Irish peacemaker coming to discuss reconciliation

Imagine a society where people's priorities include justice, mutual respect, concern for the vulnerable and care for creation.

According to Dr. David Stevens, such a place exists just outside Belfast, Northern Ireland. And it doesn't just embrace those priorities; it also teaches them to others.

On April 19 at 4 p.m. Dr. Stevens, leader of the Corrymeela Community in Northern Ireland, will speak about his organization at Siena College in Loudonville. That evening, he and Bishop Howard J. Hubbard will participate in an ecumenical prayer service at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany.

Connections

A few years ago, several Protestant leaders from the Capital Region visited Corrymeela, including Dr. Merle Longwood, a Lutheran professor at Siena.

He invited Dr. Stevens to visit the campus to talk about relations among Anglicans, Presbyterians and Roman Catholics in Northern Ireland, relations that have been strained for decades.

In a recent interview with The Evangelist, Dr. Stevens said that, for 41 years, Corrymeela has sought to address the "overall aim of a shared future through tolerance of all individuals. Our work is focused on five main areas: family, community interface, youth, schools, and faith and life."

Central point

Although the people that visit Corrymeela are primarily from Northern Ireland, Dr. Stevens said that others from the Republic of Ireland, Great Britain and other European countries have used the facility to improve relations.

"We get people from schools, local communities, churches and youth clubs," he explained. "They include whole families, care-givers, victims, families of prisoners, politicians and those involved in reconciliation work.

"Our main point is to engage them in dialogue that gets people involved in building a sense of inclusive community. We urge them to listen to others' stories and perspectives, share their own experiences, and explore alternative ways of moving out of violence into a better understanding of each other."

History

The organization was founded after the Second World War by Rev. Ray Davey, a Presbyterian clergyman who witnessed the bombing of Dresden, Germany.

"He had a vision of Christian reconciliation and unity after witnessing that widespread devastation," Dr. Stevens noted.

With help from interested clergy, donors and volunteer student groups, the clergyman purchased a farm north of Belfast and converted it into a facility where people could work out their differences.

"This proved particularly helpful during 'the Troubles' in the late Sixties," Dr. Stevens said, referring to Protestant-Catholic strife in Northern Ireland. "Although Corrymeela was not built for that purpose initially, our facility served as a key influence in reconciliation attempts during those years."

'Safe space'

Dr. Stevens noted that "right now, we have a lot of identity issues that people are working with -- such as Protestant/Catholic issues, British/Irish issues, Israeli/Palestinian issues, and even, on an increasing basis, racial and ethnic minority issues.

"What we do is try to create a safe space for people to air their differences with non-violence and understanding. We provide hospitality and a caring atmosphere for those wishing to reach peaceful solutions."

(Corrymeela operates two residential centers, Ballycastle and Knocklayd, and an administration center in Belfast. The residential facilities host about 5,000 people a year; 1,500 more people attend day sessions. During Dr. Stevens' visit, a photographic display of the Corrymeela community will visit three locations: The First Presbyterian Church in Troy, April 9-15; Siena College's Niebuhr Institute, April 16-23; and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany for the April 19 prayer service. For information, call Dr. Merle Longwood at 783-2300.)

(3/22/07) [[In-content Ad]]