27.01.2016
BACI Lent Study on Reconciliation Officially Launched
The Biblical Association for the Church of Ireland (BACI) launched its Lenten Bible Study for 2016 yesterday (Tuesday January 26) at Church of Ireland House, Dublin. The studies are on the theme of Reconciliation and consider ‘power and service’; ‘transcending boundaries’; ‘reaching out to the other’; ‘taking down the walls’; and ‘do as you would be done by’. The contributors are Ms Linda Chambers, Ms Barbara Bergin, the Revd Earl Storey, Canon Paul Houston and the Revd Dr William Olhausen.
The patrons of BACI, the Archbishop of Armagh and the Archbishop of Dublin, jointly launched the new resource. Archbishop Richard Clarke said that he was impressed by the studies and thanked and congratulated the BACI team which had provided them. The theme of Reconciliation was, he said, so important for ‘building up relationship’ and for ‘relating to and with one another together, under the Word of God’. He also felt that the studies had strong ecumenical potential and hoped that they could be used in that way wherever possible.
Archbishop Michael Jackson echoed the ecumenical potential of the studies as well as stressing that the Church of Ireland could bring realism to consideration of reconciliation – ‘remembering pain on the journey’ along with ‘the centrality and accessibility of Scripture’. Archbishop Jackson said, ‘We all need reconciliation in a range of layered ways’ and he felt that the guide enables us ‘to go back into Scripture with discipline and imagination’.
In concluding the remarks at the launch, the Revd Dr William Olhausen, on behalf of BACI, said that reconciliation is ‘a gift of the Church to the world, won by Christ’. He recalled that it was Jesus’ custom to read and to teach the Scriptures in the Synagogue and he encouraged the deeper study of God’s Word, ‘embedding it and the consciousness of reconciliation in the wider Church of Ireland as a gift to God’s glory’.
The Study can be purchased as a printed book in Church of Ireland House, Dublin, from The Book Well in Belfast, and from leading cathedral bookshops (with a discount for 10 copies bought together). Copies can also be downloaded for free at https://bibliahibernica.wordpress.com/
The Lent study will be run in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, on Thursday evenings during Lent. Beginning on Thursday February 18, the studies will run for five consecutive weeks starting at 7.00 pm. The studies will be lead by former Roman Catholic Priest and psychotherapist, Jim Loughran and Canon Dr Ginnie Kennerley. Each of the five writers will attend on the night of their study. These are (in order) Linda Chambers of the United Society (USPG), Barbara Bergin, the Revd Earl Storey, Canon Paul Houston and the Revd Dr William Olhausen.
Copies of the booklet will be available from the cathedral shop, but can also be downloaded without cost from www.bibliahibernica.wordpress.com
Photo caption: Archbishop Michael Jackson, Revd Dr William Olhausen, Archbishop Richard Clarke, Canon Ginnie Kennerley. (Photo: Paul Harron)