Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from The Irish Times
The ?Hard Gospel? Considered
All twelve diocesan synods of the Church of Ireland have now discussed the findings of a scoping study report, ?The Hard Gospel? which was commissioned by the Church?s Sectarian Education Project (SEP) and produced by Dr Gareth Higgins.
The report aims to help congregations think positively about issues of difference and to encourage positive responses. It identifies a wide range of issues that concern many members of the Church of Ireland and encourages congregations to explore how the Church can improve its response to sectarianism.
The general feedback has been positive with synods identifying specific issues in their own areas. Parishes are being invited to take practical steps in dealing with difference both within the Church and in the wider community.
The SEP is also considering a comprehensive strategy to equip church members to challenge sectarianism and other negative forms of dealing with difference, as well as suggesting positive action in promoting better community relations and reconciliation. As a first step the SEP is to produce a series of bible studies for use in Lent or during the coming year. These have been prepared by the Revd Doug Baker and Dr Cecilia Clegg, advisors to the SEP, and will focus on three major themes - ?Dealing with Difference?, ?Identity: Freedom or Fetter? and ?Welcoming the Stranger?.
Tomorrow (Sunday) RTE will broadcast a Parish Eucharist from St Nicholas? Collegiate Church, Galway, where the celebrant will be Canon Maureen Ryan, and the preacher the Very Revd Patrick Towers, Rector of Galway. In the Chapel of Trinity College, Dublin, the lecture sermon at the Sung Eucharist will be given by the Revd Dr Adrian Empey, Professor of Pastoral Theology and Principal of the Church of Ireland Theological College, while in Co. Cork the Dean of Ross, the Very Revd Christopher Peters, and the Dean of Cork, the Very Revd Michael Burrows, will swap cathedral pulpits for the day.
On Monday the speaker at the lunchtime Healing Service in St George?s Church, Belfast, will be Canon Norman Jardine, Chairman of the ?Think Again? team in the Diocese of Down and Dromore. In the evening in Wesley House, Leeson Park, Dublin, the parish of St Bartholomew will present the annual Travers Smith Lecture at 8.00 pm. This year the speaker will be Mr Aongus Dwane and his subject will be ?Into the West. Rediscovering the Icon in the Christian Tradition?.
In Belfast on Monday and Tuesday the Church of Ireland Annual Theological Lectures at Queen?s University will be held in the Geography Theatre, Elmwood Avenue at 5.15 pm. The lecturer will be Dr Elaine Storkey, Senior Research Fellow in Wycliffe hall, Oxford, and her general subject will be ?Challenges for Apologetics?.
On Tuesday evening in St Columba?s Church, Kells, the Bishop of Meath and Kildare will institute the Revd Eric Russell to the incumbency, while on Friday, the Bishop of Clogher will institute the Revd Christopher Matchett as Rector of Magheracross.
On Thursday the clergy of the Dioceses of Cashel and Ossory will have a conference in Kilkenny with the Bishop of Monmouth, the Rt Revd Dominic Walker on the theme ?A Time to Heal?.
Today (Saturday) week, Affirming Catholicism Ireland will host a seminar on the Book of Common Prayer 2004 in the Church of Ireland Theological College. The speakers will include Canon Brian Mayne, editor of BCP 2004, the Very Revd Michael Burrows and Canon Michael Kennedy, both of whom are long standing members of the Liturgical Advisory Committee. Details may be had from the Revd Dr Norman Gamble, The Rectory, Church Road, Malahide.
::rcblibrary::