JUNE 2018
A West side story
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
Interview with Moderator-designate, Charles McMullen
UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE The changing nature of university chaplaincy
DROPOUTS OR DISCIPLES?
Preparing young people for the mission field of university
Gamble Library Summer Membership The Gamble Library in Union Theological College is offering Summer Membership from 4th June to 14th September for ÂŁ15. Established in 1873, the Gamble Library is the largest Theological Library in Northern Ireland. With its stock of over 65,000 books, 20,000 pamphlets and taking over 50 journals and periodicals, it is an outstanding resource for theological study and research (up to 8 books can be borrowed at a time). Information can be found on the College website: www.union.ac.uk by email: librarian@union.ac.uk phone: +44 (0)28 9020 5093
STUDENT ACCOMMODATION IN BELFAST Coming to Belfast to study? Student en-suite accommodation is available in the heart of the university area, in Union Theological College, Botanic Avenue. Summer accommodation is also available mid-June to early Sept. For details please phone or email (details below). Information can be found on the College website: www.union.ac.uk by email: accommodation@union.ac.uk phone: +44 (0)28 9020 5093
Your Legacy Of Hope And Care
- a gift in your Will to Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke
A gift in your Will to NICHS could not only help your loved ones, but leave a legacy of hope for generations to come. In Northern Ireland almost half of all adult deaths are caused by chest, heart and stroke illnesses. NICHS are working to change this through funding research and caring for those who are affected by devastating health conditions every day. A gift to us in your Will could be invested in critical local
research that will change the future for families at risk from our biggest killers. The smallest investment can lead to the biggest breakthrough.
For a leaflet or further information on leaving a legacy to NICHS, please call us on: 028 9032 0184, or write to NICHS Gifts in Wills, 21 Dublin Road, Belfast, BT2 7HB
Please visit our website to see how our Medical Research Programme has already supported groundbreaking projects and is committed to many more over the coming years. www.nichs.org.uk
Charity Reg No. NIC103593 NICHS_legacy AD_Pres Herald.indd 1
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CONTENTS | JUNE 2018
FEATURES 16 In search of a new world Historical exhibition in First Dunboe
18 Building relationships
Charles McMullen and his theme for his moderatorial year
31 The invisible world
A look at the spiritual world of angels and demons
34 Dropouts or disciples?
Preparing young people for the mission field of university
36 University challenge
The changing nature of university chaplaincy
38 Guinness: books and being on record Interview with Os Guinness
The invisible world p.31
REGULARS 4 6 8 9 13 14 15 22 23 40 42 46 47
Letters News In this month… My story Life lessons As I see it Arthur Clarke Talking points Mission Connect Reviews Life in PCI Crossword Betsy Cameron
Dropouts or disciples? p.34
University challenge p.36
CONTRIBUTORS Ruth Sanderson lives in Co. Down with her husband Harry. She is a freelance radio/television presenter and producer.
Rick Hill is PCI’s Discipleship Officer. He is a member of Carnmoney Presbyterian and lives in Doagh with wife Sarah and sons, Noah and Micah.
Lisa Skinner is an administrative officer for the Herald. She lives in Belfast with her husband Stephen and their three daughters. She worships at Kirkpatrick Memorial Presbyterian Church. Noreen Erskine is a freelance journalist and former Religious Affairs correspondent for BBC Northern Ireland.
Cover photo: David Cavan June 2018 No. 812 £1.00 (€1.20) Published by: The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW. T: +44 (0)28 9032 2284 E: herald@presbyterianireland.org W: www.presbyterianireland.org
Editor: Sarah Harding Subscriptions and Advertising: Philip Alcorn; Lisa Skinner; Suzanne Hamilton Design and Layout: Edward Connolly Printing: Nicholson and Bass Ltd.
The views expressed in the features, news reports, letters and book reviews of this magazine are not necessarily those of the Editor. Editorial comment and signed articles do not necessarily contain the official views of the Church, which can be laid down only by the General Assembly. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply endorsement of the goods or services. The Editor reserves the right to decline any advertisement or letter without assigning any reason. Letters may be edited for publication. No correspondence can be entered into regarding non-publication of advertisements or letters.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is a Registered Charity in Northern Ireland (NIC104483); Registered Charity in Republic of Ireland (20015695).
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NEWS | PCI
News Sunnyside House proves it’s rooted in the community The relationship between a PCI residential home in Bangor and a local primary school’s Eco Garden Club has been blossoming recently.
Events Listening to the Global Church At this year’s PCI General Assembly, there will be a session entitled, ‘Listening to the Global Church – Streams in the Desert’ on Wednesday, 7th June at 2pm. This year’s presentation will provide an opportunity for Christian leaders from the Middle East, Africa and Asia to share the blessings God is pouring out around the world, not least in challenging contexts.
Youth Assembly Fringe Event Over the past few months, residents from Sunnyside House and pupils from Ballymagee Primary School have been working together on environmental projects. The students recently visited the home’s new sensory garden, to see what residents are growing. A few Sunnyside residents in turn visited Ballymagee, to see the school’s eco garden and help the students plant some bulbs. In April, Sunnyside handyman Michael Gillespie, care assistant Hazel Conn and residents Jean Gibson and Heather Neill went to Ballymagee to present a bug hotel, created by Michael. Michael worked with the children to assemble his creation, which has been placed in their eco garden. During May, a few Sunnyside residents were invited to afternoon tea, served by the Eco Club students. This was an opportunity to present a plaque for the bug hotel.
The Youth Assembly will host a Fringe Event at this year’s General Assembly. This will be on Wednesday, 6th June from 5.45-7.15pm in the new groundfloor conference facility. The theme will be ‘Together: Young People and the Church’. A light tea will be served at the event. Booking is essential and can be done by emailing clw@presbyterianireland.org or through the PCI website www.presbyterianireland.org
Youth Night Assembly Buildings in Belfast will host Youth Night on Saturday, 9th June. Johnny Bell, youth worker at Saintfield Road Presbyterian in Belfast, is the speaker and the theme is ‘40 Years From Now’ – a look at living faithfully for God in a hostile and challenging culture. Tickets for Youth Night cost £5 (euro equivalent). After Youth Night, there will be an Unplugged Event with acoustic music, food and conversations. The cost for attending both Youth Night and the Unplugged Event is £6 (euro equivalent). All tickets are available online at www.presbyterianireland.org or from the CLW office clw@presbyterianireland.org
Resources New resources planned Those already beginning to turn their thoughts to the next church year will be interested to know of new resources for use in congregational life and witness, all of which will be released for September.
MAD Crew MAD will be celebrating a special landmark this year with the 20th anniversary of the event. This year’s MAD takes place in Ulster University, Coleraine from 26th to 28th October. To run the event, PCI needs a large number of volunteers who love Jesus and want to help see young people meet with Him at the event. So, If you are 18 or over and available during that weekend, why not consider joining the MAD Crew? Further information can be found at www.presbyterianireland.org/Events/MAD
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ENCOUNTER is a six-part DVD Bible study resource, leading participants to reflect more deeply on aspects of worship such as gathering, confession, illumination and sending. It unpacks the worship service as a journey and conversation with God and aims to help members grasp a greater awareness of God in weekly worship. PROXIMITY is the first of a series of discipleship resources for use in oneto-one, or other small scale, relational discipling. It will provide a six-part framework to unpack what it means to follow Jesus in a range of seasons of life, such as change, disappointment and rest. ASK is a series of 12 postcard-sized prayer prompts for use by members in private prayer and in Sunday worship. They unfold themes such as hope, light, expectation and presence in simple, Scripture based ways to help inspire and focus prayer for congregational life and witness. Further details of all these resources will follow soon.
Find out more on www.presbyterianireland.org
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ssembly Buildings in Belfast hosted around 1,600 Attending the event, the Moderator Dr. Noble McNeely said, women from across Ireland in May, as they gathered “My theme for 2017-18 has been ‘Everyday Disciples’ and as together for the annual meeting and evening Florence and I have visited many congregations and shared celebration of Presbyterian Women (PW) – a part of in PW services across Ireland, we have seen how women have PCI’s women’s ministry. been demonstrating what it means to be an everyday disciple in Those who attended saw the launch of ‘Beautiful’ as PW’s their service of the Church and in numerous ways in the wider theme for 2018/2019, which is taken from Psalm 27:4. community.” This year’s Special Projects were also Guest speaker Kate Patterson, an unveiled. The Overseas Special Project author and part-time school chaplain will raise funds to support the work of based in west London, spoke at both the International Justice Mission (IJM), meetings on the newly launched theme a global organisation that protects the of ‘Beautiful’, which is based on Psalm poor from violence in the developing 27:4 – “…that I may dwell in the house world. Presbyterian Women will be of the Lord all the days of my life, to supporting IJM as it strives to address gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and the issue of cybersex trafficking; a to seek Him in His temple.” new, devastating form of slavery, and Speaking ahead of PW event, Kate a rapidly growing problem as internet said, “In a world where beauty is an access increases globally. industry and an obsession, we are called PW office bearers (l-r): Valerie Stewart, Women’s Strategy and Coordination Committee convener; Karen Craig, home vice-president; The Home Special Project will raise to gaze on the beauty of the Lord. In Lynda Stothers, president; Heather Clements, overseas vice-president; funds to support the work of PCI’s Psalm 27, David said that it was top of Pauline Kennedy, Women’s Ministry and Development Officer. newest residential care home, Trinity his prayer list. Why is it so important? House, located in Garvagh. Last year, over £500,000 (€591,000) Because when we gaze on the Lord, we find that His face is was raised by PW members for mission both at home in Ireland shining on us. He wants us near. We were made to know Him. and overseas, including the training of three new student What could matter more? deaconesses. “In the Evening Celebration, we will consider our calling to Each of the 465 PW groups seek to encourage women to ‘shine, for the glory of the Lord is upon us!’ As we live in the light live for Jesus and actively reach out to others at home and of God’s glory, gazing on Him, we reflect it and shine with His overseas. Incoming PW president Lynda Stothers, a member of beauty in a dark world.” Mountpottinger Presbyterian Church in Belfast, explained how Worship at both events was led by Emma Smyth, Erin she was looking forward to representing PW among women in McBride and their band. Prayer ministry and an interactive the wider Church and encouraging groups to play their part in prayer space were available to support and encourage a prayerful equipping and enabling women to become and grow as disciples response to God’s beauty and His desire to bless His children. of Christ.
Photo left: Sylvia Santos-Bryce (student deaconess). Right: Kate Patterson
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CONGREGATIONAL STORY
In search of a new world
Alison McCaughan outlines the fascinating history of First Dunboe Presbyterian Church and details how the congregation will commemorate it later this month.
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he mass migration of people has been a defining factor in the history of Ireland for 300 years. It began with people from the Lower Bann and Foyle valleys in County Londonderry. During the late summer of 1718 a number of small ships sailed into Boston harbour in New England bringing emigrants from Ireland. On board were people from Garvagh, Ballymoney, Bushmills, Coleraine, Dunboe, Macosquin, Kilrea, Aghadowey, Ballywillan, Limavady and other parts of the Foyle Valley and Ardstraw. Their intention was to start their lives afresh in the American colonies and to settle down together to form new communities in the New World. We do not know how many Ulster emigrants arrived in Boston that summer, but it was probably in the region of 500-1000 individuals. Today most people in Ireland know little or nothing of the 1718 migration, but the tercentenary this year marks an important event in the relationship between Ulster and America because the Scots-Irish, as they became known, began to shape what would
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eventually become the United States of America. And 1718 started something. During the next 200 years, thousands of Ulster Presbyterians would leave hearth, home and loved ones to make the hazardous journey across the Atlantic to America. Why did they leave? Presbyterians had stood shoulder to shoulder with fellow Protestants during the Siege of Derry in 1689 and afterwards they had expected to be rewarded for their loyalty; they were deeply disappointed. After the Williamite Wars, the Establishment, of which the Anglican Church was a part, held power in Ireland. Legislation was passed which meant that Presbyterian marriages were
As Presbyterians reflected on their situation in Ulster, they looked to the New World and hoped that it would be one of commercial and religious freedom‌
not recognised, meaning that children could be declared illegitimate. It was also difficult to acquire land to build a Presbyterian meetinghouse. All Presbyterians and Roman Catholics had to pay tithes to the Church of Ireland, a Church which none of them attended. While the Roman Catholic people suffered most severely under the Establishment, Presbyterians felt that they, too, were discriminated against. In addition, by 1718, the Ulster economy was in deep depression and the embryonic linen industry had slumped. Landlords were also increasing the rents of their tenants. Ministers like Rev. James McGregor of Aghadowey and Rev. James Woodside of Dunboe were owed money which their congregations could not pay. As Presbyterians reflected on their situation in Ulster, they looked to the New World and hoped that it would be one of commercial and religious freedom, endless opportunity and, crucially, the prospect of having land of their own. Events then moved quickly. In March 1718 a petition was drawn up, addressed to Governor Shute of Massachusetts to inquire about the possibility of land for
the Ulster settlers. The man delegated to carry the petition to New England was Rev. William Boyd of Macosquin, near Coleraine. Rev. Cotton Mather, the leader of the Puritans in Boston, gave every encouragement to the intending immigrants to come to America and wrote back saying he hoped that “much may be done for the kingdom of God… by the transportation”. Mr. Mather probably expected that any Presbyterian immigrants would blend in easily with the Puritan New Englanders who shared very similar beliefs. As part of the migration, two ministers, Rev. James McGregor of Aghadowey and Rev. James Woodside of Dunboe, led significant numbers from their congregations across the Atlantic. Contrary to Rev. Cotton Mather’s warm words, the emigrants were not made welcome in Boston. Indeed, one observer noted that “the Scots-Irish were met with a volley of sticks, stones and other offensive weapons.” It seems that the people of Boston were alarmed at the manners, lifestyle, language and poverty of the immigrants from Ulster. The Puritan fathers of Boston now implemented a strategy to position them on the frontier from Maine to Massachusetts to protect themselves from Indian aggression and to create a barrier against the French in Canada. In addition, there were also property speculators who were determined to make as much money as possible by settling the fresh arrivals from Ulster on the frontiers. As a result, there evolved three main areas of settlement for the 1718 immigrants. The Foyle Valley contingent largely went to Worcester in Massachusetts. Although welcomed initially, there were constant disputes with the English Puritans and when they eventually began
…many must have concluded that the socalled ‘New World’ was no more than another part of the same old world with all its problems. to build their meetinghouse, it was burnt down by a mob, which was led by some of the town’s most eminent citizens. Many families in Worcester later moved on to towns like Pelham, Sutton and Voluntown where Rev. Samuel Dorrance from the Coleraine Presbytery became their minister.
Those from the Lower Bann Valley had two main settlements. The best known is, of course, Rev. James McGregor’s group from Aghadowey who eventually settled in Nutfield, New Hampshire, renaming it Londonderry in 1722. Within a generation, their town had almost 2,500 inhabitants and a thriving industry in the manufacture of linen cloth and yarn. The least well-known of the settlements is that of Rev. James Woodside’s group from Dunboe. It all started well. The families settled in Maine at Merrymeeting Bay in a fertile area with fresh water and good grass for their cattle; it did not last. The indigenous people, the Abenaki Indians, were understandably angry at
the invasion of their territory and ordered them to leave. They protested that the newcomers’ cattle “trampled their native plantings and consumed the food needed for migratory birds.” The indigenous people asked the newcomers to fence in their cattle but the settlers refused. Meanwhile more settlers were brought in. In 1722 the inevitable happened. The Indians swept in, killed some of the settlers, burnt houses, slaughtered livestock and carried off some of the men to French-held Quebec to the north. The women and children escaped, some going back to Boston, where Governor Shute called them traitors for leaving their homes. Some fled to more densely populated areas in Maine like Brunswick and Topsham, while others moved south to Londonderry in New Hampshire or went to Pennsylvania. Rev. James Woodside, called to a church in Brunswick, was eventually dismissed and he returned to England, a deeply disappointed man. As families dispersed and they reflected on the hard sea crossing, the cold welcome in Puritan Boston, the reluctance of New Englanders to help them and the sheer fear of frontier-living, many must have concluded that the so-called ‘New World’ was no more than another part of the same old world with all its problems. During the following years, emigration continued unabated and has deeply marked generations from every part of Ireland and from every community. All of us can think of people who emigrated; and all of us can think of people who were left behind. Alison McCaughan works in adult education and speaks regularly on aspects of local history. She is married to Jim who is minister of First Dunboe Presbyterian Church.
First Dunboe exhibition From 20th–24th June 2018, a creative exhibition called ‘In Search of a New World’, will be held in First Dunboe Presbyterian Church (Articlave, Coleraine, BT51 4UN), commemorating the departure of 160 people and their minister from the church in 1718 and reflecting on the tens of thousands who have left from every church and every community since then. The exhibition begins on Wednesday, 20th June at 7pm and will be open from Thursday, 21st to Saturday, 23rd from 10am to 10pm. On Sunday, 24th it will be open from 2pm to 6pm and will conclude with a service of worship at 7.30pm when the Moderator, Dr. Charles McMullen, will speak on ‘A Sending Church’. All welcome.
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