The Rector Writes

Dear Friends,

At the time of writing, I am preparing an address to the AGM of the Irish Council of Churches (ICC). The theme of the AGM is “Stronger Together, Weaker Apart”, and, as it is being held in Lucan, a couple of speakers from areas in West Dublin have been asked to speak on local ecumenism.

The Irish Council of Churches reflects the increasing diversity of religious practice in Ireland and especially in Dublin. Member churches include not only traditional church like C of I, Presbyterian, Methodists and Quakers, but also house churches, Orthodox churches and African-led churches. It is very good way of allowing the different Christian churches to meet together, discuss similarities and differences and to resource one another.

In Dublin 15, we try to work ecumenically in many areas: joint study groups, unity week services, clergy coffee mornings, joint hospital and school chaplaincy teams, and lots of informal contacts are some examples. But sometimes the parishes and clergy are so busy that we do a great deal on our own that we could do together, simply because its easier. Ecumenism isn’t an extra though, it is Christ’s command “may they all be one..”.

At our recent Lent Study series, Sheikh Dr Shaheed Satardien of the Islamic community said something very important: “In the modern world, the divide is increasingly not between those of different faiths, but between those of faith and those who have no faith, between those who see a spiritual side of humanity and those who don’t.”

As Christian churches, as people of faith, if we do not work together, we will fall together. In a secular world we are “stronger together, weaker apart”.

Yours in his service

Andrew

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