Albany reflections from Berni McAvoy
Berni McAvoy was a member of the 8 strong group who represented the Diocese of Down and Dromore at the recent Albany Convention. Our link coordinator, Roderic West, was accompanied by Bishop Harold and Liz Miller, Colin and Eleanor Taylor (Dromara & Garvaghy), Ken Higgins (St Donard’s), Mark Wells (Moira) and Berni (St Jude’s).
It was Berni’s first visit to our link diocese and she offers her reflections below:
The journey has been a complex but amazing one! I’m not just speaking of my recent travels to Albany Diocese, but the life journey that has brought me to this place of reflection, re–evaluation, and above all deep thankfulness for the breadth and depth of experience that has shaped me through Christ’s love in the lives of those I have encountered along the way.
As I reflect on this most recent part of the journey it is that very thing that stands out the most, the love of Christ flowing through ordinary people sharing life and worship together.
The trip to Albany took in two venues and I want to share about each one separately.
Christ the King Spiritual Life Centre, Albany Diocese
Once a ranch owned by gangsters and used for all sorts of unsavoury purposes this is now a real example of ‘redeeming of the land’! The sense of the presence of God in this place is tangible. There is no doubt that this is a place of prayer, healing and restoration and you cannot help but rest in the peaceful and beautiful surroundings. I would definitely like to revisit this place!
Albany Diocese Convention
I had a good idea of what to expect. I have been to many conferences over the years. I knew I would meet a lot of people, go to seminars, and take part in the main liturgical events. So, I did not encounter many surprises.
What I did encounter was a faith community living out biblical truth. I found people openly and honestly sharing their weaknesses and concerns with one another without any hint of judgement or condemnation (Rom 1:8), and praying for one another in genuine Christian love (Gal 6:2). I experienced a truly ‘shared space’ where people who held often opposing theological viewpoints were open, loving and respectful of the ‘other’. Free to disagree without being ‘disagreeable’. This was not just ‘tolerance’, but a genuine, loving, powerful, demonstration of unity in diversity. And what a blessing it brought! (psalm 133). We could learn a lot from this example in our own context.
The liturgy was powerful. Not just because of the beauty of the words but because of the integrity of the worshippers. Prayers and responses were boldly spoken out with joy and conviction and when I commented on this to one of the participants the response was simply “that’s because we believe what we are saying”. In worship it is never style that is the issue, but the integrity of the heart.
Albany Diocese vision statement says: “The Diocese of Albany as One Church: organized around the Great Commandment and the Great Commission, moving from membership to discipleship, rooted in the catholic structures of Anglicanism, and equipping every disciple to make disciples”. This is a true reflection of what I experienced there and I have been blessed to share just a little part of the journey with them.
I would encourage you to consider making this trip in the future. Sharing with, and learning from the wider church body is deeply enriching and invaluable, it is also great fun!
Berni McAvoy
View a small photo gallery here (with thanks again to Berni)