Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’
Saturday 28 February 2015
Spring Issue of Search
The spring issue of the Church of Ireland journal, Search, edited by Canon Ginnie Kennerley, is now available.
A review, by the Revd Dr Patrick McGlinchey, of the work and witness of the Christian Renewal Centre, founded 40 years ago last autumn, opens this issue – a tribute to the late Cecil Kerr and his leadership in reconciliation between Protestant and Catholic communities and spiritual renewal across the denominations in Ireland.
Further articles explore how this prompting to inclusivity may work out in practice. The Chief Officer of the RCB, Adrian Clements, considers how our calling as Christians demands that we care for one another at parish level, and the structures needed to enable such care when relationships are challenged by illness, misunderstanding or bad behaviour. Canon William Marshall’s article on ‘Church, Gospel and Mission’ looks to the Four Nations Faith and Order Consultation meeting in Dublin this May, and what we have to contribute to it as Anglicans. Dr Robbie Roulston follows up with a critical look at discriminatory practices, particularly in the areas of education and health care, which ‘go both ways’, the Protestant community in the Republic being as guilty in this area as the dominant majority. Ali Selim of the Islamic Cultural Centre, looks at Islam’s teaching on inter–faith relations,showing that Qur’anic instructions on relations with Christians is much more liberal than is commonly supposed.
In the series on seasonal scripture readings intended largely for preachers and biblical explorers, Margaret Barker contributes some textual insights in her article ‘Jesus and Isaiah on the Emmaus Road’.
And to turn to biography, Lady Brenda Sheil, until recently a lay honorary secretary of General Synod reflects on her journey of faith and service in the Church of Ireland, while the Very Revd Dr Robert MacCarthy contributes some recollections of R.R. Hartford, regius professor of Divinity in TCD.
The eighth cycle of the Foundation Course begins this weekend at the Church of Ireland Theological Institute where 17 candidates will attend this 15 month course. Six candidates who are commencing the Reader training will also attend. Canon Christina Baxter and the Canon Maurice Elliott will facilitate the weekend. Also participating will be Revd Dr. Andy Angel, Vice – Principal of St. John’s College, Nottingham and the Katherine Onion, Academic Director, Canon Will Murphy and David Brown.
Tomorrow (Sunday) the Archbishop of Armagh will be the celebrant and preacher at a service to mark the 250th anniversary of St Patrick’s church, Broughshane, where the rector is the Dean of Connor, the Very Revd John Bond.
On Monday in St Patrick’s Roman Catholic cathedral, Armagh, and on Friday in St Patrick’s cathedral, Dublin, the Flesh and Blood (FAB) campaign will be launched. This initiative, which is supported by both archbishops of Armagh, encourages churches to support blood and organ donation as part of a culture of giving.
The lunchtime recital in St Mary’s cathedral, Limerick, on Wednesday will be a piano duet by Moira Grey and Geoffrey Partley who will play rarely heard works by Mozart, Dvorak and Ravel.
Next Thursday in Glenavy the Archbishop of Armagh will conduct a Quiet Day for the clergy of Connor while on Thursday and Friday the Archbishop of Dublin will attend a meeting of NIFCON to address issues relating to religious minorities.
Women’s World Day of Prayer will be marked on Friday with a liturgy devised by the Christian women of the Bahamas. In Athy Methodist church, at 8pm, the former Dean of Cashel, Dr Philip Knowles, will preach at an ecumenical service.
Church of Ireland Notes from ‘The Irish Times’