Peacemaking - the unfinished task

The recipient of several significant international awards for his roles in peacemaking, Dr Good is perhaps best known locally as one of the two clergy entrusted by the De Chastelain Commission with supervising the final decommissioning of IRA arms in 2005. Under the title Faith in the Journey? he outlined significant ‘moments’ in his ministry, from the Shankill Road to Corrymeela to the Basque country which have shaped his own experience of ‘the journey pf peacemaking’.

With honesty and clarity Dr Good recognised both the negative role which Christian faith had played in the Troubles, but also and especially the positive contribution of Christians to the ‘peace process’. This, he underlined, is a continuing journey requiring ongoing commitment, not least from the Churches and their committed members

A special and surprise additional guest was the Rev Dr Inderjit Boghal , recently installed as the new Leader of the Corrymeela Community. His first contact with Corrymeela had been as a young volunteer when the Rev Harold Good had been Centre Director. Dr Good spoke movingly of the happy coincidence when, years later, as the President of the British Methodist Conference, Dr Boghal had installed him as President of the Irish Methodist Conference 2001-2.

Further events in this series of meetings with significant personalities in the church and political scene are being planned by BCA’s Peace and Reconciliation Committee. On Friday 17th June the guest will be the Rev Dr Noel Treanor, Bishop of Down and Connor who will address the overall theme of the series Faith in the Public Square from the perspective of the European Community as well as the local political scene

For further information on Ballycastle Church Action see the website ‘ballycastlechurchaction.blogspot.com’