Clergy Conference was, “A wonderful blend of head and heart”
The Down and Dromore Clergy Conference which took place in Co Donegal from 15 to 18 October, welcomed as its speakers the author and social critic Dr Os Guinness and Michele Guinness, author, speaker and freelance journalist.
The time away together, a biannual event, is an opportunity for leaders in the diocese to be refreshed by worship, Bible teaching, discussion and relaxation. This year’s large group included Church Army evangelists, parish workers, clergy spouses, Bishop Bill Love and several clergy couples from our link diocese of Albany. Bishop Harold welcomed other specially invited guests, including the Methodist President Elect, Canon Dr Heather Morris.
A programme of seminars ran on Tuesday and Wednesday covering topics relevant to ministry and the conference enjoyed a regular pattern of worship with a mixture of musical styles lead by Alison Cadden and Revd Mark Harvey.
The Revd Canon Bob Haskell, from Albany, reflecting on the few days, spoke for many when he described the conference as, “a wonderful blend of head and heart.”
The ‘heart’ came from Michele, who grew up in a practising Jewish home and married Peter, a Church of England minister who, like Os, is a great great grandson of the famous brewer, Arthur Guinness. She gave the Bible readings under the title, ‘The Invitation to the Party’ and drew on her rich Jewish heritage and northern humour to issue a serious challenge to the church – to rediscover the fun and people–loving Creator and make celebration a way of life.
It was a privilege to be intellectually and theologically ‘kept on our toes’ by Os Guinness whose lifelong passion has been to stand between the worlds of scholarship and ordinary life, helping each to understand the other – particularly when advanced modern life touches on profound issues of faith. This he did with the utmost clarity when speaking on the theme, ‘Serving God’s Purpose in our Generation’. Os left us with deep questions to ponder but in no doubt about God’s power to restore and revive Christian faith in the West. “Why not again?” was his challenge to us all.
Other highlights included celebrating Canon Norman Jardine’s 65th birthday, a lively table quiz (in which Bishop Harold’s team came a humble second) and commissioning the team leaving for Sudan on Sunday 21 October. It was also the last opportunity as gathered diocesan clergy and leaders to send off with our prayers, Bishop Darren and Karen McCartney who leave for the Arctic in January 2013 and Revd John and Rebekah Ewart who will head for East Asia with OMF International next July.
View the photo gallery here