On 12th August past I received, by an email, an invitation to attend the inaugural meeting of the Greater Glengormley Churches Community Forum. This meeting was to be held in Mossley Mill on Monday evening past, 22nd August at 6.30pm.Â
Background.
This proposed Forum is part of a wider grouping/organisation which has taken the acrostic C.A.N. as part of their title. C.A.N. stands for Carrickfergus, Antrim and Newtownabbey. It is a Peace Partnership Faith Communities Programme, developed in consultation with local faith based organisations under the subtitle: Connecting Faith and Community.
It is stated that this venture, which I take it the Forum to be but one aspect of, is part of the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland. This Peace III programme is partly funded by the European Union to the tune of €225 million, with further national contributions of €108 million through its Structural Funds programme. That brings the total to €333 million.
This invitation was extend by Macaulay Associates Network who have been appointed by the CAN Peace III Partnership to deliver the programme.
This Forum has originated out of a series of focus groups, conducted between March and June of this year, involving representatives of local churches, and supported by Glengormley Clergy Fellowship.
The listed participants of these focus groups include: Carnmoney & New Mossley PCs; Carnmoney C of I; St Marys & St Bernards RCs; Glengormley Methodist & Glenabbey Fellowship.
This Forum is not one that we can participate in for the reason explain in this sermon. |
