Ian Gilchrist: Social and Reconciliation Work: from 2005
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Truth Discovery in Divided Societies: Conference - 2 February 2008
Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Discussion - 23 June 2007
Learning the Lessons: Concert and Conference - 17 and 18 March 2006
Index to the Proceedings
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Healing Through Remembering: Dealing with the past.
Conference Date 12th March 2005
Click Here for the Proceedings of the 2005 Corrymeela London Conference
The conference explored issues of peace and reconciliation, with particular consideration of the lessons from truth and reconciliation processes around the world. Speakers from Northern Ireland and South Africa addressed the conference. The programme examined how healing through remembering and facing the past, allow people to make a new start and break free from inherited enmity. The conference also examined how the lessons learned through reconciliation work in Northern Ireland and South Africa can be applied in a wider British context to reduce current divisions in society, such as the tension between Muslim and other communities, arising from the war in Iraq.
The speakers were Roy McClelland, Professor of Mental Health at the Queens University of Belfast and Chairman of the Northern Ireland Healing Through Remembering Project; Brandon Hamber, an independent research associate and consultant with experience of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission; Oliver McTernan, broadcaster, consultant and Director of Forward Thinking, a UK-based organisation that works to prevent and resolve conflict at national and global level.
The venue for the Conference, St Ethelburga’s Church, was devastated by the IRA bombing of Bishopsgate in 1993. Now rebuilt, the Church stands as a place of peace and hope, grown from the ashes of violence. It houses the Centre for Reconciliation and Peace, which is a venue for dialogue between groups in conflict both at home and from overseas.
The Healing Through Remembering Project website is www.healingthroughremembering.org
Ian Gilchrist March 2005
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Corrymeela London Weekend 2006
Concert and Conference 17–18 March 2006
The 2006 Corrymeela London Weekend Concert and Conference continued and developed the themes of the 2005 Corrymeela London Weekend. The programme consisted of two events. Details of the Concert and Conference are given below.
Learning the Lessons?
Corrymeela London 2006 Conference
At the St Ethelburga's Centre, London
Saturday 18 March 2006
Click here for the Report on the 2006 Corrymeela London Conference
Following the success of the March 2005 Corrymeela London Weekend Conference, the second St Ethelburga’s/Corrymeela conference was held on Saturday 18th March 2006 from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm at the St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace in London.
Taking the theme of ‘Learning the Lessons?’, the Conference looked critically at whether the hard-won experience of peace-building in Northern Ireland can be applied to other conflict situations, and if so, how? Are ‘models’ of peace processes really transferable, or does every conflict need to create its own ways of finding peace? What roles can peace-makers from one conflict play in another situation?
David Stevens, Leader of the Corrymeela Community, and Celia McKeon, Director of Policy, Communications and Comparative Learning of Conciliation Resources, were speakers at the conference.
Corrymeela is an Ecumenical Christian Community. It aims to promote reconciliation and peace-building through the healing of social, religious and political divisions in Northern Ireland and throughout the world. Corrymeela’s history is built upon a committed work with individuals and communities that have suffered through the violence and polarisation of the Northern Irish conflict. Its work of reconciliation is expressed through the commitment to encounter, interaction and positive relationships between all kinds and conditions of people.
Conciliation Resources is an international non-governmental organization registered in the UK as a charity. It works mainly in the Caucasus, Uganda and West Africa in partnership with local and international civil society organizations and governments. It also publishes Accord: an international review of peace initiatives and it is involved in projects in Colombia, Fiji and the Philippines.
Following the presentations a series of workshops were held. Reports from the workshops and a report of the final plenary discussion are included in the proceedings.
Full Details are given in the conference report.
The Corrymeela Community Website is www.corrymeela.org
The Conciliation Resources Website is www.c-r.org
A Celebration for St Patrick's Day
St Martin-in-the-Fields,
Trafalgar Square, London
Friday 17 March 2006: 7.30 pm
This special concert featured Baroque and classical favourites including works by Bach, Vivaldi and Corelli. Interpreted and arranged by ‘Avalon’, an Irish quintet with strong classical and traditional roots. The Programme included music by the great classical masters combined with the best of traditional and folk music, illustrating prose and poetry from Ireland, North and South.
Avalon was originally a string quartet which began to explore the links between the classical repertoire and folk and traditional music. The addition of traditional instruments such as uillean pipes, bodhran, fiddle and whistle enables Avalon to combine the classical and folk traditions. The result is a compelling mix of familiar elements, arranged and performed in a way that illuminates the common ground between all music and musicians.
Ian Gilchrist March 2007
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A Discussion on Recent Developments in Northern Ireland.
On Saturday 23rd June at 2:00 pm.
At the St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace
78 Bishopsgate London EC2N 4AG.
With Dr David Stevens, Leader of the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland, Councillor Pat McGinn, former Sinn Fein Mayor of Newry and Mourne and Revd Andrew Rawding, Healing Through Remembering Project.
The agreement between Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party to work together in order to restore devolved government in Northern Ireland represents a change in attitude which would have been thought inconceivable only a short time ago
The prize of restoring devolved government and the consequences of the alternatives if this does not happen has brought both parties to the table. However agreeing to join forces goes only part of the way towards achieving the degree of co-operation required to make devolved government work.
This development is unquestionably a major advance but it is not the solution that many people believe. The degree of segregation and the growth of tension between the divided communities are greater now than they have been in the past. Many people who have been hurt by the previous violence feel that they have been denied the opportunity for redress because of the compromise with justices that have been made. Seeing the formerly implacable opponents working together will only increase the trauma they feel.
If Northern Ireland is to move forward, a healing process must take place. Reconciliation is not about achieving an end to violence. It is about building a society based on mutual understanding and respect that relies on foundations of truth, justice and love. The need for reconciliation work in Northern Ireland is now even greater than it has been in the past. It only changes its character when large scale violence comes to an end.
It is right to celebrate the agreement that has been achieved but it is also the start of a new process. The meeting at the St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace on the 23rd June gave an opportunity to discuss the new ways forward and how these may be achieved.
Two days before this meeting the Northern Ireland Secretary, Peter Hain, announced that an independent consultative group to find the best way to deal with the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland will be established. This group is to be co-chaired by Denis Bradley, who was vice chairman of the Policing board, and the former Archbishop of Armagh, Lord Eames. The role and function of this group was discussed at the meeting. It was agreed that the discussion will be continued after the meeting with a view to providing a future input to the commission. Further events at St Ethelburga's will also be organised.
Ian Gilchrist 6 June 2007
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Truth Discovery in Divided Societies: 2nd February 2008
A conference which explored how the lessons learned in these societies may used to reduce the build up of conflict and ethnic tension in the United Kingdom.
10:00am at the St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace
78, Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG
The conference was intended for members of all faiths and all ethnic groups who are interested in or engaged in the work of reconciliation.
This event is one of a series of events on "Bringing Reconciliation Home"
The Proceedings of the event will be published on this Website
Please Click Here for the event Information
Please Click Here for details of the series
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Integration and Separation:
Date to be arranged
It is proposed to invite a Rabbi, together with a representative of the Muslim viewpoint and a member of Immigration Watch to a meeting which will discuss the theme of integration and separation in an ethnically and religiously divided society.
Workshop on Conflict Development:
Date to be arranged
This workshop on conflict development will draw on the very extensive experience of Corrymeela members and of others in Northern Ireland. The principles behind the approach are those drawn from work by Girard, Kaptein and others. Northern Ireland has been a test bed for their validity. These theories can also be applied at an intra personal level and can be used to examine aspects of self identity, such as that of personal tribal identity. The timing of this workshop could be either before or after the conference on Truth Recovery in Divided Societies.