Irish Times Notes
Church of Ireland Notes from 'The Irish Times'
European Assembly Meeting in Romania
Romania is a European country that has suffered more than most over recent decades, particularly during the Ceausescu regime and its immediate aftermath. The population has been greatly sustained throughout by the ministry of the churches, and in particular the Romanian Orthodox Church to which the great majority of the population belongs. This was one reason why Romania was selected to host the forthcoming Third European Ecumenical Assembly, to be held in Sibiu in Transylvania next Tuesday to Friday. It will be a large gathering representative of the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, Anglican and Protestant Churches of Europe.
The Church of Ireland delegates are the Bishop of Meath and Kildare (Chairman of the Church of Ireland Commission for Christian Unity and Dialogue), Dr Kenneth Milne (Honorary Secretary of the Commission) and three other members of the Commission: the Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry, Mrs Andrea Wills and Canon David Crooks. The Church of Ireland has been asked to take responsibility for devising and conducting an act of worship in the Anglican tradition.
Among the objectives of the Assembly is restoring to the Christians of the continent confidence in the possibility of living the Gospel in a culture marked by secularization. A study guide has been provided to help the delegates prepares for plenary and group discussion, and underpinning the deliberations will be the guidelines for co-operation between the Churches, the ‘Charta Oecumenica, ’ agreed in 2001 by the Conference of European Churches [Orthodox, Protestant and Anglican] and the Council of [Roman Catholic]Bishops’ Conferences in Europe. The challenge for all delegates will be to ensure that the work of the Assembly is effectively transmitted to the local congregations and parishes.
The title of the Sibiu conference is ‘The light of Christ shines upon all. Hope for Renewal and Unity in Europe’ and tomorrow (Sunday) the Dean of Christ Church, the Very Revd Desmond Harman, will speak on this theme at the Morning Service which will be broadcast live from the cathedral on BBC Radio 4 at 8.10 am .
Tomorrow morning (Sunday) the Bishop of Tuam, Killala and Achonry will be the celebrant at the Sung Eucharist in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. In the afternoon the Archbishop of Dublin will attend a service to mark the 550th anniversary of the Moravian Church and on Monday Bishop Beth Tortington, the first Moravian woman bishop, will visit the See House. The final recital in the current organ series in St Michael’s Church, Dun Laoghaire, will be given at 8.30 pm by David Adams who is organist in Taney parish.
On Wednesday the annual Conference if the College of Preachers will begin in the Church of Ireland Theological College and will continue until Friday. The principal speaker will be a Methodist minister and acclaimed preacher, Dr Heather Morris, Director of Ministry in Edgehill Collge, Belfast.
In Christ Church Cathedral, Lisburn, on Thursday evening the Dean of Connor, the Very Revd John Bond, will enthrone the new Bishop of Connor, the Rt Revd Alan Abernethy, and dedicate a new pastoral staff for the bishop.
RTE is preparing top shoot a programme on the artist Linda Graham for the ‘Would You Believe’ programme and would like to hear from anyone who was a contemporary in the Dublin Diocesan Girls’ School in the late 1960s and early 1970s or who has memorabilia from the school which includes Linda. The producer of the programme in Geraldine Creed who may be contacted at 01-2082869.