Press Releases
SEARCH Summer edition now available
The Summer 2025 edition of SEARCH is now available, covering its recent Colloquium at Trinity College Dublin on the theme of Invitations to Christian Commitment: transformative faith for the mid 21st century.
Introducing this edition, the journal’s editor, the Revd Canon Dr Virginia Kennerly, writes:
“COME and have breakfast!” It was surely Jesus’ gracious invitation to his despondent disciples, tired from a hard night’s fishing, that gave them the energy to go out to make disciples of all nations. Likewise in a church whose members have been falling away from exhaustion and lack of sustenance, invitation is what is needed.
Mission which is a duty, rather than joyful sharing, will be barren for all concerned. So the thinking behind this summer’s Colloquium was that invitation and welcome, not the recruiting activity associated with “mission”, is what the Church needs for the future.
The contexts for such welcome are many – more than we can explore in detail. But we have chosen four, all with implications for parish ministry: cathedrals, university chaplaincies, local community ministry, and encounters with the Divine in creation.
While church attendance in the West has been falling away in recent years, in cathedrals it has been noticeably on the rise. So what is it about cathedrals that people find inviting? Distinguished sociologist of religion Canon Prof. Leslie J Francis shares the fruits of his recent research in this area, and Dean of Armagh Shane Forster responds with an overview of his cathedral’s unconditional welcome.
University chaplaincies are well positioned to invite young people alienated by the church into a faith that is meaningful for head and heart alike. Former TCD chaplain Darren McCallig and UCD chaplain Scott Evans share their experience in two contrasting university contexts and the hope it offers for the future.
Social justice is a crucial area. How can we claim to be Christian if we are too busy to help those in need or listen to those in distress? Kevin Hargaden of the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice considers the issues and Fr Jim Caffrey of Balally offers further insights.
We close with two “surprises”. Lay reader Ruth Gyves shares her inspiring story of the Holy Spirit’s action in and through her life, while Archdeacon Simon J Lumby opens up a whole new area of Christian witness and sharing – that of “spiritual pilgrimage” now being developed along the Wild Atlantic Way with the help of Pioneer Ministry personnel. His vision of creation–centred spirituality in the Celtic tradition brings new hope.
Be inspired by all this – and enjoy the Book Reviews too!
How can I get a copy?
Copies are available from The Book Well in Belfast and Christ Church Cathedral and St Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, and also from treasurer Michael Denton until the end of June – by contacting [email protected]
Subscribers pay €22 / £19 per annum, including postage within Ireland for three copies until the end of this year. Individual copies retail at €7.50 per copy. Please note that the annual subscription will go up to €30 / £25, including postage, next year.
Information on both the content and subscription options is available on the SEARCH website: https://www.searchjournal.ireland.anglican.org
Shared on behalf of SEARCH – an independently edited Church of Ireland journal, published in February, June and October each year. Subscriptions to SEARCH can be arranged at https://searchjournal.ireland.anglican.org/subscribe
13 June 2025