| Friday 25th April, 2008 You are here: Home - 25th April 2008 Index Page |
Anglican Communion facing ‘time of great tension’ - US covenant conference told
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| The Most Revd Drexel Gomez | Dr Jenny Plane Te Paa | Canon Gregory Cameron |
Participants at a recent conference - ‘An Anglican Covenant: Divisive or Reconciling?’- held at the Desmond Tutu Centre in New York City, gathered to discuss whether or not the Anglican Communion should adopt an official covenant. The idea for an Anglican covenant came from the Windsor Report (paragraphs 113-120) which was published in October 2004 following a year’s deliberations by the Lambeth Commission on Communion, a group appointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury to explore ways in which the Communion could maintain unity amid differing viewpoints and which was chaired by the then Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Robin Eames.
Editorial
RELIGIOUS TOPICS – PRAYER
Prayer, traditionally, has four main components: adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication - summed up in the word ‘acts’. The prayer of adoration is a response to, and an acknowledgement of, the glory of God. This kind of prayer is represented, for example, in Te Deum and Gloria in Excelsis and in the doxology, Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Thus, worship is fundamental in prayer and, for Christians, prayer embraces the adoration of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Full Text
Home News
Historic vestry records of Dublin parishes published
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| Dr Maighread Ni Mhurchada (left) and Mary Clarke are seen at the book launch in St Canice’s church, Finglas. |
St Canice’s church, Finglas, Dublin, was the venue for the recent launch of a new book which details the vestry records of four united North Dublin parishes: The Vestry Records of the United Parishes of Finglas, St Margaret’s, Artane and the Ward 1657 to 1758, edited by Dr Maighread Ni Mhurchada.
Sudanese bishop visits Delgany National School
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Bishop Hilary Adebo with some of the children of Delgany National School. |
The pupils of Delgany National School, Co.Wicklow, recently welcomed two special visitors, when the Rt Revd Hilary Adebo, Bishop of Yei in southern Sudan, and his wife, Joyce, met with them to convey their thanks for the children’s help with the construction of a new school in Payawa, Diocese of Yei.
Archbishop of Dublin pays tribute to President Hillery
The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd John Neill, has said that he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the death of the former President of Ireland, Dr Patrick Hillery.
Church should ‘take hold of the future’ with confidence - Bishop Richard Clarke
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Cutting St Martin’s anniversary cake are Vera McKeen, the longest-serving member of the select vestry (left), and Lily Prentice, the oldest member of the congregation. |
The Bishop of Meath and Kildare, the Most Revd Richard Clarke, has urged the Church to "take hold of the future" with energy and confidence. He was speaking at a service of celebration and thanksgiving to mark the 75th anniversary of the consecration of St Martin’s church (formerly the Southern Church Mission), Lower Newtownards Road, East Belfast. St Martin’s is now part of the Ballymacarrett group of parishes, Diocese of Down.
Bishop and rector join Connor MU members in charity walk
For the fourth consecutive year, Kathleen Rodgers, one of Connor Mothers’ Union’s Vice- Presidents, has organised a group to take part in the nine-mile charity walk as part of the Belfast Marathon. The group includes Connor Diocesan MU President, Moira Thom, from Lisburn, and MU member, Lorraine Watt, from Ballymena. This year, they have persuaded the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Revd Alan Abernethy, his wife, Liz, and the Revd Robin Moore, rector of St Mark’s, Ballysillan, to join them.
World News
Kenyan Church leaders urge unity government to stay together
Church leaders in Kenya have cautiously welcomed a new coalition Cabinet announced by President Mwai Kibaki, and are urging citizens to support the government, in which Raila Odinga, the former opposition leader, was named prime minister.
Archbishop of York set to take a ‘leap of faith’
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, is set to take the ultimate ‘leap of faith’ to raise money for the families of soldiers killed or injured in Afghanistan. Dr Sentamu will hurl himself from a plane at 12,500 feet with the Parachute Regiment ‘Red Devils’ display team from Royal Air Force Langer near Nottingham on 27th May.
Australian Church appoints first woman bishop
With the recent announcement that the Ven. Kay Goldsworthy has been named assistant bishop for the Diocese of Perth, the Church of Australia becomes the fourth province in the Anglican Communion to appoint or elect a woman to serve in the episcopate.
Pope Benedict visits United States of America
Pope Benedict XVI began his first papal visit to the United States by speaking out against the sexual abuse scandals which have rocked the US Church in recent years. He told journalists on the flight from Rome that he was "deeply ashamed" of the scandals, and he vowed that paedophiles would not be allowed to continue as priests or to be ordained into the Roman Catholic priesthood.
Letters to the Editor
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Cope and mitre and the sign of the cross Full Text
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Need to maintain Church of Ireland unity Full Text
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Hands Full Text
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No smoking signs Full Text
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Ministry training degrees Full Text
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Which hat? Full Text
Focus on Dublin and Glendalough
Garrett Casey, Diocesan Communications Officer for Dublin and Glendalough, contributes this month’s Diocesan Focus article - The question confronting the Church
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Pictured in the Religious News Network studio are (left to right) Miriam Gormley, Jeanann Cox and Eileen Good (director) |
The late Pope John Paul II summed up the communications challenge facing all the Churches today very well: "The question confronting the Church today is not any longer whether the man in the street can grasp a religious message, but how to employ the communications media so as to let him have the full impact of the Gospel message." In the United Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough, under the guidance of the Diocesan Communications Committee headed by Dr Ken Milne, print, radio and online communications - both internal and external - are being used to inform, challenge and encourage both members of the Church and society at large with the Gospel message.
Insight
The Church of Ireland and the USA
By Brian Walker
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On 30th April, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will address a joint meeting of the US Congress in Washington. No doubt, he will refer in his speech to the massive contribution made to the USA by people from Ireland. It is very likely that he will pay special attention to the impact of two wellknown major immigrant groups - the Scotch Irish and the Irish Americans, the former drawn very largely from the Ulster Presbyterian community and the latter very largely from the Irish Roman Catholic community.
Soap
The episcopal visit! At precisely 11 o’clock - on Fiona’s morning off - the door bell rang. Steve answered the door. "Ah, bishop, Mrs Evans, please come in." The bishop was in his black shirt, with his wooden pectoral cross - episcopal informality. "Good to see you, Steve." As he ushered them into the sitting room, Steve said: "I don’t think you’ve met Fiona?" "Coffee for you both?", asked Fiona, as she shook their hands. "Do please sit down; I’ll be back in a moment."
By the Book
Life on the far side of schismI was recently watching a video on YouTube which discussed the issues currently facing the Anglican Church. One of the speakers was Dr Jim Packer, one of the most influential theologians of our time. The other was David Short, rector of St John’s Shaughnessy, in the Diocese of New Westminster, the epicentre of our crisis. The videos deal with the theological issues which are at stake. In the course of the discussion, the two men argue that the reason for the impasse in our Communion is that a new Gospel, different from the historic Gospel of Jesus, is being promoted. (If you are interested in watching the videos, go to YouTube and type ‘Anglican realignment’ into the search section.)
Musings
‘Sir’
My ‘A’ level English teacher died a few weeks ago. A hundred years ago - or so it sometimes seems - he taught our class and, in his unique and exuberant way, he opened up the world of English Literature for me. Drama was his thing and those who move in the circles of Irish amateur dramatics have also lost a great friend and supporter.
News Extra
Gift
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The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd John Neill (left), receives a gift of olive oil and wine from Bethlehem from the Ambassador of Palestine, HE Dr Hikmat Ajjuri (right), during his recent visit to the See House. Also pictured (centre) is Yussef Dorkman, Consular Deputy Head of Mission for Palestine in Ireland.
Musical endowment to be set up in memory of Dean Harman
The united Dioceses of Dublin and Glendalough has proposed the setting-up of a musical endowment in the Dioceses in memory of the former Dean of Christ Church Cathedral Dublin, the Very Revd Desmond Harman, who died suddenly in December 2007.
Cathedral window broken
A stained glass window in St Columb’s Cathedral, Londonderry, was broken recently when a rock was thrown through it. The window was made of rare German glass, which was of a different colour and texture to the other windows in the landmark building.
Appointments / Retirement