Fr Godfrey O’ Donnell, a Romanian Orthodox priest serving in Blanchardstown, West Dublin, became the first Orthodox President of the Irish Council of Churches (ICC), at their 89th Annual Meeting in Dundrum, Dublin.
The election of Fr O’ Donnell is seen as a recognition of his personal contribution to Christian unity in Ireland as well as the growing contribution being made by more than 20,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians living in Ireland today.
Fr O’ Donnell, who was born in Derry city in 1939, is a former member of the Jesuit Order, but entered the Orthodox Church in 1985 with his wife Ruth. Since then, he has served as President of the Dublin Council of Churches and has been actively involved in ecumenical, interfaith and commemorative events and projects. He has also worked for a number of years as a psychotherapist in North Dublin.
The ICC represents the fourteen main Christian Churches in Ireland. It is the longest serving, established national ecumenical body in the world and has a proud history of addressing issues of justice, peace, reconciliation and integration.
Founded in 1922 in the immediate aftermath of the Irish civil war the ICC has ben fostering dialogue and cooperation across the full spectrum of churches, denominations and mission traditions throughout the whole island of Ireland encompassing Reformed, Orthodox, evangelical, Catholic and Pentecostal traditions.
Since its foundation it has primarily appointed Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist Presidents, with one Lutheran, Quaker, Salvation Army, Non–Subscribing Presbyterian and Moravian President also serving.
The 89th Annual Meeting, which took place in the Taney Church of Ireland Parish Centre in Dundrum, was opened with a civic welcome from An Cathaoirleach, Councillor John Bailey, Mayor of Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown County Council.
The meeting brought together 97 delegates from a wide array of Christian Churches, including senior church leaders.
The keynote address entitled ‘Beyond Anger’ was delivered by Tony Brown, Director of the Institute of International and European Affairs and former Irish Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The Meeting also featured contributions from local schools, such Taney National School, Holy Cross National School and Wesley College Secondary School.
