously impaired amid a breakdown in relationships there.
Speaking on BBC radio on Sunday the Communications Officer for the Presbyterian Church Stephen Lynas said the mood in the church has been a sombre one since the decision was taken.
But Mr Lynas added that decision, which some have said is opposed by around 70 per cent of the congregation, does not end Rev Dickinson’s future within the church.
Mr Lynas said Rev Dickinson is “still a minister in good standing” and added that there is “every potential his ministry will continue” with another congregation.
Speaking to the News Letter last week Rev Dickinson said there had been a campaign of “persecution” against him and his wife which had involved anonymous calls to the house and led to his wife being hospitalised with two mental breakdowns.
He said that a number of the church “just made my life miserable trying to push me out”.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/headlines/ousted-minister-still-has-future-within-church-1-497358
Minister ‘devastated’ by church move
BBC – A Presbyterian minister who was removed from his ministry at two churches in County Antrim says he has been left devastated and “effectively homeless” by the decision. More at :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22057157
Archdeacon’s illness
On the Down & Dromore web site from Knockbreda Parish –
Please pray for our Rector Ven. Philip Patterson as he has been diagnosed with cancer. Pray for God’s healing touch to be upon him as well as for peace and strength during this time of trial for him, his family, and our congregation.
New rabbi in Belfast
The Belfast Jewish community’s new spiritual leader is Rabbi David Singer and wife Judith.
Birmingham-born Rabbi Singer has come from Jerusalem with his wife Judith. He trained as a medic and ambulance driver for Magen David Adom (the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross) and enhanced his medical skills by obtaining an Advanced Cardiac Life Support qualification from Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospital. He qualified as a rabbi from Yeshivat Hanegev in Israel in 1981. “Cold, wet and very friendly” was the rabbi’s initial assessment of Northern Ireland!
Prior to his arrival, Christian Friends of Israel, Northern Ireland branch made a very generous donation to help the community renovate the rabbi’s house. CFI area representative, Ivor McClinton, described the donation as a practical expression of support which he and fellow Christians wanted to make to the Belfast community, which despite dwindling numbers maintains Jewish religious and cultural life in NI. According to the 2011 census, 335 people in the province declared themselves to be Jewish.
Belfast City Council row another dent in city’s prestige
Belfast Telegraph – Belfast City councillors have been given a stark warning that their political showboating is damaging our global image.
Leading academic and former chief executive of the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council, Dr Duncan Morrow, said politicians cannot try to move forward and build a better Belfast without showing better leadership.
The call came after relations sunk to another low at Belfast City Council this week.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/belfast-city-council-row-another-dent-in-citys-prestige-29175772.html
Ireland’s educational system is the most unjust structure in our society today
The Journal.ie – The fundamental role the educational system plays today is determining a young person’s future life choices, so if there is to be equal opportunity, then we need to tackle equal access for all, writes Fr Peter McVerry.
http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/irish-education-equality-857107-Apr2013/