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Church News

Council of Churches hold annual meeting in Lisburn

At the Irish Council of Churches 2011 AGM are (left to right); Rev Paul Kingston (President of Methodist Church in Ireland); Rev John Brackenridge (First Lisburn Presbyterian Church); Rev Dr Gordon Gray (First Lisburn Presbyterian Church); Rev Brian Anderson (Seymour Street Methodist Church); Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke (President of the Irish Council of Churches); Rev David Knox (Harmony Hill Presbyterian Church); Mayor of Lisburn, Alderman Paul Porter; Rev Brian Gibson (Railway Street Presbyterian Church); Rt Rev Dr. Norman Hamilton (Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland) and Good Relation's Officer, Lisburn City Council, Mr David Mitchell.

At the Irish Council of Churches 2011 AGM are (left to right); Rev Paul Kingston (President of Methodist Church in Ireland); Rev John Brackenridge (First Lisburn Presbyterian Church); Rev Dr. Gordon Gray (First Lisburn Presbyterian Church); Rev Brian Anderson (Seymour Street Methodist Church); Most Rev Dr Richard Clarke (President of the Irish Council of Churches); Rev David Knox (Harmony Hill Presbyterian Church); Mayor of Lisburn, Alderman Paul Porter; Rev Brian Gibson (Railway Street Presbyterian Church); Rt. Rev Dr. Norman Hamilton (Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland) and Good Relation's Officer, Lisburn City Council, Mr. David Mitchell.

LISBURN City Council's Lagan Valley Island hosted the 88th Irish Council of Churches 2011 AGM on April 7, which brought together representatives from 14 member Churches all over Ireland.

The event was part-funded by the Lisburn City Council Good Relations programme and was attended by the Mayor, Alderman Paul Porter, who opened the event by welcoming everyone to Lisburn.

He said: "I was delighted to be part of the AGM and pleased they decided on Lagan Valley Island as a venue to host the event. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the work of the Council along with celebrating with music and worship. It is encouraging to see so many Irish Churches uniting in prayer and dialogue and working hard to improve our society.

"The Good Relations Unit of Lisburn City Council is pleased to be associated with this significant event which is being promoted as part of the Good Relations Programme. On behalf of the Council we welcome the opportunity to work in conjunction with the Churches to promote their work", he continued.

Speaking about the work of the Irish Council of Churches, the President of the ICC, The Most Revd. Dr. Richard Clarke, Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath & Kildare, said: "We are Churches coming together seeking to explore our effectiveness and our connections with each other. The Irish Council of Churches is meeting against the backdrop of vast changes within Irish Christianity. Part of the role of the Irish Council of Churches is to find that voice and to use it effectively."

Ulster Star
15/04/2011