CHURCH OF IRELAND NOTES
For Saturday 5th January 2002
From: The RCB Library
Email: RCB Library
The Church and Europe
In a week which has been largely dominated by Europe,
or more precisely the monetary aspect of European union, it is appropriate
to remember that the Churches, also, have a role to play in the European
debate.
The Standing Committee of the General Synod has
appointed Dr Kenneth Milne to represent the Church of Ireland on the
special observer pillar of ther National Forum on Europe, with the Revd Dr
Adrian Empey as alternate. The forum is part of the government's response
to the "No to Nice" vote in last June's referendum which took
all the larger political parties by surprise. It is intended to provide
the basis for an inclusive and broadly based debate on Ireland's
participation in the European Union and on its overall functioning and
future development, and, in particular, its enlargement by the addition of
possibly a further ten member states in a few years time.
The Church of Ireland has shown its awareness of the
significance of the European dimension through the setting up, by the Role
of the Church Committee (now replaced by the Church in Society Committee
which is to be chaired by the Bishop Elect of Clogher, Dr Michael
Jackson), of a Working Group on Europe and this group has benefitted
greatly through its membership of the Institute for European Affairs with
its impressive programme of lectures and publications. The Church is also
aware of Orothodox, Anglican and Protestant relations with the
institutions of the European Union through the Church and Society
Commission of the Conference of European Churches.
The National Forum on Europe meets regularly in Dublin
but has also met in Cork. A series of public "mini fora"
throughout the country is planned for later this month. They will take
place in Dublin, Limerick, Waterford, Tullamore, Athlone and Donegal and
are intended to ensure the broadest public participation in the ongoing
debate on Ireland's role in an enlarging European Union.
Tomorrow (Sunday) is the Feast of the Epiphany
when in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Dr Adrian Empey, will deliver his
first sermon as Canon Precentor at the Sung Eucharist. In St Patrick's
Cathedral the preacher at the Sung Eucharist will be Canon John Crawford,
Prebendary of Tipperkevin and at Evensong Dr Alan Griffin, Rector of St
Andrew-by-the-Wardrobe, London, will preach.
Today (Saturday) week, 12 January, the
missionary society, Crosslinks, will hold a Family Gathering in Kill o the
Grange parish church, Co Dublin, where the guest speaker will be Andy
Lines, General Secretary of Crosslinks.
In his New Year message the Archbishop of Armagh
concluded by emphasising that "justice is the real road to
peace" and over Christmas and into the New Year peace has been a
frequent theme in public pronouncements. A book entitled Pens for Peace
is therefore timely and appropriate. It is a collection of essays
about the resolution of conflict and the promotion of peaceful
reconciliation and among the contributors are Senator George Mitchell, the
Northern Ireland First Minister David Trimble and An Taoiseach Bertie
Ahern. The book has been published by the Irish Peace Institute in the
University of Limerick and is available direct from the Outreach Director,
Dorothy Cantrell or through bookshops. Pens for Peace edited by
Noel Flannery and Matt Cannon costs 10 euros or £6 sterling.
A more familiar publication, the Church of Ireland
Directory 2002, is available from the RE Resource Centre, Holy Trinity
Church, Church Avenue, Rathmines, Dublin 6 at 11 euros and from the APCK
bookcentres in Dawson Street, Dublin, and Donegal Street, Belfast where it
is £8.10.
Church of Ireland Notes appear in the Irish
Times whose web site may be found at
http://www.ireland.com/ |
