Press Releases12 Nov 21

Dr Nicola Brady recognised by the Irish Council of Churches and by the Irish Inter–Church Meeting

On Thursday (11th November) at the SMA Dromantine Retreat and Conference Centre in Newry, Co Down, an Irish Inter–Church Meeting was held on the theme, ‘Identity and Belonging – Past, Present, Future’.  During the meeting Dr Nicola Brady was recognised for her services as General Secretary of the Irish Council of Churches and as General Secretary of Irish Inter–Church Meeting.  Today’s gathering involved sixty participants representing the Irish Council of Churches and the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference.  Dr Brady is soon to take up the post of General Secretary of the Churches Together in Britain and Ireland.

At the meeting, the Very Rev Dr Ivan Patterson, President of the Irish Council of Churches, said: “Nicola is someone motivated by her rich faith in Christ and His call to ‘love our neighbour’.  She has brought her talents of heart and head to help the Church find relevant ways of responding to various societal needs and not least the ongoing work of peace building.  While we will miss her insightful and skilled leadership, she leaves a significant legacy on which we can build for the future.”

Bishop Brendan Leahy, Co–Chair of the Irish Inter–Church Meeting, said: “As an intelligent and astute observer of socio–cultural developments, Nicola has enabled the Irish Inter–Church Meeting to engage meaningfully with significant initiatives and projects that furthered our mission of promoting good relations among churches as we looked together outwards towards the wider society. We will certainly miss her gentle but clear sense of purpose and direction.”

Members warmly congratulated Dr Brady on her new appointment that will provide her with many opportunities to share her considerable talents for the benefit of many in four nations. In congratulating Dr Brady, heartfelt gratitude was expressed by the member churches of the Irish Council of Churches, and the Irish–Inter Church Meeting, for her outstanding contribution as General Secretary since 2016.  Members offered their appreciation to Dr Brady for her competency and efficiency, strategic thinking and clear–sightedness, and for leading significant developments in connecting Churches and initiatives of peace and reconciliation across the island of Ireland.