Unfinished journey ONE OF THE FIRST Corrymeela conferences was in the vineyard everyone got the same reward for at Easter 1966 with the then Prime Minister of their labours. In the Northern Ireland version of the Northern Ireland, Terence O’Neill, speaking. Outside parable those who come last get the most reward was a certain cleric protesting about sell-out to the and get to thrust the others aside and into the dustbin enemies of Ulster. This person was the Revd Ian of history. Politics is a cruel activity; losers tend to Paisley – the embodiment of Ulster Says No. Paisley go unrewarded. So let us remember Terence O’Neill, sat down on 26 March 2007 with the Leader of Sinn Brian Faulkner and David Trimble. Let us remember The outsider has Féin, Gerry Adams, to announce an agreement which the SDLP who kept the cause of constitutional non- led to the sharing of power between Unionists and violent nationalism alive in dark times. John Hume become insider. Republicans on 8 May. Ian Paisley became First provided many of the ideas for the Good Friday The man who Minister. The outsider has become insider. The man Agreement and was the first to state that the who always said no has said yes. Republican movement was ready to negotiate always said no Easter 1966 also celebrated an important event seriously about an end to violence. Let us ever – the 50th anniversary of the Easter Rising. The remember the Alliance Party who embodied a politics has said yes Republican movement had to learn, over 30 of Protestant and Catholic working together. And destructive years and 3,700 deaths, that violent let us not forget those in Loyalism – David Ervine, insurrection didn’t work. There had to be Billy Mitchell and others – who sought to move in accommodation. a non-violent direction. And then there were the Ray Davey recognised that something had to peacemakers like the Feakle clergy and Father Alec change in the Ulster that he knew and there had to Reid – subject to abuse and misunderstanding. And be new imaginations, new conversations, new finally let us remember British and Irish politicians meetings, and new journeyings. Paisley resisted new who worked away at the problem – often in imaginings, new conversations and new journeyings discouraging times. – and it’s over. The Republican movement’s campaign Yes, this is an historic moment. But it has to be of violence reached a dead end – and it’s over. Of seen as only another step in a long journey. It is not course the reconciliation journey goes on – and we the end of the journey – reconciliation and a shared are only now in the foothills. future have not arrived. And how devolution will Ray Davey was a prophet and the founding of work remains to be seen. The central challenge in Corrymeela was a prophetic action. We can see Northern Ireland is to change the historic pattern reconciliation work – which starts on the margin, of community relating – of distrust, fear, exclusion may look small and insignificant and can be costly and violence – and to create a shared future of – as prophetic activity. What we see is the importance inclusiveness, equity, diversity and inter-dependence. of vision – and the incarnation of that vision – and The working of a DUP/Sinn Féin dominated we may only know about the authenticity of the Executive has to be measured against that goal. vision decades later. The Corrymeelas of this world – independent, There is, of course, a feeling of unfairness in alternative voices – are going to be more than ever seeing the DUP and Sinn Féin reaping the rewards needed in this strange new world that is opening of the tireless efforts and self-sacrifice of those who up. An unfinished journey indeed. laboured longer and far more consistently in the David Stevens is the Leader of vineyard of peace politics than these two parties. At David Stevens the Corrymeela Community. least in the parable of the labourers (Matt. 20:1–16) 2 | CORRYMEELA With a little help from my friends Corrymeela magazine Volume 7 Number 1 AS I WAS PUTTING TOGETHER the stories for this issue I was touched by July 2007 the many varied examples of friendship that link so many of them. We are Corrymeela magazine saying goodbye to a much loved, loyal friend, Anna Glass, and then reading Corrymeela House of Rachel Craig, our Family Worker, who was making new friends in Kenya. 8 Upper Crescent, Belfast We are thinking of having to say goodbye to hard-working staff such David Northern Ireland BT7 1NT Price, Madeline Donnelly, Jimmy Gordon and Beverly Newton whilst looking Tel: +44 (0) 28 9050 8080 forward to welcoming the new staff who will come to join Corrymeela. I Fax: +44 (0) 28 9050 8070 Email: [email protected] think of the Friends Weekend held recently at the Centre and how I made Web site: www.corrymeela.org new friends in the easy, relaxed Corrymeela way and my journey to New York Corrymeela magazine is published for the Fitzpatrick Memorial Fund Golf fundraiser, meeting the many Irish- by the Corrymeela Community. American friends who, just like our Friends here, are united by their support The Corrymeela Community is a of Corrymeela. At the same time we still have stories to report of new peace dispersed community of people of walls and living within segregated schooling and housing in Northern Ireland, all ages and Christian traditions who, individually and together, are where to have the chance to make friends from the other side of the wall is committed to the healing of social, just as relevant today as it was in 1966. Recently we sent you a request to religious and political divisions in Northern Ireland and throughout renew or to become a Friend of Corrymeela; if you haven’t had the chance the world. to reply yet please do, we need your support and your friendship. Corrymeela magazine is sent to all ‘Friends of Corrymeela’. To become Your friend, Jo a ‘Friend of Corrymeela’ and receive the magazine send your name and address to the Belfast office. Friends Jo Watson, Editor subscription is £24 (waged), £12 (unwaged), (E36 / E18, US $40 / $20) per annum. The magazine is published three times per year. CONTENTS The articles in Corrymeela magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the Corrymeela Community. The acceptance of advertising does not imply editorial endorsement. Corrymeela magazine is protected by copyright and nothing may be reproduced wholly or in part without prior permission. All extracts are reproduced with the permission of the original publisher/author. Corrymeela (Belfast) 8 Upper Crescent, Belfast Northern Ireland BT7 1NT 9 Tel: +44 (0) 28 9050 8080 Fax: +44 (0) 28 9050 8070 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.corrymeela.org Corrymeela (Ballycastle) 5 Drumaroan Road, Ballycastle Northern Ireland BT54 6QU Tel: +44 (0) 28 2076 2626 Fax: +44 (0) 28 2076 2770 E-mail: [email protected] Corrymeela (Knocklayd) 12 28 Stroan Road, Armoy, Ballymoney Northern Ireland BT53 8RY Tel: +44 (0) 28 2075 1521 E-mail: [email protected] Corrymeela is a company limited by Guarantee. Registered in Northern Ireland No. NI6823. Corrymeela is recognised as a charity by the (UK) Inland Revenue. Inland Revenue Reference Number XN 48052A Design: TatchDesign 31 Printing: GPS Colour Graphics Ltd. CORRYMEELA | 3 potential gifts to one another. The and members and friends of the small caterpillar poster that used to Community and everyone who be in her kitchen said ‘Be patient, enjoyed her very special hospitality. God isn’t finished with me yet!’ This Our thoughts and prayers are with resonated with Anna – she wished her family. everyone to have the opportunity to fly as gracefully as butterflies. Derick Wilson Just for the record, from the Corrymeela Community member OUR DEAR COLLEAGUE and shared meals and good food on 1960s onwards Anna Glass met and friend Anna Glass passed away on tables around which strangers met served: people who had risked their There are still copies available of the Tuesday 8 May 2007. Anna worked and, often, became unexpected lives helping Jewish people find refuge very popular Anna’s Cook Book at the Corrymeela Centre from friends. in World War 2; children and families £2.50 +p&p, available from our Belfast 1966, showing love and care for staff, One of her first tasks, in 1966, intimidated from their homes in reception and our shop in the volunteers and visitors. Here Derick was to cook for the then Prime Northern Ireland; Mother Teresa, Ballycastle Centre. Telephone orders Wilson writes movingly about a very Minister of Northern Ireland, Terence George Mitchell and Desmond Tutu welcome on Tel No 028 9050 8080 special person who was at the heart O Neill, and 60 other people, when to the Dalai Lama and Prince Charles. of Corrymeela. he argued, in the end unsuccessfully Catering for 7,000 people a year, I knew Anna as a friend, as a at that time, that it was time for with her many colleagues who will Corrymeela Community member Catholics and Protestants to be in miss her dearly, her work involving and as a colleague since 1966. Government together. wonderful wheaten bread and Anna Glass worked as Cook at We sometimes wonder why dropped scones; cooking the minces Corrymeela from 15 March 1966 she never wrote down the special and making the salads were central until her retirement. I met her in mixture she put in the food that day in generating atmospheres where April of that year and, in the many to get people saying such things, experiences of enemies becoming groups of children, young people, especially since it has taken until this friends grew; where hope trumped families and conference groups I week, 41 years later, for this to be despair and where new beginnings brought to the Centre, I experienced secured.