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38 Anglican Provinces converge on Belfast for major conference
Belfast is preparing to welcome 140 guests including bishops, clergy, laity and observers for the start tomorrow of the world meeting of the Anglican Consultative Council (ACC).
The eight–day gathering is hosted by the Church of Ireland and gets underway tomorrow afternoon with an opening Service in St Anne’s Cathedral.
Representatives from thirty–eight Provinces from the Anglican Communion and four extra provincials began arriving today for the historic conference. The bulk of conference business will be conducted at Presbyterian Church House in the centre of Belfast.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Sarah Mullally, is making her first visit to Northern Ireland since becoming the first woman to lead the Church of England and the Anglican Communion following her election and formal installation. Although no stranger to Ireland – her husband is from Limerick – Archbishop Sarah is looking forward to her first official stay in Northern Ireland.
Before setting off for Belfast, Archbishop Mullally said: “In a fractured world, and an often–divided church, the Anglican Communion is such a profound gift.
“As I begin my ministry as Archbishop of Canterbury, I am so grateful for this global community of Anglicans, all bound by our shared faith in Jesus Christ. I am looking forward to spending time at the Anglican Consultative Council with bishops, clergy and laity from across the world, celebrating our common ministry, enriching one another’s faith, and looking for new ways to walk together.
“In this spirit of collaboration, I return to my favourite proverb: ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together’. I believe that by working together, and with God’s help, the Anglican Communion can offer good news to a world in great need.”
Welcoming guests, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Reverend John McDowell, extended a ‘Céad Míle Fáilte’ (a hundred thousand welcomes) and expressed the hope they would gain a deeper and more valuable understanding of Northern Ireland and its wonderful people.
Archbishop McDowell said: “Things have been rather difficult recently with poisonous race–hatred scenes on a few of our streets. This garnered so many headlines because it was so unusual. Let me say clearly that what you saw on your television screens was not Northern Ireland or 99.9% of the population.
“We are a welcoming people – historically, no strangers to being newcomers and emigrants – and we value all of those who have come here from all over the world and now call Northern Ireland home.
“We have made great strides since our ground–breaking Belfast Agreement 28 years ago, but it remains a work–in–progress where the business of reconciliation, peace and bridge–building, respect and ecumenical endeavour continue.
“Global Anglicanism faces challenges. I know that with the guiding hand of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we will advance our mission for the promotion of the Kingdom of God and encouragement for the millions of Anglicans worldwide.”
Over the course of ACC–19 – so named because it’s the 19th gathering since its inception in 1969 – delegates will discuss and debate discipleship and evangelism; the migrant crisis; Anglican identity; education; peace and conflict; the environment; Christian unity and church ‘planting’ where the aim is to start or revive one million churches in the next decade.
Ends