Dialogue and Unity

Dialogue and Unity Liverpool Hope – the Church in and for the World

‘The way of love – the love and power of God – is the key to our hope and to our future. The message of God is very simple: love one another, take care of one another take care of creation, and while you are at it, love me - love God. Do that and you will find your way, that is the core of the Gospel, that is the only sermon that matters.’

This quote from Most Reverend Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, typifies the breadth of the activities of Liverpool Hope with its partnership with schools, international partners and links with key Christian and secular organisations.

The Chapel and the Chaplaincy are both central features of the University’s Campus at Hope Park, Childwall. The week from Monday 7 November was a busy one for the Chaplains and the University. On Monday there was the famous Pound Lunch often attended by 50 people and a great opportunity to share and network overseen by the senior Catholic Chaplain Marie Therese Lacey. The same evening the outgoing senior Anglican Chaplain, Reverend Canon Cynthia Dowdle OBE welcomed the Anglican Diocesan Mothers’ Union (MU) for a Council Meeting – the MU has adopted Liverpool Hope as its Christmas Charity for students who will remain on campus over Christmas. by the University arranged by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and the Churches Refugee Network. It was chaired by Bishop John Perumbalath currently Bishop of Bradwell and soon to be our new Anglican Bishop of Liverpool (pictured extreme left). The day was challenging, one memorable phrase from the Reverend Dr Inderjit Bhogal OBE, former President of the Methodist Conference, was that the Churches turned the negative image and hostility to asylum seekers and refugees into an atmosphere of hospitality. Liverpool Churches and Liverpool Hope have taken commitment to asylum seekers and refugees very seriously and tried to change hostility into hospitality.

Wednesday 9 and Thursday 10 November saw the launch of the Hope Ecumenical Network reflecting the commitment to building on its broad links with Universities throughout the world. Taking part were Higher Education Institutes from USA, Romania, Hungary, India, France, the Philippines as well as those nearby like Winchester, London, and Canterbury. Of particular significance was the presence of Professor Bart McKittrick Regent for the (De La Salle) University of Bethlehem which has been a major focus for Liverpool Hope’s commitment to justice and inclusion. Vice Chancellor, Professor Gerald Pillay underlined the need for Liverpool Hope and all Christian Universities to be open institutions stressing the respect with which people of other faiths regard the pastoral care and support they receive at universities with a specifically Christian ethos. The University Chaplaincy team took part: Marie Therese Lacey and Father Stephen Pritchard from the archdiocese and Reverend Dr Canon Rod Garner and Canon Cynthia from the diocese. The Hope Ecumenical Network is the brainchild of two staff members: Dr Wendy Bignold and Dr Anthony Ridge Newman who have started something that will grow and play a part in developing and sharing on Christian Universities in our world. Conference delegates visited our two Cathedrals and made a pilgrimage along Hope Street.

Armistice Day was marked with a moving ceremony in which staff and students participated with the Liverpool Universities Association of Change Ringers tolling a moving hour long half muffled peel. Canon Cynthia was there with Father Denis Blackledge, SJ and students presented a wreath made from recycled material. The importance of the churches in creativity and culture was an inspiration to all who attended.

These events in the one week echo the words of Pope Francis: ‘Instead of being just a Church that welcomes and receives by keeping the doors open, let us try also to be a Church that finds new roads, which is able to step outside itself and go to those who do not attend the Eucharist, to those who have quit or are indifferent. I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.’