Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'
Saturday 3 February 2007
Bishop of Clogher Leads Nigeria Visit
A group of Anglicans from NIFCON (the Network for Interfaith Concern) left for Nigeria last Thursday to learn more about how Christians can live out their faith alongside Muslims. The group is being led by the Bishop of Clogher, Dr Michael Jackson, and includes Guy Wilkinson who is the Archbishop of Canterbury?s interfaith advisor.
NIFCON has responded to an invitation from Archbishop Idowu Fear who is keen to address the issue of how Christians can be fully involved in communities when there are hugh tensions between their faith and Islam. Nigeria has the largest Anglican population in the world but it exists precariously alongside Islam which, in some areas, has become more fundamental. A conference, which will be held in the Diocese of Kaduna, will be only the second international consultation which NIFCON has organized. Representatives from Sudan and Pakistan, which also have experience of religious extremism and persecution, will also take part.
Since its inception NIFCON has had a special mandate to monitor Christian-Muslim relations as well as speaking out sensitively on behalf of those Christians who experience hardship and persecution.
Today (Saturday) a six week adult education course begins in Cashel & Ossory diocese. Entitled ?God Talk? it is facilitated by Dr Lindsay Hall from the Church of Ireland Theological College and will explore a number of topical issues in the context of Christian belief. The course is part of a series of modules, coordinated by the Revd Tom Gordon, Director of Pastoral & Extension Studies in CITC, which together make up a two year training course for Diocesan readers. However each module is a stand alone course and is open to anyone. Details may be had from +353 (0)56 7761910.
Tomorrow (Sunday) the preacher at the Sung Eucharist in the Chapel of Trinity College, Dublin, will be Professor John Dillon, Regius Professor of Greek Emeritus, while in Powerscourt parish church the Enniskerry Gospel Choir will sing at the 11.30 Eucharist. The Feast of Candlemas, otherwise known as the Presentation of Christ, will be celebrated by a Eucharist and Procession in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, at 5pm.
In St Brigid?s Cathedral, Kildare, the patronal festival will be celebrated with a Festival Eucharist at 3.30pm with the combined choirs of the Cathedral and St Brigid?s Church, Stillorgan. The celebrant will be the Bishop of Meath & Kildare, Dr Richard Clarke, and the Rector of Stillorgan, the Revd Ian Gallagher, will preach.
Meanwhile in Belfast there will be a Service of Thanksgiving in St Anne? s Cathedral at which cheques from funds donated to Dean McKelvey?s pre-Christmas Sit-Out will be distributed.. Some £27,000 was raised and will be presented to charities and community groups by the Archdeacon of Down, the Ven Gregor McCamley and by representatives of the Milibern Trust and WDR & Rt Taggart.
On Monday and Tuesday the annual theological lectures will be held in Queen?s University, Belfast. This year the speaker will be Professor Richard Bauckham, one of the Anglican Communion?s most respected scholars. He has written widely on themes such as Christology, eschatology and biblical studies and is one of the foremost interpreters of the work of Jurgen Moltmann, and as well was the co-editor of the festschrift for Bishop Richard Hanson. Dr Bauckham, who is presently Professor of New Testament Studies in the University of St Andrews, will speak on ?The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony: New Reflections?. The lectures will begin each evening at 6 pm in the Geography Lecture Theatre in Elmwood Avenue.