Irishman is now the CofE peace negotiator; Rector raises £2,200 for the Alzheimer’s Society; Dublin events; Clogher Canon; Placement Opportunity; Media review
Irishman is now the CofE peace negotiator
John Bingham, in today’s Daily Telegraph – A cleric* who held secret talks with the IRA during the Troubles in Northern Ireland has been leading behind-the-scenes efforts to help the Church of England resolve its differences over women bishops, it has been confirmed.
Documents released on Friday confirmed that Canon David Porter has been leading a team of “facilitators” to help find a solution to the crisis in the Church.
Canon Porter, originally from Belfast, is the director of the International Centre for Reconciliation at Coventry Cathedral, a post once held by the new Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby.
During his previous ministry in Northern Ireland he and a small group of church leaders worked for years behind the scenes preparing the way for the peace process.
Uniquely, he held talks with both the IRA and loyalist paramilitaries.
At the time the British Government was publicly denying that it was speaking to terrorists.
The Church of England confirmed for the first time that the Canon and his team had been leading mediation sessions between different interest groups last week as part of a process to attempt to find a solution to the crisis over women bishops.
The General Synod rejected a plan to allow women to become bishops in November, despite overwhelming support in the Church as a whole.
At the talks, the facilitators used conflict resolution techniques usually applied in war-zones, encouraging the participants to share their “anger and grief” at the result of the vote and even how it had caused “damage to the soul”.
*CNI note – Dr Porter is a lay person, one of three residentiary canons.
Rector raises £2,200 for the Alzheimer’s Society
The Reverend Canon Noel Regan, Rector of St Macartan’s Cathedral, undertook his annual sit–out for a day in Clogher during December, raising the sum of £2,200 for the Alzheimer’s Society. Canon Regan and volunteers held a collection outside Fannin’s Shop on the village’s Main Street. Speaking about the generosity of local people, Canon Regan said: ‘I really enjoyed being Black Santa for the day, and I am overwhelmed by the generosity of the Clogher community. I am very proud that all our fundraising efforts for the charity will help make a real difference to those affected by dementia. I would like to thank all those who so generously supported us on the day.’ Janet Plunkett, Community Fundraising Manager with NI Alzheimer’s Society, said: ‘We are extremely grateful to the Reverend Noel Regan for all the time and energy he put into the ‘Black Santa Collection’ for Alzheimer’s Society. As a charity, we rely on the generosity of individuals and communities across Northern Ireland to help us support people to live well with dementia today and fund research to find a cure for tomorrow.’
Dublin events
On Monday evening in the Visitor Centre of St Audoen’s church, Dublin, Professor Raymond Gillespie, from NUI Maynooth, will launch The Vestry Records of the Parish of St Audoen, Dublin, 1636–1702. Edited by Dr Maighréad Ní Mhurchadha, this is the sixth volume in the RCB Library’s Texts and Calendars series which in published by Four Courts Press.
On Tuesday morning the Archbishop of Dublin will participate in a Service of Remembrance at the Salvation Army’s Granby Centre, and in the evening he will be in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute where he will deliver a talk at the Continuing Ministerial Education session in ‘Gospel and Culture’. At 7pm in the Chapel of Trinity College, Dublin, Professor Des O’Neill, Professor of Medical Gerontology in TCD, will deliver the 2013 TCD Ecumenical Chaplaincy Lecture on ‘Raiding the Inarticulate: Religion, Spirituality and Healthcare’. Admission is free and all are welcome.
Clogher Canon
The Revd Canon Arthur Barrett was admitted as a Canon of the Chapter of St Macartan’s Cathedral Clogher and St Macartin’s Cathedral Enniskillen at a service held on the evening of Sunday 3rd February 2013 in St Macartin’s Cathedral Enniskillen. The preacher at the service was the Revd Canon Ian Berry.
Placement Opportunity
The Friends of St Macartan’s Cathedral Clogher are seeking to engage a student on a short placement to compile an inventory of the material held in the Diocesan Archive Room at Clogher Cathedral. The work is envisaged to take two days per week spread over a period of 8-10 weeks or a month on a daily basis (subject to review). Travelling expenses and subsistence expenses will be paid. Applicants should preferably hold a degree in history or in library studies. An experience of archives may be to their advantage. Computer skills are essential to the task. Application by letter to the Clogher Diocesan Office, St Macartin’s Cathedral Hall, Hall’s Lane, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, BT74 7DR by Friday 8th March 2013 marked ‘Archive Room placement’. Candidates should submit the names of two referees who are able to vouch for their work.
Media Review
Portraits of the new Presbyterian Moderator
Alf McCreary in the Belfast Telegraph
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/new-moderator-vows-to-be-a-proud-ambassador-for-derry-29051856.html
News Letter – Moderator strives for a stable society
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/moderator-strives-for-a-stable-society-1-4764665
Orange Order dismay at gay marriage vote
Oxfam Ireland fears EU budget cuts will leave millions in poverty
The charity said that the €6.1 billion which is set to be cut could instead help lift 4.6 million people out of extreme poverty.
http://www.thejournal.ie/eu-budget-aid-oxfam-ireland-poverty-784766-Feb2013/