Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Saturday 24 March 2012
Ulster Covenant Conference
The period 1912–1922 is a ‘Decade of Centenaries’, when significant events in Irish history will be commemorated. To assist in thinking through how these centenaries might be addressed historically, ethically and responsibly by 21st–century Christians, a number of events are being planned over time by the Church of Ireland, at the request of the Standing Committee of the General Synod of the Church. The first of these is to be a conference focusing on the Ulster Solemn League and Covenant of 1912. The conference, entitled ‘Sober Reflections’, will look at the historical detail and context of the Covenant and also try to reflect theologically on the how the Covenant might be addressed by the contemporary Christian conscience. This one–day event will take place today (Saturday) in Moira Parish Centre, Co. Down.
Professor Paul Bew (Lord Bew of Donegore) will give an overview of historical forces which gave rise to the Covenant and its significance to the political and social development of Ireland, north and south, and Dr Andrew Scholes will examine the particular role and reaction of the Church of Ireland in the making and signing of the Covenant. Dr Andrew Pierce, Director of the Irish School of Ecumenics, will consider theological methods of addressing a divisive historical event in a more ecumenical age and Dr Johnston McMaster of the ISE, based in Northern Ireland, will share his recent work of theological reflection on The Covenant and of how modern Christians might engage positively with it. The Conference will be chaired by Professor David Hayton of Queen’s University, Belfast.
Today (Saturday) the Archbishop of Dublin continues his visit to the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui with a ferry trip to the missionary area of Macau. This former Portuguese territory is now the focus of ‘fresh expression’ missionary activity by the Hong Kong church. Dr Jackson will visit both Choi Kou College and the Taipa Family and Youth Project, in the company of the Revd Kenneth Lau, Chaplain of Macau. Tomorrow (Sunday), on the Feast of the Annunciation, Dr Jackson will assist at the episcopal ordination of the Rt Revd Andrew Chan as the second Bishop of Western Kowloon before returning home to Dublin. The Archbishop is making this visit on behalf of the Dublin University Far Eastern Mission of which he is Patron.
Tomorrow (Sunday) morning Dr Zuleika Rodgers, Lecturer in Jewish Studies in TCD, will speak on Psalm 139 at the Choral Eucharist in the Chapel of Trinity College, Dublin. At 10.30pm RTE 1 will show the second in a two part ‘Would You Believe Special’ featuring the Bishop of Limerick & Killaloe, the Rt Revd Trevor Williams.
In All Saints Parish Centre, Antrim, on Monday evening the Bishop of Connor will lead the final seminar in a Lent course which is part of the Connor Diocesan Vision Strategy.
A new series of spring and summer concerts, ‘Music in Calary’ begins on Wednesday evening at 8pm in Calary parish church, Co. Wicklow. More information about the series may be had at [email protected]
On Thursday evening in Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn, the Dean of Connor, the Very Revd John Bond, will install Canon W.S. Wright as Precentor, Canon W.S. Irwin as Treasurer and the Revd W.J. Taggart as Prebendary of Kilroot on the cathedral chapter. In Rathfarnham parish church at 8pm the final talk in the Lenten series will be given by the Revd Marcus Losack, author of a new book on St Patrick, on ‘Celtic Hope & Reflection’.
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’