Diocesan News
Inspiration and Challenge at Connor Clergy Conference
Clergy from Connor Diocese gathered at the Slieve Russell Hotel, Co Cavan, for their first clergy conference in almost four years.
Clergy from Connor Diocese gathering at the Slieve Russell Hotel
The event ran from November 11-13 and the guest speakers were the Rt Rev Richard Henderson, Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry and Mr Mark Russell, Chief Executive of the Church Army.
Both challenged and inspired in their daily sessions and left the 80 clergy in attendance with more than a little food for thought.
Speakers at the Clergy Conference
The R Rev Alan Abernethy, Bishop of Connor, Mr Mark Russell, Chief Executive of the Church Army and the Rt Rev Richard Henderson, Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry
It was a time for discussion and debate, a time for worship, and also a time for relaxation and fellowship. Services took place over the three days, with inspirational liturgy prepared by the Rev Peter McDowell, rector of Holy Trinity, Ballywillan, Portrush, and music from Mrs Lorna Palmer, Director of Music in Ballycastle Parish, on keyboard, and the Rev Canon John Mann, St John’s Malone, on violin.
The conference opened with Eucharist followed by a first session on the theme ‘Getting to the heart of the matter’ with Bishop Richard. In this he spoke about ‘the heart of God.’
In his first address, Mark Russell acknowledged the ‘huge pressure’ clergy have to work under, and thanked them for their faithfulness in God and for the work they do. Mark added: “Nothing will make your church more relevant or real than new Christians. They will shine a light on your church where it needs to change. Evangelism changes the world and the world comes into your church.”
Some attendees take notes during an address
Following dinner clergy again united for evening worship, and after Morning Prayer on the Thursday Bishop Richard spoke on The Heart of Jesus, why we are made in God’s image and why that matters.
In his second session Mark Russell looked at mission shaped church. His PA, Sam Follett, told the conference about the ‘Adopt a Block’ project in which he had been involved in Australia.
There was free time on the second afternoon of the conference, and before dinner that evening, Bishop Alan held an open session, telling clergy he had taken time out to reflect on his own thoughts for the diocese. “I have been wrestling with one word which I keep taking apart. That word is ‘connections.’ I use it because I see so many disconnections in so many places.”
He went on: “One of my priorities is to increase the sense that we belong to one another and we have a critical role in our community in Northern Ireland to make connections with each other and with people’s lives.”
Before close of the open session, the Dean of Connor, the Very Rev John Bond, expressed thanks to Bishop Alan. “We are a very large diocese and sometimes we think we know each other but it is only when we come to a conference like this that we get the opportunity to interact,” he said.
Evening worship on the second day took the form of a very atmospheric Taize service.
The closing Eucharist on the Friday morning included a third address from Bishop Richard whose final talk on Getting to the Heart of the Matter was on the subject of ‘the response of our hearts.’
Bishop Alan thanked Mrs Palmer and Canon Mann for the music over the three days, and spoke of Peter McDowell’s ‘amazing gifts’ for putting liturgy together. He also thanked the Ven Dr Stephen McBride, Archdeacon of Connor, for organising the conference, his secretary Rosemary and diocesan training co-ordinator Peter Hamill who helped put the programme together.
Of Bishop Richard, he said: “This man was just incredible. He brought us to a very holy place in a very gentle way.” Presenting Bishop Richard with a gift, Archdeacon McBride said: “It has been like watching somebody weave a rich tapestry watching you fight and wrestle with some of these ideas which disturb you.”
Bishop Alan thanked Mark Russell for his most challenging addresses, and the Ven Stephen Forde, Archdeacon of Dalriada, presented him with a gift saying: “You have reminded us that we are to be a blessing, and that we cannot always see the benefit of what we do but someone else might.”
For further information please contact:
Connor Diocesan Communications Officer
Contact Details
Karen Bushby
028 4066 0798
07766103880
[email protected]