Role of churches in local communities praised

“Churches have much more to offer people beyond the traditional rites of birth, marriage and death,” the Secretary of the Department for Social Development (DSD), John Hunter, has said.

Mr Hunter was speaking at a conference for church-based community workers organised by the East Belfast Mission, a charity founded in 1985 to engage in community development and service in the Newtownards Road area of east Belfast.

“The Mission is a fine example - and there are others throughout Northern Ireland - where people both demonstrate their faith but also provide practical services to their local communities,” he said.

“My Department, in its work to help the most vulnerable members of society is keen to work in partnership with the community sector to improve life for all members of the community.”

The conference was opened by Dr Bob Lupton, Director of Family Consultation Services Urban Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia, who spoke about the theology of social engagement.

Delegates included around 50 church leaders and lay practitioners from church, voluntary and community sector organisations.

Mr Hunter also referred to the recently launched DSD consultation document for a new strategy to tackle disadvantage across Belfast’s most deprived areas. This proposes a more collaborative approach to urban regeneration and is closely linked to the Department’s Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy.

He said: “We must work with others to address the economic, educational, social, health and environmental problems facing people in the most disadvantaged areas and we must work to strengthen weak community infrastructure by encouraging people to take responsibility in and for their own community.”

(AMcE)