The Politics of Land Grabbing; Just living? An evening of story and song;Moderator in home city; Final stage for college post; Titanic cafe
The Politics of Land Grabbing
The politics of land grabbing is the focus of a conference to be held in Limerick on 4th and 5th June. A release from Christian Aid states – The modern day rush for land is resulting in the daylight robbery of the world’s poor.
Their homes, jobs and livelihoods are taken from them – often violently and with the collusion of the military or paramilitary groups. As conflict over scarce land is increasing at an unprecedented scale, civil society movements around the world are resisting.
Christian Aid Ireland and the Centre of Peace and Development, University of Limerick are bringing together activists and academics from some of the countries most affected by land grabbing to participate in a two day seminar Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th June.
Human rights activists from Angola, Colombia, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, and Sierra Leone will provide first-hand accounts of what is happening on the ground.
Rosamond Bennett CEO of Christian Aid Ireland says, ‘Much of this is driven by the demands of wealthy Western nations. 2013 is an important year for tackling poverty, and Ireland has an important role in contributing to this. Without an adequate focus on the injustice of land grabbing any new targets to tackle poverty will not be realized.’
Interviewees will also be available from the countries affected, as well as experts from Christian Aid Ireland and the University of Limerick.
Christian Aid works in some of the world’s poorest communities in around 50 countries at any one time. We act where there is great need, regardless of religion, helping people to live a full life, free from poverty. We provide urgent, practical and effective assistance in tackling the root causes of poverty as well as its effects.
Christian Aid is a member of the ACT Alliance, a global coalition of more than 130 churches and church-related organisations that work together in humanitarian assistance, advocacy and development. Further details at www.actalliance.org
For more information about the work of Christian Aid visit www.christianaid.ie
Just living? An evening of story and song
Contemporary Christianity presents Andy Flanigan in the Skainos Centre, Newtownards Road, Belfast on 27th June 2013 at 8 p.m. REFRESH Café
REFRESH Café will be open from 7.30 until the start of the evening for snacks, refreshments and hot and cold drinks.
An evening of story and Song with Andy Flanagan, a London-based, Belfast born, singer-songwriter. He is first and foremost a story-teller, weaving hope and pain into songs that soar with beautiful, poignant melodies that betray his Irish roots.
There is a passion for global justice in Andy’s songs that is reflected in their earthy lyrical content.
Join us for an enjoyable evening of music and conversation to think creatively about Just Living.
This is event will conclude our recent series of Faith and Arts events. The Faith and Arts cluster group will continue to meet. For further details email info@contemporarychristianity.net
Moderator in home city
Reverend Rob Craig will take up duties this week as Moderator of the Presbyterian Church.
The 58-year-old, who is currently Minister of Kilfennan Presbyterian Church in Co Londonderry, was nominated by 17 of 19 presbyteries which met on Tuesday night.
He will take up office today, June 3 in succession to Dr Roy Patton.
Dr Craig said he is happy to have been chosen.
“Personally I am deeply humbled and honoured to be elected Moderator and am delighted for the congregations and members within the Presbytery of Derry and Strabane and west of the Bann in general, for whom this a clear sign of support from the wider Presbyterian Church.”
Dr Craig will chair the 2013 General Assembly which meets in his home city of Londonderry.
It is the first time in 22 years that the Assembly has met outside of Belfast, and longer since it last met in Londonderry in 1933.
The opening and business sessions will be held in the Millennium Forum from Monday June 3 until Thursday June 6.
Final stage for college post
Portadown Times – Dr Stafford Carson, minister at First Portadown (Edenderry) Presbyterian Church will know on Tuesday if he makes it as principal of the Church’s Union College in Belfast.
Last week, he passed the penultimate stage of the prestigious appointment when the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) general board approved his appointment, and it will be up to the ruling body, the General Assembly, to make the final decision.
He was originally recommended by the church’s sub-committee, and with the General Assembly meeting in Londonderry this week, that’s when the final decision will be made. The signs are that the former Moderator (2009) will receive the seal of approval, but both he and the Assembly cannot comment prior to the meeting on Tuesday afternoon.
The Union College is in charge of the training of Presbyterian Ministers from throughout Ireland and is allied to Queen’s University in the teaching of theology – a total of around 300 students, with 30 destined for the ministry. Dr Carson came to Portadown eight years ago, Originally from Larne, he was ordained in High Street, Antrim, in 1983, then serving in Kells, Carnmoney and America.
Belfast Titanic Quarter cafe trading on honesty
Irish Times – Church of Ireland minister Rev Chris Bennett, who helps to run the cafe with counterparts from other faiths in Northern Ireland, described it as a “community living room”. “Overseas visitors who may not know what a cup of coffee costs over here, we …
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/belfast-titanic-quarter-cafe-trading-on-honesty-1.1415130