A number of representatives of the World Council of Churches (WCC) were in Belfast this week as guests of the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy. 

The WCC guests who travelled from Geneva, Berlin and the USA were Dr Clare Amos, Programme Executive for Interreligious Dialogue and Cooperation with the WCC, Ms Marianne Edjersten, WCC Director of Communications, and the Rev Garland Pierce, American Methodist and Senior Assistant to the WCC General Secretary.

Dr Amos was the guest preacher in St Anne’s Cathedral on Advent Sunday morning, November 29. In her sermon she reflected on her experiences of living in Beirut where her husband Alan was the chaplain to the Anglican community in both Lebanon and Syria during the Lebanese civil war.

Later on Sunday, Dr Amos took part in a Christian Aid / Trocaire service in St which preceded a rally for climate justice in Writer’s Square.

On Monday morning, Dr Amos, Ms Edjersten and the Rev Pierce were given a tour of St Anne’s before moving to Church of Ireland House for lunch with Bishop Abernethy, the Bishop of Clogher the Rt Rev John McDowell, and representatives of the Irish Council of Churches and other churches. The lunch was hosted by the Bishop of Connor.

After lunch, the group held a meeting in the Library at St Anne’s Cathedral