2008 Albany Convention
Bishop Harold and his wife, Liz, led a party from Down & Dromore to the 2008 Albany Convention. The Diocese of Down & Dromore has enjoyed a link with Albany Diocese since the beginning of the millennium and the Diocese of Down & Dromore receives an annual invitation to take a team to the Convention, which is held at the Camp of the Woods, Speculator, New York
This year's team from Down & Dromore comprised of the Venerable Philip Patterson (Archdeacon of Down); the Revd Canon Robert Howard (Annahilt parish); the Revd Canon David Brown (Knocknagoney parish); the Revd John Pickering (who has recently retired into the diocese), Church Army Captain George Newell and his wife, Eunice, (Willowfield parish) and Mr Johnny Beare (Youth Minister in Hillsborough Parish). They were joined by two young Down & Dromore people, David Lowry and Rachael Simpson, who were already in Albany as they are spending the summer working at Beaver Cross, helping with the youth summer camps.
Bishop Bill Love, Bishop of Albany welcomed the Northern Ireland contingent to what was their 140th Annual Convention. The Convention theme was "Press on to know the Lord". Bishop Harold was the guest preacher at the Sunday Youth service, while Liz took part in the Saturday evening Healing Service. Bishop Bill's presidential address can be downloaded here.
The Albany coordinator, Mr Richard Adams, would be delighted to hear from anyone in the diocese, clergy or laity, interested in being part of the 2009 team. Contact Richard by email: mailto:richad@sackbutt.demon.co.uk.