MEP launches a fund directory for churches; New hall speaks of ‘new life’; Church and TCD in row over teacher training; Worship this week
MEP launches a fund directory for churches
News Letter – Northern Ireland DUP MEP Diane Dodds has launched her latest funding directory specifically aimed at churches and faith-based organisations.
The directory highlights almost 50 sources of funding, as well as advice on how to apply.
Speaking at the launch, Mrs Dodds said: “Since I was elected I have made it a key priority to promote funding opportunities available through the European Commission and national sources.
“In November 2011, I produced my first Signposts to Funding Directory, which was aimed at community groups and not-for-profit organisations. I also committed to helping local businesses by publishing my second Signposts to Funding Directory in June of this year.
“Churches and faith-based organisations continue to play an enormously positive role within Northern Ireland. However, in a society that has become increasingly secular in outlook, many of these groups are of the belief nothing is available for them. Others believe that their faith prevents them from applying from certain sources of support, most notably, Lottery funding.”
The MEP added: “My new publication – ‘Signposts to Funding for Churches and Faith-Based Organisations’ – highlights that such thinking is flawed. It presents potential applicants with over 30 sources of funding.
“These streams offer assistance with projects for buildings, refurbishments, equipment, core costs, youth work and Christian education, whilst prioritising the most vulnerable groups in our society.
“This directory also recognises the international dimension of the work carried by churches and faith-based organisations in Northern Ireland that advances the Christian faith through mission, health and welfare, education, training and relief.”
For further information, contact the office of Diane Dodds MEP on 028 92 667733 or email funding@dianedodds.co.uk
New hall speaks of ‘new life’ for the community
Late in November around 100 parishioners, community representatives, contractors and funders gathered for the official reopening of Mount Merrion Parish Church Hall.
One visitor said that the new extension spoke of ‘new life’ and it is the prayer of the congregation that the hall will be used by the community and church to bring hope and new life to the Cregagh Estate.
The event marked the culmination of 18 weeks of building work and a longer period of fundraising, but the end result was definitely worth the wait. The hall now has a more welcoming and open feel, an accessible toilet and heating.
Speakers on the evening included Ken Gibson from the International Fund for Ireland, Olga Gallagher from the Rural Development Council, Roy Totton from the Church of Ireland Priorities Fund and Bishop Harold Miller.
Bishop’s Curate, Revd Adrian Green, said that, “as a church we feel very blessed by what has been achieved in such a relatively short period of time”. As a way of passing on that blessing the church has twinned its new accessible toilet with one in Kaouch Village, Cambodia, through a scheme jointly operated by Coord and Tearfund.
Church and TCD in row over teacher training
Irish Times – Sean Flynn, Education Editor, writes – Trinity College Dublin and the Church of Ireland are locked in an increasingly bitter dispute about teacher training, despite a long association in the area.
The board of governors of the Church of Ireland College of Education (CICE) say they are “deeply saddened” by Trinity’s failure to respond to its demands in discussions on a new teacher training college.
In response, Trinity registrar Prof Shane Allwright maintains the church college withdrew from negotiations on new arrangements for teacher training.
“It did not provide a response to the options presented, nor propose any alternatives,” she says.
The church college, based in Rathmines, Dublin, is set to close in about three years as part of a overhaul of teacher training in the State, which will result in the number of colleges falling from 19 to six.
As part of this process, driven by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn, smaller colleges must build new associations with the universities and /or larger training colleges like St Patrick’s in Drumcondra.
It was widely thought that the church college – which trains about 30 teachers annually – would link up with the Trinity school of education, building on a relationship that dates back to the 1920s.
But the church college board has recently agreed to pursue “as a matter of urgency” formal discussions with Dublin City University (DCU), after negotiations with Trinity broke down.
The DCU governing body will oversee a new institute of education in Drumcondra, which will bring together St Patrick’s College, the Mater Dei Institute and the church college. These colleges have all given assurances about respecting the church college’s ethos – but some Church of Ireland members worry their distinct identity could be “drowned out”.
As part of the new process, Trinity is to link up with Marino Institute of Education.
The church college governors have accused Trinity of being unwilling to allow for the retention of its core principles in any collaborative arrangement. Critically, it claims Trinity was unwilling to allow for the retention of the CICE name or ethos, “as the university and its school of education described themselves as strictly secular”.
In a letter to the church college’s board in October, Mr Quinn made it clear it would not be funded unless it co-operated with the new strategic arrangements. “Maintaining a separate CICE presence . . . at the Rathmines site is not envisaged,” he wrote.
In her letter – published in the Church of Ireland Gazette – Prof Allwright said Trinity recognised the importance to the college of protecting its ethos, culture and traditions, and was open to considering, within its governance arrangements, a name that would reflect its history. “That Trinity is a secular university would not have prevented this – indeed, we understand that all publicly funded universities in Ireland are secular.”
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/1207/1224327610266.html
Worship this week
In Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, today, Tuesday, at lunchtime the cathedral Girls’ Choir will sing at a Carol Service in aid of Peata Therapy Dogs. In the evening at 8pm in St Michael’s church, Limerick, ‘The Light of Christmas’ will feature vocalists Helen Houlihan and Owen Gilhooly accompanied by Irina Dernova (organ & piano) and Sheila Allen (clarinet).
On Wednesday there will be a PSNI Carol Service in St Columb’s cathedral, Derry, and in Dublin on Thursday evening at 8pm the Christ Church cathedral choir will sing a Christmas Concert. The Discovery Gospel Choir will anticipate Christmas with a concert in St George & St Thomas’ church, Cathal Brugha Street, Dublin at 7.30pm on Friday and the following Saturday.