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Visiting the Presbyterian Church in Ireland this week has been the Moderator of the Independent Presbyterian Church in Brazil, Rev Guilhermino Cunha.
This is the first time a Brazilian moderator has visited Ireland and Rev Cunha is returning the visit made to Brazil by then Irish Presbyterian moderator Dr John Dixon in April 1999 .
While the contrasts between Brazil and Ireland in terms of size and population could hardly be greater, there has been a growing closeness in relationship between the two churches.
For over fifteen years the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has had members of its overseas staff working alongside Brazilian Presbyterians. At present Mabel Coulson from Whitehead is Director of the Caiua Mission, a Presbyterian outreach to the indigenous Indian population and based in Durados, west of Rio, while Ballyrashane's Lynn and Heather Cochrane are assisting with a church planting project in Cruzeta in north east Brazil. At Recife on the north east coast, Naomi Keefe from Lisburn has just begun working at an orphanage.
At present the Presbyterian Church has partnership arrangements with over twenty churches around the world and it is hoped that a similar arrangement can be agreed with the Brazilian Church.
Apart from seeing church projects in Belfast and Dublin, Rev Cunha met with the First and Deputy First Minister and Belfast's Lord Mayor.
Rev Guilhermino Cunha with the Moderator, Dr. Trevor Morrow and Dr. John Dixon
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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