Diocesan News
Cork Clergy Conference is a casualty of coronavirus – 21 years in retrospect
One of the inevitable casualties of the current coronavirus pandemic has been the Cork, Cloyne and Ross gathering at Ballylickey, County Cork, for the much–valued annual Clergy Conference.
This year’s Conference was scheduled to take place from 7th to 9th October. The speaker was to have been Canon Scott Gunn, executive director of Forward Movement, the leading discipleship ministry of the Episcopal Church in the USA. Known widely for the daily devotional Forward Day by Day, they also publish books, host conferences, create curricula, and offer digital resources to promote discipleship and evangelism.
Bishop Paul Colton said: ‘Not being able to host a clergy conference this year is a great disappointment. It’s a significant event in our annual calendar for me and for the clergy of the Diocese. We take a theme, learn from a distinguished speaker, relax and enjoy one another’s company in a way that is good for our teamwork together. It nurtures relationships and allows people to get to know and understand one another and this bears fruit in our work together in the Diocese.
‘This would have been my 21st clergy conference as bishop. The level three public health framework of recent days would have made it impossible in any event. However, during the summer, even when restrictions were relaxed, in consultation with senior colleagues in the Diocese, I formed the view that, even with sensible precautions, it would not be prudent to press ahead. Gathering people who would not ordinarily gather in a small venue and bringing a speaker from the USA all defied common sense in the current climate.
‘I truly look forward to the time when we can convene again and to having the opportunity at some stage of welcoming Canon Scott Gunn to the Diocese. We met first at the Lambeth Conference in 2008 and have kept in touch using social media ever since.’
A hiatus like this provides an opportunity for thanksgiving and retrospect for all that the annual clergy conference has achieved over the past two decades. A full report, looking back over the years, is available here on the diocesan website.
Diocesan Media & Information Technology Officer
087 7055 989
Ms Denise Stobart
media@corkchurchofireland.com