This was one of three adresses celebrating the life of the Reverend George Mervyn Kingston at a memorial service held at St George’s Church, Belfast on 8 February 2014. Mervyn was a wonderful priest, a loyal friend and an unlikely prophet, whose prophetic ministry was particularly concerned with reconciliation between Northern Ireland’s churches and communities. He co-founded Changing Attitude Ireland with his husband and partner, Dr Richard O’Leary. [Continue Reading]
Commemorating 30 years since decriminalisation
October 29, 2012
Jeff Dudgeon, speaker, and Gerry Lynch, officiant, at the service at St. George’s Belfast, 28th October 2012. [Continue Reading]
The Irish News: Letters: Welcoming congregations for gays are in the minority
March 23, 2012
I am an openly gay member of the Church of Ireland and one of the unwelcome guests who turned up at the Slieve Russell Hotel for the Church of Ireland’s gay conference. Uninvited because I had spent months trying to ensure, by working carefully and responsibly in the background, that there was meaningful gay participation in the conference and had failed. Not a single LGBT person worshipping in a Church of Ireland parish addressed the gathering or any of its workshops. Not a single openly lesbian person, from anywhere, was invited to participate in the conference. [Continue Reading]
Belfast Telegraph: Bishops back ‘traditional marriage’
March 12, 2012
THE Church of Ireland has underlined its commitment to marriage as being between a man and a woman following its major weekend conference on human sexuality. A joint statement from the Primate Archbishop Alan Harper and the Archbishop of Dublin Dr Michael Jackson stressed that “the church’s position on marriage as being the union of one man and one woman remains constant”. [Continue Reading]
Belfast Telegraph: We have not barred gays from conference on sexuality: Church
March 10, 2012
THE Church of Ireland has denied claims that a conference this weekend on human sexuality has deliberately excluded gays from its list of speakers. The two-day conference, which began in the Slieve Russell Hotel in Co Cavan last night, is for members of the General Synod. Some 450 of the 600-strong body are attending. [Continue Reading]
Belfast Telegraph: Advances made but the fight for rights not over
July 29, 2011
Tomorrow sees the 21st annual Belfast Gay Pride Parade. From nervous and tiny beginnings, it has become a bold and loud celebration appealing to all ages and outlooks (bar one), adding another bright touch to Belfast in July. Its family-friendly carnival alongside the Lagan Lookout on Saturday afternoon is free, and open to all who want to share our enjoyment. Despite the glamour and glitz, the Pride Festival with its numerous events during this week remains true to our concerns for human rights and the future prospects of all GLBT people, and for our society in general. It is also a showcase for the community’s varied artistic and cultural talents. [Continue Reading]
Belfast Telegraph: Church’s guidance for parents of gay kids
May 13, 2011
A new booklet which aims to give advice to Church of Ireland parents who find out their child is gay will be launched at the General Synod today. I Think My Son Or Daughter Is Gay: Guidance For Parents Of Gay Children In The Church Of Ireland, has been written by Gerry Lynch from Changing Attitude Ireland, an organisation which campaigns for the inclusion of gay people in the Church. One such parent is Paul Rowlandson, whose youngest daughter Katherine (31) came out as a lesbian when she was 16. [Continue Reading]
