Church of Ireland Forum members meet in Connor

Tuesday March 13th 2007

Preachers and the members of the Forum who attended the service in Holy Trinity Woodburn. Report and pictures by the Rev Ken Houston

Around 20 members of the Church of Ireland Forum, an internet discussion group, met to share Holy Communion at the Church of Holy Trinity, Woodburn, on February 24.

The Church of Ireland Forum primarily discusses matters of concern to the Church of Ireland. It has some 170 subscribers of all shades of theological persuasion.

In 2006, the members of the forum agreed to meet once or twice a year for worship.

Some of those in attendance at the Church of Ireland Forum Service at Holy Trinity Woodburn. The celebrant at the service was the Rev Alan McCann, rector of Woodburn, which is in the Diocese of Connor near Carrickfergus. Canon Stephen Neill, rector of Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, Diocese of Killaloe, read the Gospel and preached. Both are regular contributors to the on-line debates.

Another regular contributor, Theo Saunders, organist of Armagh Cathedral, led the intercessions and Andy Boal from Bangor and Ferdinand von Prondzynski from Dublin read the lessons. The Holy Trinity Worship Band led the singing.

The Rev Alan McCann and Canon Stephen Neill. The forum is a lively place to make friends and to participate in informed debates on all sorts of topics, usually within the boundaries of ‘matters of concern to the Church of Ireland.’ This can from time to time include such issues as the fortunes of the Irish rugby and soccer teams or the destination of the ‘Sam Maguire!’

There are members in many countries across the world. Most are ‘lurkers’ who simply listen and there is no requirement to contribute, but the ‘talkers’ would like to encourage more lurkers to join in for the benefit of all.

Readers are invited to join the Forum via the web page http://justus.anglican.org/mailman/listinfo/ireland-forum.justus