Diocesan News17 Nov 04

Lord Carey challenges Down & Dromore Clergy

LORD CAREY CHALLENGES DOWN & DROMORE CLERGY
TO THINK ABOUT EFFECTIVE MINISTRY IN
CHANGING AND CHALLENGING TIMES

The recent Down and Dromore Clergy Conference was attended by 140 clergy and guests who gathered in the Central Hotel in Donegal to be addressed by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord George Carey. Most parishes in the diocese of Down and Dromore were represented with some clergy spouses also present.

Invited guests at the 4-day residential conference included representatives from the Methodist Church and from the Episcopal Diocese of Albany New York, which is linked with Down and Dromore.

The former Archbishop?s conference themes included ?The Vision of a Leader?, ?The Pastoral Care of a Minister?, ?The Theological Skills of a Preacher? and ?The Personal Life of a Servant?. The clergy conference also happened to coincided with the release of the Windsor Report and before the end of the conference Lord Carey gave a brief critique to the delegates.

Participants enjoyed a busy programme which included a variety of worship ranging from Choral Evensong and Sung Eucharist to praise and informal prayer ministry to each other. The Right Rev Ken Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe and former Archdeacon of Down, was the Preacher at the opening worship in Donegal Parish Church. Bishop David Bena (Suffregan Bishop of Albany) was the preacher at the Conference Eucharist and the Rev Roy Searle, leader of the Northumbria Community and next year?s president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain preached at Choral Evensong. The Rev Dr Heather Morris, Lecturer in Edgehill Theological College and former minister of Dundonald Methodist Church, led the daily Bible Study

The conference musical co-ordinator was Mrs Alison Cadden (Gilford), who had written much of the music and the Revd Christopher Woods (Dundela) was conference chaplain. The Revd Raymond Fox (rector of Donegal andformer rector of Carryduff and Killaney) and his wife, Jean, acted as hosts.

Taster seminars on a wide selection of topics ranging from Singing the Psalms to Welcoming People of other Races & Cultures were also built-in to the programme.

The Revd Canon Walter Laverty, rector of Orangefield, said, ?The Bible Studies and Lord Carey?s addresses, which complimented one another in many ways, challenged us to think about effective ministry in changing and challenging times?. Canon Laverty also remarked that he found the music lively and inspirational through all patterns of worship.

The Rev Ken Todd (Down District Superintendent) of the Methodist Church was impressed by the warmth of welcome offered to him and his Methodist colleagues. He said he found the talks by George Carey and Heather Morris to have informed the mind, stirred the heart and excited faith. Referring to the Church of Ireland-Methodist Covenant he said, ?It will take its time on what may be a long journey, yet what was instant and touching was the welcome which the Methodist ministers felt at the Down and Dromore Clergy Conference of 2004. The sense of being at home was uncanny, or perhaps more properly, it was sacred.?

The Revd Ellen Neufeld ( Albany Diocese) commenting after the conference said, ?The hospitality exceeded even the high hopes and expectations. The addresses by Archbishop Carey, the meditations, music, workshops, worship services and discussion gave us all great spiritual nourishment and resources for ministry. In this time when the bonds of affection in the Anglican Communion have been so strained, it has been particularly encouraging to us to receive the kindness and support of our sisters and brothers in Northern Ireland. Praying together reminded us that the good God who made us and redeemed us will never leave us. Our little differences melt away when we discover the depths of all that we share.?

Mrs Laura Scott, wife of the Revd Canon John Scott (Seapatrick parish), remarked, ?As a clergy wife I counted the experience a wonderful opportunity to be exposed to the wider aspects of diocesan life. I found the session the wives spent with Lady Eileen Carey particularly helpful because of her honesty and openness about her own experiences as a clergy spouse.? Laura added, ?It was indeed a most affirming and encouraging experience. One which I?m sure will provide renewal and a fresh source of enthusiasm for many in their respective ministries ? particularly when they have time to reflect and digest the amazing amount of grace and wisdom that was so liberally dispersed by the preachers and speakers.?

While the clergy conference had a very full schedule there was some free time set aside for delegates to enjoy a boat trip on Donegal Bay and a tour of Donegal Castle organised by the local rector, the Revd Raymond Fox. A Down and Dromore Clergy Conference is held every other year and plans are already in hand for the next one in 2006!