News

The Rev'd Cameron Mack, our Curate Assistant, launched a volume of the Braemor Studies series in the Church of Ireland Theological Institute. His book is an adapted version of his final year thesis, completed while serving the Cathedral as a Deacon.

The Braemor Studies series comprises the final year theses of MTh students which have been selected for publication by the external examiner. Dr Raymond Refaussé, on behalf of Church of Ireland Publishing, noted that the series arose from the recognition that there was a lack of publications in the area of theology. This led to a collaboration with CITI and the final year students.

Launching Cameron Mack’s book, Professor David Shepherd of the Loyola Institute at Trinity College Dublin, said that the book begins by suggesting that the most relevant parts of Deuteronomy for the Church today are those which are least appealing to the modern reader. “Cameron’s argument in this book is that the purpose of Deuteronomy, or at least the first half of it … was not to bore its readers, not even to persuade its readers, but to actually form its readers. And that’s a bold claim,” he said.

He noted that the use of the language of ‘you’ and ‘we’ seeks to make the story the reader’s own story. He said Cameron saw something similar in Cranmer’s Daily Office, for example in a Canticle like the Magnificat, when we recite Mary’s words which can then become our own words.  He added that Cameron noted that Deuteronomy lived up to its Greek name (meaning ‘second law’) through the use of repetition and this too is facilitated by the Daily Office at Matins and Evensong.

Professor Shepherd commended the book, stating that it was beautifully written and explored how Scripture and liturgy encouraged us to become not just hearers of the word but doers of the word.

In response, Cameron Mack said that he was a ‘prayer-book person’ but his book was not an act of ‘prayer-book fundamentalism’. “What I was really trying to do was talk about what the Scriptures are, and to talk about what we do when we read them, and what we do when we live a life that centres around reading them in worship,” he said. “It is my hope that whoever reads this volume is helped to see how the Scriptures invite us to participate with all of ourselves in lively ways in the story that is our story.” He thanked all who supported the publication of the book.

On the same day, the Rev'd Andrew Neill (Curate Assistant in Limavady) also launched his entry in the Braemor Studies series. Dr Peter Hamill, Secretary to the Board for Ministry with Children and Families and the General Synod Board of Education (Northern Ireland) introduced the book, commending its timeliness in raising awareness of children’s ministry and the vital work carried out in parishes.

The Collision of Worlds: Counter-Formation Through Interactivity with Scripture in Deuteronomy and the Daily Office is written by Cameron Mack. Exploration and Meaning: Considering Faith Formation in Children Aged Six to Eleven is the work of Andrew Neill.

Both books are available on the Church of Ireland website – at the price of £8.50 / €10.00 – through the following links:

Collision of Worlds: Counter-Formation Through Interactivity with Scripture in Deuteronomy and the Daily Office by Cameron Mack
https://store.ireland.anglican.org/store/product/187/collision-of-worlds

Exploration and Meaning: Considering Faith Formation in Children Aged Six to Eleven by Andrew Neill
https://store.ireland.anglican.org/store/product/188/exploration-and-meaning-considering-faith-formation

With thanks to Lynn Glanville (Communications Officer for Dublin and Glendalough) for report and photographs.  A full photo album is available in our Flickr gallery at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCg7Dr