Press Releases29 Apr 08

Launch of Booklet for Community Relations Week

One of the last engagements the late David Ervine fulfilled in the northwest was at The Junction in Bishop Street. He spoke on the issue of leadership in the Protestant community. The event was a Beyond the Box seminar organised by The Junction and the Church of Ireland Hard Gospel Project.

A new booklet called ‘Peace: A Work in Progress’ is being launched at The Junction at midday on Friday 2nd May. The booklet contains all the presentations given by Beyond the Box seminar speakers. The special guest speaker at the launch will be Rev. Dr. Johnston McMaster

Beyond the Box seminars were a series designed to encourage public discussion and new thinking on difficult issues. Subjects ranged from how we deal with the past in Northern Ireland to racism. Speakers came from a wide variety of backgrounds including Liam Clarke (former NI Sunday Times editor), Gerry O’Hara (former Sinn Fein mayor) and Alan McBride (WAVE Trauma Centre).

As well as a record of these seminars this publication also includes a record of special Friday lunchtime events which looked at issues as diverse as ‘The role of religion in Paisley’s Triumph’ addressed by Professor Steve Bruce, a noted sociologist and biographer of Paisley, as well as ‘Developing a Real Shared Future’, addressed by Martina Anderson from Sinn Fein

Maureen Hetherington, Co-ordinator of The Junction said: “The issues we dealt with are vital to the future of our community. Our purpose in holding these events was to facilitate healthy public discussion and sharing of views. This booklet provides a very useful insight into the views of people we may or may not agree with. We welcome all members of the community to the public launch of this important booklet”.

The Director of the Hard Gospel Project, Rev Earl Storey talked of the role which open public discussion has in building peace.  He said: “The path to reconciliation in our community means having difficult conversations with people that we may have deep disagreement with. The Hard Gospel Project and The Junction are committed to facilitating such discussion. We believe it is part of a pathway to healing in our community”.

For further details please contact Earl Storey (m) 07752 841802 or Maureen Hetherington (m) 07736 213141