300th Anniversary of Swift Becoming Dean of St Patrick’s; Marie’s journey from teaching to taking services; Irish anti-abortion vigil at Knock; Brady Intervention; Catholic bishops made five mistakes in their opposition to abortion legislation
Williams urges gay ordination opponents: Stay with The Kirk; Bishop asks people to pray for Devon farmers; Church of England urged to take 'urgent' action on child abuse
They are the stalwart pillars of the community whose week-in, week-out dedication has kept the country’s choral traditions alive for generations.
Today’s thought is by Michael Ramsey
Today’s thought is by Jeremy Taylor
CS Lewis focus of Community Relations week event; School Joins Fight Against Malaria; Bishop John Jebb book launch; Archdeacon Leslie Stevenson’s ‘own decision’ to decline post; Church prepares for battle over abortion law
The Three Wise Druids
Today’s thought is by Jeremy Taylor
Statement by The Most Revd Dr Richard Clarke, Archbishop of Armagh, relating to Archdeacon Stevenson’s Decision to Decline Appointment as Bishop of Meath & Kildare – and Addendum from the Archbishop of Dublin
In the Church Times , the worldwide international weekly paper serving the Anglican Communion published today, its Irish correspondent Greg Ryan states that a delegation of three bishops met with Archdeacon Stevenson following which his withdrawal was announced.
Ryan who is a priest in the diocese comments, “The reaction among clergy and laity in the diocese has ranged from incredulity to annoyance at what is seen as outside interference in an episcopal selection. The relationship, from 14 years ago, was known to those who chose him, and there is anger that hostile publicity has been allowed to inform the direction of the Church of Ireland.”
The bishops “failed to back their man” - In the Irish News yesterday a full page in the Weekly ‘Faith Matters’ feature was given to an article by William Scholes, the journalist who broke the news of the problems centring on Ven. Leslie Stevenson’s withdrawal from the appointment.
€45m hole in Church of Ireland pension fund; G8 event: Campaign in Belfast on June 15; Annual Clogher GFS Diocesan Service; Rural Dean of West Cork; Church launches suicide prevention campaign
Salisbury celebrates 40 years of spiritual partnership with Sudanese Church; Bishop rocks for charity; Archbishop To Appear On The One Show; Development: aid, trade and ideas
Today’s thought is by Jeremy Taylor
Statement by The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson:
The Virtue on Line web site states that,"The electoral college for Meath and Kildare has been called for May 28." So far there has been no announcement on the C of I web site or a Press Release issued.
The Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke issued the following statement : "The decision in recent days by Archdeacon Leslie Stevenson to decline consecration as a bishop has come as a shock to many people within the Church of Ireland and beyond.
May 1st Sunrise Greeted with Song from Tower of St Anne’s, Shandon; Martin Luther King’s son coming to Londonderry; Living Faith Series in St Patrick’s Cathedral; Bishop of Connor to preach at Jeremy Taylor anniversary service
First woman dean of Guildford Cathedral; Time for C of E to drop the culture wars; After my sex change; Women and the Freemasons
Today’s thought is by Jeremy Taylor
“The Church of Ireland thought it could make bishop a man who had once had to resign from a parish because he had an affair with a female parishioner”. In yesterday’s Irish News, columnist William Scholes referred to Archdeacon Leslie Stevenson’s withdrawal as Bishop - elect of Meath and stated that “the damaging episode could have been avoided.” If the church felt it could make a man a bishop who had had an affair with a female parishioner, “at best this was misguided. At worst it was arrogance”
£42,000 raised to fight malaria; Mental heath and pastoral care course; Archive of the Month ; Bandon to immortalise Graham Norton in stone
Today’s thought is by Jeremy Taylor
The Clerical and Lay Honorary Secretaries of the Dioceses of Meath and Kildare have issued the following statement on behalf of the members of Diocesan Synod and Diocesan Council
The Virtue on Line website has removed its report and comment on the recent withdrawal from the appointment to the bishopric of Meath and Kildare.
Getting Your Kids through Church without them Ending up Hating God; St Mark’s Newtownards hosts 600 local schoolchildren; Theology Circle Hold Final Lecture of the Year; Limerick synod; Ford 'treated harshly' by own church
Church of England diocese asks for gay-friendly bishop; Archbishop of Canterbury sees 'culture of entitlement' in City; Readers are Refreshed; Christians and churches urged to pray for the media
Today’s thought is by Jeremy Taylor
The Church of Ireland in the most foot-dragging fashion possible followed the Roman Catholic and Presbyterian Churches in commenting prior to the Stormont Assembly’s debate on same-sex marriage.
Archbishop's warning over economic 'depression’; C of E prayer for struggling farmers; Kirk’s critical report on same sex marriage; Archbishop of York’s Tribute to Stephen Lawrence; Success of C of E Easter Twitter campaign