Press Releases23 Jun 14

Northern Ireland Community Relations Working Group Meets Orange Order Representatives

Members of the Church of Ireland’s Northern Ireland Community Relations Working Group met with representatives of the Orange Order at Church of Ireland House, Belfast today (Monday) for informal conversation, to actively listen to one another’s views and to pray together for peace during the parading season and beyond.

The Working Group members – Bishop Harold Miller, Bishop John McDowell, the Revd Barry Forde, the Revd Adrian Dorrian, Ms Kate Turner and Mr Peter Munce – met with Mr Edward Stevenson (Grand Master of The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland), Mr Drew Nelson (Grand Secretary of The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland), Mr Stuart Brooker (Co. Fermanagh Grand Master), Mr Robin Matthews (Co. Antrim Grand Master) and Mr Henry Latimer (Co. Cavan Grand Master) over lunch. Discussion ranged from issues around parading, attacks on Orange Halls, cross–community engagement and faith and society.

The Working Group and the Orange Order representatives agreed that further engagement should follow and to meet again after the Twelfth of July period.