Notes on the Margin

By Hugh Rayment-Pickard

We use the word marginalization all the time, and almost always in a negative sense. There is a good reason for this. Being marginalised from communities, families, societies can be deeply hurtful. And sometimes, if we are overwhelmed by exclusion, it can be catastrophically painful. But part of the wisdom of Christianity is that there is no situation in which God’s grace cannot operate. God’s providence does not respect human boundaries. [Continue Reading]

International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) Service, Belfast 2012

The Revd Brian Stewart, Ms Pam Tilson and Prof Michael O’Flaherty at the IDAHO service at St George’s Church, Belfast, 20th May 2012. [Continue Reading]

IDAHO address by Professor Michael O’Flaherty

Chief Commissioner for Human Rights for N Ireland

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Welcoming the Neighbour

By Pádraig ÓTuama

Words for the launch of Changing Attitude Ireland’s Parish Welcoming Leaflet, May 17, 2012, St. George’s Church, Belfast. [Continue Reading]

Dean of Cork sermon on “Christ’s call to us to love unconditionally”

Extracts from a sermon preached in Saint Fin Barre’s Cathedral, Cork by the Dean of Cork on Sunday 13th May 2012 – the sixth Sunday of Easter – following the General Synod debate on Human Sexuality.

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Paul Rowlandson address at IDAHO 2012 in Derry

Much progress has been made, but there is still a long way to go. The IDAHO service developed out of a historic step in progress made nearly 40 years ago. It now seems incredible that homosexuality was ever considered a mental disorder, but that was the case before the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders back in 1973, quickly followed by the European Psychiatric associations and psychological societies. The World Health Organisation was a bit slower, but it removed homosexuality from its list of ‘disorders’ in 1990. [Continue Reading]

IDAHO 2012 Derry Liturgy

Welcome to our service for IDAHO 2012 – International Day Against Homophobia. We join with those throughout the world who are concerned about the persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender individuals. We recall the many places where to be LGBT is a crime punishable by imprisonment or death. We gather in Belfast*, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford and L’Derry in welcoming and accepting our family members and friends whose sexual orientation is different from our own. The theme of our service is —“No more Them and Us.” (or “Moving Forward Together”). [Continue Reading]

Revd. Sandra Pragnell’s sermon in Dublin for IDAHO 2012

For over 20 years, Southwark Diocese in south London was my spiritual home, in particular the parish church of St John the Divine in Richmond. It was both a formative and a transforming time for me – nurtured by a succession of superbly pastoral, non-judgmental and godly clergy (married, single, divorced, gay, partnered, celibate, male, and latterly female too). I confess I had been strongly anti the ordination of women, and hanging on to particular biblical texts as if my life depended on it. And yet finding myself in 2001 ordained in this cathedral proves that people can change, and that God indeed has a sense of humour. [Continue Reading]

IDAHO 2012 Posters

Dublin: Christ Church Cathedral, 3.30pm
Cork: St. Anne’s, Shandon, 11.00am Eucharist
L’Derry: St Columb’s Cathedral, 4.00pm
Limerick: St. Mary’s Cathedral, 7.00pm
Waterford: Christ Church Cathedral, 7.30pm [Continue Reading]

The Scriptures and Homosexuality: Old Testament and New Testament Perspectives

Dr. James Willamson and Pádraig ÓTuama

The two papers published here were given at a day conference organised by the Methodist group Accepting Sexualty in Belfast on 14th May 2011. [Continue Reading]