Bishop of Derry welcomes Appointment of New Moderator; Church of Ireland Transferor member sought for Education and Skills Authority (ESA) Board; Sunday School Society Bookshop to Close; Resources for new film ‘Song for Marion’; Dedicated patrols to protect churches; Pastor likens being gay to devil worship; £35k payout after Facebook abuse; Flag riots cause youths ‘lasting harm’; Six times more suicides than road deaths in NI; Play tackles exile of Derry Protestants
Bishop of Derry welcomes Appointment of New Moderator
Bishop Ken Good of Derry & Raphoe said – “I extend warm congratulations to Rev Rob Craig on his election as the next Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Mr Craig plays an active role in church and civic life here in the north west, relating well with other churches, engaging well with the media and making a positive contribution to community life.
“In this City of Culture year, when we look forward to welcoming the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland to Londonderry in June, it is all the more significant that the Moderator who will chair that meeting is from this historic city.
“Mr Craig, his wife and family will be in my prayers as he prepares for and takes up this great responsibility.”
Church of Ireland Transferor member sought for Education and Skills Authority (ESA) Board
The Board of Education NI is seeking expressions of interest from church members who have appropriate experience and are able to give the time commitment in being nominated as a transferor member of the Board of the Education and Skills Authority.
The Board encourages church members with a deep interest in the education of children in schools and the provision of youth services, to consider seriously the possibility of service as a transferor representative. This is an exciting opportunity to be involved in the shaping of schools and influencing the quality of education of children for the future. It is equally a wonderful opportunity to serve the church and bring faith-based perspective and expertise to a really important area of public life.
An information pack including an application form to express interest is available from: Revd IW Ellis, Sec to the Board of Education NI, Church of Ireland House, 61-67 Donegall St., Belfast. BT1 2QH. Tel 028 90828860 or email edunorth@ireland.anglican.org
This post is for four years, requires a time commitment of up to five days per month and is remunerated. Completed expressions of interest to be received by: Friday 1st March 2013
Background information
The legislation to enable the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) is currently at the committee stage in the NI Assembly. The legislation will bring together the five Education and Library Boards, the Youth Council, Staff Commission and the statutory functions of the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS).
The creation of this single authority for all schools in Northern Ireland represents the most significant change in administration of education in forty years. ESA will be the employing authority for all staff in grant-aided schools and its main functions will be: Improving education and raising standards in schools, planning the schools’ estate, providing support for school governors and providing key services to schools eg, school transport, school maintenance, school meals, and youth services.
ESA will be governed by a Board of 20 members of whom 8 will be persons nominated by the political parties determined by their representation in the Assembly. The Minister will appoint a Chairperson and 4 Catholic Trustee nominees, 4 Transferor nominees and 4 persons representative of the community in NI.
It is anticipated that ESA will become operational during the latter half of 2013 and until that time the ELBs etc will continue to deliver key services to schools. In the interim a shadow ESA will begin work to ensure everything is in place to enable a switch over of authority at an appropriate future date.
The transferor churches, that is, the Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist Churches, which transferred their schools into state control in the early 20th century, have a right to nominate a total of 4 persons to the Minister for appointment to the ESA Board.
The three churches have devised their own processes to bring forward nominations. The Board of Education NI on behalf of the Church of Ireland has decided to seek expressions of interest from church members.
A panel from the Board will meet interested persons in order to make a decision on nomination. The exact division of the four places among the three churches will be agreed by the Transferor Representatives’ Council.
Sunday School Society Bookshop to Close
The Sunday School Society is announcing a new direction and vision in its continued work in children’s ministry. Due to a reduction in retail business and the increased number of people who shop online it has been decided to close the bookshop.
The resources that are being used to keep the shop open can be much better utilised in new ways to support those involved in children’s ministry. The Committee is now in discussions about a new venture and an announcement will be made shortly. The bookshop has served both the Church of Ireland and beyond for many years and it is a sad day for it to close. Due to financial reasons it was a decision that had to be made and the shop will close on Thursday 28th March 2013.
The Committee has thanked Gillian Kohlmann and Betty Cox for their hard work and dedication; Canon Neil McEndoo and the Parish of Holy Trinity, Rathmines, for their support and everyone who has supported the bookshop.
Resources for new film ‘Song for Marion’
Damaris is providing free resources for a wide range of community groups, built around clips from the upcoming film, ‘Song for Marion’.
Song for Marion is a heart–warming story of a loving marriage between grumpy pensioner Arthur and the ever–cheerful Marion (played by Terence Stamp and Vanessa Redgrave). Cantankerous but doting husband Arthur does not share his wife Marion’s passion for performing. He would prefer to hide himself away and complain about how embarrassing it all is. But when heartbreak strikes, Arthur is forced to re–think his outlook on life.
These free official resources include:
Movie Moments – Short features that encourage people to think about personal, everyday, life issues raised by the film. Movie Moments uses clips from the film to spark discussion and reflection in a variety of different settings and groups. These two features explore the questions “As families how can we ensure that change strengthens our relationships, and helps us grow closer together?” and “As we face life’s challenges, how can we maintain a positive outlook and see the sunny side of our circumstances?”
Leader’s Guide and Supplementary Resources
– The Leader’s Guide is an essential companion for all our resources. Providing all you need to put on an event around the film (for a few friends or a large group) it contains template posters, invitations, themed recipes, quizzes, discussion questions and background information. You can download this as a pdf or request a free printed book with a DVD of all the resources.
The Leader’s Guide is suitable for all different types of community groups. We also provide a set of supplementary resources for the faith community which enables churches to help people engage with the spiritual issues in the film.
For resources contact – http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6W35MXH
MEDIA REVIEW
Dedicated patrols to protect churches
UTV – Dedicated police patrols have been introduced at Catholic churches across Co Antrim in response to a spate of recent attacks.
http://www.u.tv/news/Dedicated-patrols-to-protect-churches/3fb855f7-165f-4dd8-ae7d-085e1ce499ed
Pastor likens being gay to devil worship
Newsletter – A Pastor has been criticised for likening gay marriage to devil worshipping.
Pastor Mark Bradfield of Bethel Baptist Church was speaking after a vote at Westminster in favour of legalising gay marriage.
After reading a passage of the Bible on BBC’s Nolan radio show, Pastor Mark said: “God doesn’t hate homosexuals, he loves sinners and hates the sin. Whether you’re a homosexual, thief, murderer, liar, devil worshipper, God loves you. “
When questioned as to whether he equated being homosexual to worshipping the devil he said yes.
“I believe what God says and yes, sinners are in need of Jesus Christ as their saviour. Yes I believe the Bible and God says we’re all sinners.”
Pastor Mark said he believes homosexuality is wrong and accused gay people of hating God.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/headlines/pastor-likens-being-gay-to-devil-worship-1-4760546
£35k payout after Facebook abuse
UTV – Three employees of a Belfast company have been awarded £35,000 in damages after an anonymous troll wrote abuse about them on Facebook.
http://www.u.tv/news/35k-payout-after-Facebook-abuse/5093ff65-9851-4850-8df8-b992a114155b
Flag riots cause youths ‘lasting harm’
UTV – Recent violence surrounding flag protests in Northern Ireland could cause “lasting harm” to young people, a gathering of early childhood leaders from conflict or post-conflict countries has heard.
http://www.u.tv/news/Flag-riots-cause-youths-lasting-harm/4dec1bbc-3481-479f-84aa-a4fd4ccdafeb
Six times more suicides than road deaths in NI
Newsletter – Six times as many people die by suicide in Northern Ireland as from road accidents, it has been revealed.
The DUP have raised the issue with Prime Minister David Cameron and a debate is due to be held in Parliament later on Wednesday.
Strangford MP Jim Shannon asked Mr Cameron if he is concerned about the issue of suicide, to which he replied he was glad the issue had been brought for debate.
Earlier this year figures revealed that the rate of suicide among young people in ireland is among the highest in Europe.
An estimated 165 teens and young men took their own lives in the Republic of Ireland in 2011, while another 72 died by suicide in Northern Ireland.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/headlines/six-times-more-suicides-than-road-deaths-1-4759892
Play tackles exile of Derry Protestants
UTV – A Protestant Church in Londonderry has commissioned a new production as part of project to address the impact of the Protestant exodus from the city more than thirty years ago.
http://www.u.tv/news/Play-tackles-exile-of-Derry-Protestants/14e32478-38a7-45af-9061-15897513498a