Press Releases23 Nov 04

World Mission Bishop visits Northern Ireland

WORLD MISSION BISHOP VISITS NORTHERN IRELAND

Tuesday 23 November 2004

Bishop Michael Doe, newly commissioned General Secretary of the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (USPG) will make his first visit to Northern Ireland this weekend.

Bishop Michael will preach in St George?s Church, High St, Belfast on Sunday morning (28th November) and in St Mark?s, Armagh on Sunday evening.

On Monday (29th November) he will meet Archbishop Eames and Bishop Alan Harper.

Bishop Michael said: 'Organisations like USPG have a vital role to play in building bridges between churches in different parts of the world, often responding to very different cultures and challenges. As Anglicans we treasure the inheritance of our faith, but we also seek to proclaim it afresh in each generation. For us, it is about holding together different perspectives and living together in inter-dependence. Much that is happening in our church and around the Anglican Communion today endangers this calling. I long for a church which is inclusive, respects difference, and witnesses to reconciliation.'

Bishop Michael brings to USPG wide experience of civic and church life, working in local, national and international contexts. His ministry has varied from parish work in two Urban Priority Areas, being Youth Secretary of the British Council of Churches, and a Social Responsibility post while a Canon of Portsmouth Cathedral. For the past ten years he has been Bishop of Swindon in the Diocese of Bristol, and recently came to the end of a four-year term chairing the Enabling Group of Churches Together in England.

USPG is an Anglican mission agency with a successful 300-year track record of enabling people to grow spiritually, to thrive physically and to have a voice in an unjust world. This is done alongside churches and communities around the world, providing the resources - people, money and ideas - that they define as necessary to meet local needs.

For further information contact Linda Chambers, World Mission Adviser: tel +353 71 9651949