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Retired clergy hear of work of Church Leaders’ Group

Thursday November 28th 2024

The Retired Clergy Association’s Honorary Treasurer, the Ven John Scott (right), presents the Dean of Armagh, the Very Rev Shane Forster, with a gift following his talk on the Church Leaders’ Group to the retired clergy (NI) in St Anne’s Cathedral. (Photo: Rev Clifford Skillen)

Report by the Rev Clifford Skillen

The Retired Clergy Association (Northern Ireland) ended this year’s series of meetings with a visit to St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast, on Thursday November 21, where the guest speaker was the Dean of Armagh, the Very Rev Shane Forster.

The morning began with a service of Holy Communion in the Chapel of Unity, celebrated by Canon Raymond Fox, assisted by the Rev Cameron Mack, Cathedral Curate, who gave a brief reflection on the Epistle reading from Revelation.

STANDING TOGETHER

Following light refreshments, Dean Forster gave an illustrated talk to members, particularly focusing on his role as Facilitator to the Church Leaders’ Group (Ireland) who, he noted, during the Troubles had often released statements and were seen standing together condemning violence, whilst calling for peace, a time of healing and reconciliation. 

Since their first public appearances together more than half a century ago, the Church of Ireland and Roman Catholic Archbishops of Armagh, along with the Presbyterian Moderator and Methodist President, have regularly engaged with politicians and community leaders to encourage greater mutual understanding and dialogue, reflect on the past and look to the future.  In 2015, the President of the Irish Council of Churches was invited to join the group.

INTERCONNECTEDNESS

Dean Forster stressed the importance of the Leaders’ New Year statement at the beginning of 2021, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, which talked of ‘interconnectedness’ and ‘dependence.’

This in turn led to their St Patrick’s Day statement and the release of a video which, in the words of Prof Gladys Ganiel, ‘articulated what could be considered the (institutional) Churches’ most united and comprehensive confession ever for their historic contributions to division and violence, signalling that they understood confession as integral to churches’ ability to contribute to reconciliation and dealing with the past.’

A BETTER WAY

In recent years, the Church Leaders have officiated together at the ‘Service of Reflection and Hope’ (shown on national television throughout the UK and Ireland); attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and the Coronation of King Charles III; met with the President of Ireland and representatives of both governments; led a service in Rome; and given a lecture to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. 

The Dean concluded by quoting part of the Leaders’ 2024 New Year message: ‘… as ambassadors of Christ’s message of reconciliation, may we model a better way of living and loving now and in the years to come.’

The RCA chairman, Canon Jim Campbell, thanked Dean Forster for a most enlightening and informative presentation and the honorary treasurer, the Ven John Scott, presented him with a token of members’ appreciation.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Following the Dean’s talk, members held their annual general meeting.

Chairing the meeting, Canon Campbell reviewed the association’s 2024 activities; and the honorary secretary, the Ven Donald McLean, and the honorary treasurer gave outlines of next year’s programme and the association’s finances respectively.

The following were appointed and elected to the committee and to the offices indicated for the incoming year:

Chairman – the Rt Rev Patrick Rooke; Secretary – Canon Jim Campbell; Assistant Secretary – the Ven Donald McLean; Treasurer – the Ven John Scott; Communications Officer – the Rev Clifford Skillen; Committee members – the Rev Brian Cadden, the Rev Mercia Flanagan; Canon Raymond Fox; Canon Walter Laverty; and the Rt Rev Trevor Williams.

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