Down & Dromore Poverty Think Tank
'They asked only one thing, that we remember the poor, which was actually what I was eager to do.' Galatians 2:10
It is widely acknowledged that we are entering a completely new era of poverty and deprivation in the UK.
Northern Ireland has an extremely high level of poverty and very little to fall back on. Almost all of our industry has gone, and along with it key skills which families have acquired over many generations. More than that, poverty could easily become the seed-bed for a new generation of hopelessness and violence.
With this in mind Bishop Harold has set up a think tank to review several aspects of poverty in the diocese of Down & Dromore.
The areas the group will consider are:
What are the kinds of poverty we are experiencing in our particular situations?
What are the projects we have in place to alleviate poverty?
What programmes are in place to raise awareness of poverty in our churches and communities?
What are the 'blocks’ which stop us responding to poverty?
What are the wider resources which can support us in engaging with poverty?
The Revd Canon David McClay, rector of Willowfield Parish in East Belfast, has agreed to chair the group and it had its first meeting on Wednesday 2nd February.
Please contribute by completing the online survey here.
Other members of the think tank are:
Revd Nigel KirkpatrickLaura Kenwell Gail RedmondCarol O' Bryan Margaret McNulty Basil O' Malley Suzie Marcus Julie Currie Revd Alan Wardlow Revd David Somerville Revd Jeremy Mould Edwina Livingstone Claire Holmes
The group will report their findings to the Bishop by Easter ahead of a report at this year’s Diocesan Synod in June.
Please pray for this initiative.