Statement from Archbishop Eames regarding the current debate within the Anglican Communion
The Most Reverend Dr Robin Eames, Archbishop of Armagh, Primate of All Ireland, issued the following statement this morning regarding the current debate within the Anglican Communion:
Archbishop Robin Eames, Primate of Ireland, said Wednesday that he hoped Archbishop Peter Akinola, Primate of Nigeria, would reconsider recent actions which Eames said could damage efforts to keep the Anglican Communion intact.
Archbishop Eames offers condolances to Bishop Frank Griswold, presiding Bishop of ECUSA, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
"The current level of hatred and sectarian attacks on families, homes, churches and other places throughout Northern Ireland are to be utterly condemned by all decent people. There is no justification or excuse for the attacks we are seeing day and night in this Province. Innocent people and families are facing danger to their lives simply because of their religious or political identity.
Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Reverend Robin Eames claims that individuals who reconnect with the core values of the Christian faith hold the key to the future of Christianity in Ireland. Speaking at the MacGill Summer School at Glenties, Co Donegal on Monday 18th July, Archbishop Eames will comment on the negative contribution resulting from an overly close relationship between denominational religion and political institutions in Irish society. He will call on the Churches and on individual Christians to refocus on the essential nature of Christianity in order to realise the potential good that Christians may bring to Ireland in the future.
Addressing a diocesan clergy meeting in Armagh the Archbishop said:
'The search for a theology of communion is the obvious priority for Anglicanism at this time. The current crisis over sexuality issues is only a part of a wider and deeper challenge to the Anglican Communion. The much-publicised differences between the Provinces on sexuality while argued on a basis of principle are only an example of the deeper question which confronts the entire Communion. The question of how Provinces relate to each other, how differences are addressed and how the highest degree of communion between Provinces is reached and maintained relate to much more than questions of sexuality. They point to how much we value communion and how essential communion is for autonomous Provinces.
Put in other words what the Windsor Report and the recent meeting of Primates sought to address was 'what cost communion and understanding?'
A theology of relationships is now the main challenge for our Communion. A theology of what makes for relationships, what quality of relationships is essential for true communion and what Scripture says about relationships is the real basis for that search. On the result of that search will depend much more than a solution of our current differences over sexuality.'
As Christians celebrate the Resurrection of Christ with its message of reassurance, hope for the future and victory over the darkness of death and sin Northern Ireland cries out for a new dawn. In every department of life here this Easter the message of hope for a new future is urgently needed.
Ireland's Primates, Archbishop Robin Eames and Archbishop Sean Brady, deliver talks at Rathfarnham Parish, Dublin in a Lenten series of lectures
Extracts from address by Archbishop Robin Eames
The inheritance of the troubles
"Behind the current state of the political part of the Peace Process are the human consequences of over 30 years of paramilitary violence and destruction. When people talk about the Peace Process they usually mean political matters only. But the real Peace Process is to do with people's lives, outlooks, relationships, hopes and fears. Politics must provide the structure for stable government and administration. But without the support and understanding of people in their everyday lives political progress will be limited...
An address to the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland assembly by the Bishop of Clogher, the Rt Rev Michael Jackson on 23 February 2005
Some Reflections on Future Directions for Ecumenism
Small writ large, large writ small
When we lived in Cork I had someone come one day to install a Burglar Alarm System. With an intonation in his voice all of his own, which it would be both impertinent and impossible to imitate, he said to me: Twenty years ago, people wanted an Alarm installed because they were out of the house a lot; today they want one installed because they are in the house a lot. Not only had circumstances changed but perspectives had also changed, as indeed had priorities. We too are about such a shift in emphasis and expectation here in the CTBI Assembly. We seek a perspective on the past in order to help to illuminate the priorities of the future. If we are not to become rooted once again in present structures this will require some thinking on our part 'outside of the box.' This is all the more necessary as the Assembly seeks a sense of fresh direction.
More here: http://www.ireland.anglican.org/pressreleases/index.php?p=352
Young people's lives are being ruined by the misuse of alcohol with consumption per capita in Ireland the highest in the European Union.
In a report entitled 'Alcohol in the life of Young People' launched today by Church of Ireland Primate and Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd Robin Eames, the Church's Social Justice and Theology Panel identifies worrying trends in the drinking habits of young people in Ireland.
The Christian meaning of Christmas speaks of love, joy, peace - and hope. Despite the growing secularism which surrounds us and the devastation of so much of life in this world the Christian still grasps the central message of the birth of the Christ-child in the stable at Bethlehem. That message has not lost its ancient meaning.
St Nicholas' Collegiate Church of Galway (Diocese of Tuam Killala and Achonry), in association with the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign, held an evening to commemorate 'Palestinian Voices' on 29 November.
The evening included an exhibition of photographs from Palestine, an ecumenical service to remember the Palestinian Christian community, and a talk from the Palestinian Delegate General to Ireland, Dr Ali Halimeh, who spoke on the life of Palestine's late president, Yasser Arafat, and about the hopes and aspirations of the Palestinian people.
More here: http://www.tuam.anglican.org/main3.htm
The Church of Ireland Bishop of Limerick, the Rt Revd Michael Mayes, today suggested that the Irish government had nothing to be proud about following its decision to abandon its pledge to devote 0.7% of GNP by 2007 to help the poor.
The Right Revd Mike Klusmeyer, the Bishop of West Virginia the link diocese of Tuam Killala and Achonry will be visiting the Church of Ireland diocese commencing 6 November.
In a letter personally delivered to the Revd Father George Zavershinsky of the Russian Orthodox Church in Dublin, the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill, has expressed the deep shock and sorrow in the Church of Ireland community following the terrorist outrage in Beslan.
The Church Missionary Society (CMS) Ireland today announced a new mission initiative - mpower - that will bring 500 people from 12 different countries to Northern Ireland for a major two day conference in the Armagh City Hotel on 21-22 April 2005.
Christ Church Cathedral in Dublin is to host a series of lunchtime lectures on medieval manuscripts now on show in the cathedral treasury as part of the exhibition 'The Christ Church Psalter in context: manuscripts from the medieval priory.'
The Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robin Eames and the Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr John Neill, today welcomed the appointment of Canon Kenneth Kearon as the new Secretary-General of the Anglican Communion.
The Church of Ireland Youth Initiative in the Upper Shankill area of Belfast is to bring 150 boys and girls from the age of 6 to 14 together for a three-day football coaching experience.
The Church of Ireland today announced a new initiative that will help the Church take a hard look at sectarianism both among its own members and in society.
