| Friday 8th August, 2008 You are here: Home - 8th August 2008 Index Page |
Lambeth Conference deepens dialogue and trust
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| Dr Rowan Williams addresses the Lambeth Conference |
The Lambeth Conference, which concluded last Sunday in Canterbury, has succeeded in deepening both dialogue and trust among the Anglican Communion’s 670 bishops in attendance. While a great diversity of subjects formed the agenda, the Anglican Communion’s besetting problems over same-sex relationships and ecclesiastical interventions from one province into another were never far away during the conference’s two and a half weeks.
Editorial
RELIGIOUS TOPICS - CONSCIENCE
Conscience has been defined in various ways, including an inner moral sense of right and wrong, the voice of God within, and he mind of human beings making moral judgements. Two abiding aspects of conscience are, first, a human awareness of universally binding rules or principles of conduct and, second, the ability to relate those general rules or principles to particular cases. St Paul taught that there was a universal moral awareness, even the Gentiles having "the requirements of the law written on their hearts, their consciences bearing witness" (Romans 2: 15). Full Text
Home News
CMJ Ireland representatives affirm society’s summer camp in Poland
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| Pictured at the CMJ summer camp in Poland are (from left) George Bajenski, the Revd Billy Holmes and Pastor Barczuk. |
Since last year, the Church’s Ministry Among Jewish People, Ireland (CMJ Ireland) has been involved in supporting a summer camp for Jewish children that takes place near the small town of Ostróda in Poland. The camp is organised by a Messianic group (Jews who recognise Jesus as their Messiah) in Warsaw. The group is called ‘Chevra’, which is the Hebrew word for a company of friends or a fellowship.
Restoration work continuing in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin
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Julian Cosby pictured in the process of regilding one of the clock faces. |
By Mark Bowyer
A considerable amount of restoration work is currently being undertaken to the fabric of St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin. Work on the Minot Tower is progressing well and it is hoped that it will be completed by the end of October. Additional scaffolding has been erected around the spire so that it can be cleaned and repointed.
Tribute
The Revd Cecil Lindsay
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| Revd Cecil Lindsay |
The following is an abridged version of the sermon of Bishop Ken Clarke at the funeral service of the Revd Cecil Lindsay in Kilmore Cathedral on Tuesday 1st July 2008.
Cecil Lindsay was a remarkable man. When we think of Cecil, we think of words like dedication, determination, courage, faith, energy, action, service. He was a man who lived life to the full; he gave so much and achieved so much.
Successful week-long Dublin youth outreach project
By Garrett Casey
Speaking to young people at Urban Soul, Reggie Dabbs, an American inspirational speaker, told them that Urban Soul "is about them, the lost of the world; it’s about the kid who may be pregnant; it’s about the boy that drinks."
Belfast organist wins two royal posts
Belfast organist, Ian Keatley, has recently won prestigious positions at two separate Royal Peculiars in London Ordination
Anniversary
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The Very Revd Raymond Ferguson, Dean of Kilmore, recently celebrated the 30th anniversary of his ordination. He is seen here (seated, centre) with Bishop Ken Clarke (back row, middle) and those who presented Dean Ferguson with gifts following a thanksgiving service in St Fethlimidh’s Cathedral, Kilmore.
World News
Kenyan Church leaders call for religious education in schools
Kenyan Protestant and Roman Catholic Church leaders have called for the strengthening of religious education for young people after riots in 300 schools.
Church action urged to address AIDS pandemic
Can religions do more in response to the AIDS pandemic? To address this question, over 450 representatives of faith-based organizations currently responding to HIV and AIDS gathered in Mexico City from 31st July - 2nd August, in advance of the XVII International AIDS Conference.
Churches condemn latest series of Indian bomb blasts
Christian groups in India have deplored a series of more than 20 bomb blasts that have killed at least 50 people in western Gujarat and southern Karnataka states and are said to have been carried out in the name of religion.
Chief executive retires after guiding US Presbyterians for 12 years
Despite dwindling membership numbers and continuing controversies over the issue of sexuality within the Church, the outgoing ‘stated clerk’ (chief executive) of the Presbyterian Church (USA) believes his 2.2 million-strong denomination will remain a prominent voice within the United States, if it is sensitive to "faithfulness to the Gospel" and the changing character of the US religious scene.
Letters to the Editor
Focus
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| The Revd Simon Doogan |
What is Canon Law?
The first in a series of three articles on Canon Law. In this article, the Revd Simon Doogan gives some personal insights into the meaning and application of Canon Law. Full Text
Interview
Preparing to retire from his post at the Church of Ireland Theological College, Canon Adrian Empey spoke to Church of Ireland Press Officer, Paul Harron, about his time as principal of the college.
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Canon Adrian Empey |
What brought you to the post in 2001?
I was a late ordinand. I had studied Modern History and Political Society at Trinity, taught in Canada, returned to Trinity for my PhD on the great lordships of Anglo-Norman Ireland, taught again in Washington State University, but returned to Ireland when I felt the re-emergence of a dormant desire to be ordained. My father was a clergyman and, in some ways, that actually made ordination less rather than more of a straightforward choice.
By the Book
Yes, Prime Minister theology - (Galatians 6: 12, 13)
Ed Vaughan
Do you remember the excellent Yes, Prime Minister episode that dealt with the Anglican Church? For those who are familiar with the workings of the Anglican Church, it was uncannily close to the truth, and was really either achingly funny or achingly sad. The one great line that stood out for me was when Sir Humphrey was explaining the term ‘modernist’ to the Prime Minister. As they discussed to whom they might lend support as the next Archbishop of Canterbury, the Prime Minister mused that they should be looking for a holy man of devout faith and good works.
Musings
Friends
Alison Rooke
I have to agree with A.A.Milne in Pooh’s Little Instruction Book, when he wrote: “You can’t stay in your corner of the forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.” On holiday this year, we attended a church in France. I was impressed by the cheery welcome we received as we entered and, although the service was very different from what we are used to, that is what going on holiday is all about - having new experiences and being receptive to other interpretations and traditions.
Book Reviews
IN THE EYE OF THE STORM
Author: Gene Robinson
Publisher: Canterbury Press 2008; 172pp
Price: £12.99
PRAYERS OF THE WESTERN HIGHLANDERS: A NEW COLLECTION
Author: G.R.D. McClean
Publisher: SPCK 2008; 116 pages
Price: £8.99
News Extra
ICC appoints new administrator
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| Jennifer Fernandez (middle) with Rob Fairmichael, ICC Associate Secretary (left), and Michael Earle, ICC General Secretary. |
Jennifer Fernandez has recently been appointed as the new Administrator for the Irish Council of Churches (ICC), the Irish Inter-Church Council (IICC) and the Irish ecumenical bodies which they serve.
Research to be carried out on migrant-led churches in Ireland
The impact of the extraordinary growth in migrant-led churches in Ireland is set to be researched quantitatively by the All-Ireland Churches Consultative Meeting on Racism (AICCMR) and EMBRACE Northern Ireland, through a new Directory, to be launched in December.
Churches to ‘feast’ for racial justice throughout the year
Each year, Churches throughout Britain and Ireland mark Racial Justice Sunday. This year, the day will be marked with worship and reflection on 14th September. A press release from Churches Together in Britain and Ireland – the official ecumenical body which brings together Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Pentecostal traditions and is the direct successor to the British Council of Churches – explains that this year’s Racial Justice Sunday resources will take the form of a menu for ‘A Banquet for All People’, based on Isaiah 25: 6-9, where the prophet says that God is preparing "a banquet for all the nations of the world".