‘Positive challenge’ in reaching out - leader

The work of east Antrim community groups has been praised during a visit from the President of the Methodist Church in Ireland.
President of the Methodist Church,Dr Heather Morris paid a visit the Carrickfergus Methodist Church youth club and is pictured with Rev Aian Ferguson and youth leader,Nigel McKinley. INCT 12-017-PSBPresident of the Methodist Church,Dr Heather Morris paid a visit the Carrickfergus Methodist Church youth club and is pictured with Rev Aian Ferguson and youth leader,Nigel McKinley. INCT 12-017-PSB
President of the Methodist Church,Dr Heather Morris paid a visit the Carrickfergus Methodist Church youth club and is pictured with Rev Aian Ferguson and youth leader,Nigel McKinley. INCT 12-017-PSB

Rev Dr Heather Morris met residents of Carrick on Friday as part of her tour of the north-east district, with visits to Larne and Newtownabbey earlier in the week.

It was a welcome return to the borough for the church leader, who was installed as the first female President during the annual Methodist conference in Carrickfergus last June.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The minister’s itinerary saw her meet with a wide section of the local community, including visits to Greenisland Primary School, Abbeyfield House residential home and Carrickfergus College, along with the parent and toddler and youth club groups at Carrick Methodist.

Speaking to the Times on Friday, Dr Morris said: “It’s great to be back in Carrick; we used to live in the Brambles in the 1990s and my older son went to Greenisland Primary. I still have family living in the area.

“This week is mainly about getting out and meeting people in the different areas and finding out about the good work that they do.

“In Larne, I heard about the food banks and the great care that’s taken with donations and distributing the food.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“It’s been tremendous to see how active the church is as well in the communities I’ve visited.”

With her term as President drawing to a close in June, the married mother of two outlined some of the challenges of occupying the role.

“Sometimes we may have a bit of a tendency to think of our churches as little clubs, but one of our biggest challenges is actually a very positive one and that is to reach out and be active in our communities,” she said.