Press Releases31 Aug 10

Inter Faith Conference to be held at Church of Ireland Theological Institiute Dublin

The challenges and opportunities of inter faith relations in twenty-first century Ireland will be the focus of a special conference to be held in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in Dublin on Wednesday 1 and Thursday 2 September 2010.

The Conference, which is organised by the Inter Faith Working Group of the Church of Ireland’s Commission on Christian Unity and Dialogue will feature national and international experts, visits to local places of worship and a conference dinner attended by both Archbishops of Dublin.

The Rt Revd Michael Jackson, chair of the Inter Faith Working Group, said: “The aim of this conference is to open up areas of understanding and of difference particularly at points and places where people of many Faiths meet. These include educational and healthcare institutions; civic occasions; birth and initiation, marriage and the rearing of children; end of life and burial matters.”

We expect that, as well as representatives of the twelve dioceses of the Church of Ireland, there will be ecumenical and Inter Faith participation; involvement on the part of chaplains to second and third level educational establishments and hospitals and residential homes together with those working on RE curricula and other persons who are interested.”

The line-up of speakers includes: Clare Amos (Co-ordinator of the Anglican Communion’s Network for Inter Faith Concerns); Michael Ipgrave (Archdeacon of Southwark); Joanna Udal (Archbishop of Canterbury’s Secretary for Anglican Communion Affairs) and Brendan Leahy (Professor of Systematic Theology at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth).

Issued on behalf of the Inter Faith Working Group