Unique Inter-Church Theology Programme in Dromantine

Since September 2008, over eighty students from various Church backgrounds from counties Armagh, Antrim, L’Derry, Down, Louth, Monaghan, Tyrone and even Mayo have been travelling to Dromantine Conference and Retreat Centre in Newry on Monday nights to participate in a unique course, ‘Exploring Theology’. The course provides Catholic and Protestant lectures and perspectives to participants, and is organised through the partnership of the Society of African Missions, Edgehill Theological College, Belfast and Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin.

This Inter-Church project, which has benefited from over £75,000 of funding from the European Union’s PEACE III Programme, officially launched the second year of the course in September 2009 in Dromantine.   An EU spokesperson and representatives from a range of Christian denominations, including Bishop Donal McKeown attended the launch. 

The Most Reverend Donal McKeown said:

‘It seems to me that education is what remains after you have forgotten all you have been taught.  It is my hope and expectation that the participants in the Exploring Theology course will be left not only with a greater understanding of Christian theology, but also with a wide range of friendships, connections and appreciation of difference.’

The Peace and Justice module of the course was delivered by Dr Scott Boldt, Director of the Edgehill Reconciliation Programme and Dr Ethna Regan, a lecturer from the School of Theology in Mater Dei Institute of Education, Dublin. 

The module aimed to consider the basic concepts, principles and models of justice and peace-building and their application to specific sectarian/ethnic conflicts and situations of injustice (as well as to everyday life).  For a more detailed outline of the course please click here.