|
|
|
This week Belfast Presbyterian minister Rev Ken Newell celebrates 25 years of ministry at Fitzroy Church.
The time has 'flown in' says Newell as he describes his ministry through 25 years of turbulent times in two words; Thank You. 'Thank you to God for the opportunity to minister in Fitzroy and thank you to the congregation who have been the most warm hearted and generous group of Christian people to live out my faith with.'
Ken Newell became minister of Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, just off the Lower Ormeau in the heart of Belfast's university area, in 1976 when he returned from working with the Church's Overseas Board in West Timor, Indonesia.
Just as he had left Belfast shortly after the Bloody Friday bombings, he arrived back to the sound of more bombings and shootings in his new parish. 'Those bombings made a huge impression on me,' says Newell. 'As a minister and as a congregation I felt we had to make a response to them other than condemnation. We had to respond both to those who were injured and bereaved and to those who were carrying out the bombing campaign.'
Out of these 'responses' grew relationships of all kinds, particularly a strong friendship between Ken Newell and Fr Gerry Reynolds. This led to the formation 21 years ago of the Fitzroy Clonard Group, a fellowship between Christians from the Protestant and Catholic communities.
'We began meeting together, getting to know and understand one another better, to study the Bible in relation to Northern Ireland and to pray and worship as a group. By emphasising what we had in common a community has developed which values the support and help we can give to one another as fellow Christians and which I hope has been an example to others of a better way of living together rather that the division and sectarianism many experience.'
The impact of the fellowship was internationally recognised in 1999 with the award of the Pax Christi Peace Prize. This was the first time it had been awarded to any group in Ireland and was for grassroots contributions to peace in Belfast .
Never scared to get involved in real life encounters, along with Fr Alex Reid, Ken Newell also developed contacts with Republican and Loyalist paramilitaries and politicians in the early 1990's at a time when, for many, this was unacceptable and risky. 'The aim was to push for an ending of violence and movement towards inclusive political dialogue,' comments Newell. 'It is only by meeting people, talking to them and more importantly listening that we begin to understand them. Through being open, not closing ourselves away but by being open to God and to others, we have been able to exert a quiet influence in a positive direction.'
That openness has also led to many political figures including Lord Molyneaux, Ken Maginnis, John Hume, Mark Durkan and Monica McWilliams being invited to address the Fitzroy congregation.
'Feeling the pain of your community and responding to it is essential,' says Ken Newell. 'That is at the heart of the Gospel and I hope will remain at the heart of our work and witness here in Fitzroy.'
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
PCI Home . . . Press Office . . . News Archive