Summer issue of SEARCH on its way
Rresh themes and new contributors feature in the summer edition of SEARCH, which comes out this week.
"Being in the Tomb of Domestic Violence" explores the church's response to intra-family violence, most especially violence against women, and appeals for stronger and more compassionate engagement with its victims. The writer, Victoria J Rollins, has enriched the observations of her English PhD on this subject with many Irish examples gleaned from her time in Dublin over the past few years. Now back in New York City, Dr Rollins was a regular worshipper at Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, during her time in Ireland, in which she was also associated with hospital chaplaincy in Cork.
Heather Morris, who specialises in Ministry Studies at Edgehill College Belfast, now also leads students at the Theological Institute in reflection on the pastoral and personal side of their ministry and the theological questions it raises. Her article in this issue considers the hows and whys of establishing this reflective practice, and the importance for clergy of continuing it throughout their ministry. And in a related area, Peter Rutherford, director of ordinands for Meath and Kildare, reflects on how clergy can best foster and sustain their vocation.
In the wake of the positive, if guarded, decision, of the C of I General Synod last month on the Anglican Covenant, Bishop Michael Burrows offers his reflections on the passing of the motion he proposed “subscribing”, rather than “adopting” the Covenant, and its likely results.
To mark the 400th anniversary of the King James Version of the Bible, this issue offers a condensed version of David Hutchinson Edgar's Bedell Boyd Lecture on the subject; and to mark the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's Day of Prayer for Peace for all religions at Assisi, some thoughts from Darren McCallig on inter-religious prayer today, and as it may develop tomorrow.
The series on new approaches to the Bible continues with “Reading the Bible from an Ecological Perspective” by Margaret Daly-Denton, whose recent scholarly work is largely in this area; and finally social statistician Malcolm Macourt scrutinises the 2011 census questions and assesses what enlightenment they can provide. The issue closes with a varied selection of reviews, covering many aspects of faith and practice - intellectual, devotional, biblical and historical.