Press Releases19 May 22

Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin welcome new Irish Council of Churches General Secretary

The Archbishops of Armagh and Dublin have welcomed the appointment of Dr Damian Jackson as General Secretary of the Irish Council of Churches which was announced yesterday (Wednesday, 18th May 2022).

The Archbishop of Armagh, the Most Revd John McDowell, remarked “I would like to add my voice to the many friends and colleagues of Dr Damian Jackson on his appointment as General Secretary of the Irish Council of Churches (ICC) and Co–Secretary of the Irish Inter–Church Meeting (IICM), which together compose the National Ecumenical Instruments in Ireland.

“As a long–term member of the governing councils of both bodies and as relatively recent President of ICC and Co–Chair of IICM I have had the good fortune to work with Damian over the last ten years and have always valued his expertise, scholarship, enthusiasm and adaptability.

“He takes up this post (not long after Bishop Andrew Forster took up the President’s role) at a crucial time in inter–church relationships. At a time which has occasionally been characterised as ‘an ecumenical winter,’ the Churches in Ireland have enjoyed very good relations. More importantly we have not just talked together but also worked together to help equip our respective traditions to address such subjects as homelessness, racism, the strains inevitably attending Brexit, and many others.

“Damian has been a key member of the team who have, in effect,  been the executive arm of this work, and I have every confidence that he will take on the responsibilities of leadership in the same  positive and measured manner.

“I look forward to working closely with Damian in the future.”

The Archbishop of Dublin, the Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, said: “I welcome the appointment of Dr Damian Jackson as General Secretary of the Irish Council of Churches in succession to Dr Nicola Brady.

“Damian brings to this role a compassion for the marginalized along with a keen sense of theological integrity and ecclesial integration.

“We in Dublin know Damian’s work very well and share the confidence of those who have made this appointment. We know that Damian will enrich and enhance the life of Irish society through encouraging the witness to Jesus Christ on the part of individuals and institutions.

“I thank Damian for his friendship and wish him every blessing under God in this work.”