Bishop – Politicians must address flag issues; Next Moderator will have Londonderry links; Electoral College today; Archbishops’ Rome visit; Former bishop of St Alban’s speaks to Belfast conference; New Bi–Lingual Service Book; Carrigaline school mission effort; Training appointments at CITI; Magdalenes hope for an apology after a long fight Bishop – Politicians must address flag issues
BBC – Bishop Donal McKeown of Down and Connor has said that Northern Ireland’s politicians must deal with the underlying issues of the flag protests.
Bishop McKeown said the flags protests showed there were deep problems.
He said that it was costing millions to police disorder rather than tackle the underlying issues.
“I believe that if anger has gone on in the streets for ten weeks, there is something driving that, there’s something genuine” he said.
“I have an awful lot of sympathy of people who feel upset, left behind, disillusioned who feel nihilistic about the future because of the circumstances they’re working in.”…
…Bishop McKeown told BBC Radio Ulster’s Sunday Sequence programme leadership was needed.
“It is up to our political figures to see who is being left behind in our society, who feels most underprivileged and stripped naked of all that was important to them.
“The presenting feelings are that we are angry about flags but there are other huge problems particularly in unionist working class, or benefit class areas, fragmentation lack of confidence about the future and unless we deal with those very, very serious issues like educational underachievement, and we have done that in the Catholic sector, then I think our politicians are letting down people and society, because we are paying millions to police public disorder rather than tackle the source of them.” More at –
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-21312761
Next Moderator will have Londonderry links
News Letter – Two ministers with strong north-west credentials are the only two names for consideration when Presbyterians around Ireland vote this Tuesday evening to decide who will be the next Presbyterian Moderator.
The new moderator will chair the General Assembly when it meets this June in the Maiden City.
The Rev Rob Craig and the Rev John Dickinson will be voted for in each of the 19 presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church when they hold their individual meetings at different venues all around Ireland. The minister who tops the poll in the majority of presbyteries becomes the Moderator.
Dr Craig has been the minister of the Kilfennan congregation on Londonderry’s Waterside since 1994 while Mr Dickinson, currently the minister of the Carnmoney congregation, was born and brought up in the city, a son of the Ebrington manse.
The February vote is the culmination of a process that begins during the autumn when presbyteries confidentially submit names to the Clerk of the General Assembly of ministers that presbytery members think should be considered for the office of moderator.
Having ascertained from the individuals concerned if they are prepared to allow their names to go forward, the Clerk’s office then prepare a list of names which is sent to all presbyteries from which they vote to elect the Moderator.
The names of both men on this year’s list have been involved in the moderatorial election before and last year Mr Dickinson received four presbytery nominations and Dr Craig two.
It is fitting and probably not without coincidence that both men have Londonderry connections since whoever is elected will succeed the present moderator the Rev Dr Roy Patton at the opening of the 2013 General Assembly on Monday June 3 at the Millennium Forum in Londonderry.
Two years ago, the General Assembly took the decision to meet there to mark Londonderry’s year as UK City of Culture. It is the first time in 22 years that the Assembly has met out of Belfast and it was 1933 when it last met in Londonderry.
No detailed plans have been announced yet for the Assembly other than the opening and business sessions will be held in the Millennium Forum from Monday, June 3 until Thursday, June 6 and the Assembly Communion Service will take place in First Derry Presbyterian Church on Tuesday, June 4.
Meanwhile, the identity of the moderator, who will chair the Assembly, is expected to be announced on Tuesday night.
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/next-church-leader-will-have-londonderry-links-1-4750169
Electoral College today
An Electoral College will meet in In Church House, Armagh today to elect a new Bishop of Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh, in succession to the Rt Revd Ken Clarke. The Electoral College will be preceded by a celebration of the Eucharist in St Patrick’s cathedral at 11am.
Archbishops’ Rome visit
The Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin will be in Rome next week to attend an international gathering of bishops hosted by the Community of Sant’Egidio. The community specialises in social action and invites Roman Catholic bishop from around the world as well as Anglican, Lutheran and Orthodox bishops.
Former bishop of St Alban’s speaks to Belfast conference
News Letter – The lonely plight of many elderly Ulster residents was put under the spotlight on Thursday.
A gathering of around 80 people, including social workers, volunteers and members of housing associations, heard that loneliness can help to increase instances of dementia, stress and even raise blood pressure.
Among those speaking at the conference was the Rt Rev Dr Christopher Herbert, former Bishop of St Albans, in England.
Now aged 69, he spoke of experiencing the onset of age himself, telling the conference:
“When people now stand up on the Tube to let me sit down, I can’t quite believe they are standing up for me.”
Quoting extensively from poetry throughout, especially that of Elizabeth Jennings, several times he repeated the line: “Each year the pouches fill, the skin is uglier,” adding: “I’m inclined to say: tell me about it!”
As a former vicar, Dr Herbert told the audience that everyone’s social network tends to get smaller as they get older, and that parishioners would often say to him: “All my friends are gone now. I’ve outlived my friends. I do miss them terribly.”
Everyone has a “human need to be listened to”, he said, and without it a “deep loneliness” can set in. More at –
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/being-lonely-is-bad-for-health-conference-told-1-4744814
New Bi–Lingual Service Book
Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise (the Irish Guild of the Church) has announced details of the launch its new bilingual services book which will take place in Christ Church cathedral, Dublin, on Saturday 16 February.
The purpose of the book is to facilitate bilingual worship and open up the possibilities of new theological insights in the experience of worship. It is particularly appropriate that friends in the Church in Wales will travel to Dublin for the launch as it was their texts which inspired the production of this book. At a seminar in the cathedral’s Music Room, beginning at 2pm, they will talk about the measures under consideration in the Church in Wales to give the Welsh language an enhanced place in the life of the Church there. The delegation will be led by the Bishop of Bangor, the Rt. Revd Andrew John, and include Mr. Cynog Davis, former MP and AM for Ceredigion, Canon Idris Thomas from the Diocese of Bangor and the Revd Gwynn ap Gwilym, Bishops’ Adviser for Church Affairs. The Bishop of Cashel & Ossory, the Rt Revd Michael Burrows, who is patron of Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise, the Ven.Gary Hastings, and Dáithí Ó Maolchoille will also speak to these issues in an Irish context.
The formal launch of the new services book, An Chomaoineach Naofa agus Seorbhísí eile/Holy Communion and other frequently–used Services will take place in the crypt at 5pm followed by Trilingual Evensong/Urnaí na Nona/ Trí theangach at 6.00.
Further information on this event and on the work of Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise may be had from Caroline Nolan at gaeleaglais@gmail.com.
Carrigaline school mission effort
The children of St Mary’s Church of Ireland National School in Carrigaline have been collecting pencil cases for distribution by the Mission Agency Us (formally USPG) to schools in Swaziland. At the Service in St Mary’s Church, Carrigaline on Sunday 27th January, the Rev. Canon Richard Barlett from the Diocese of London and a member of the Board of Us, formally received these pencil cases, and thanked all the children on behalf of Us.
CITI appointments
The Church of Ireland Theological Institute has announced the appointment of two part–time members of staff with effect from 2nd April 2013: the Revd Jennifer McWhirter as Co–ordinator of Continuing Ministerial Education and Mr David Brown as Co–ordinator of Lay Training.
Mrs McWhirter is currently serving as Vicar of Templepatrick and Donegore and has had significant pastoral experience in the area of hospital chaplaincy both in Ireland and North America. Mr Brown has served in Canterbury Diocese and for the past eleven years as Director of the Church of Ireland Youth Department.
Commenting on the appointments, the Director of CITI, the Revd Dr Maurice Elliott, said, ‘We are grateful to the Church of Ireland Priorities Fund for enabling us to realise these exciting new positions. CITI is now well placed to deliver further on aspects of its original vision such as life–long learning and an expanding culture of lay training across the Church of Ireland. Jennifer and David will each bring excellent qualities to the respective roles. We are looking forward to welcoming them as members of our collaborative staff team.’
Magdalenes hope for an apology after a long fight
According to one survivors’ group, Tuesday offers an opportunity to the Government to do “the right thing”.
http://www.thejournal.ie/magdalenes-report-jfm-778794-Feb2013/