Faith and Life
This area of Christian education work supports Corrymeela members working within their own churches, by providing opportunities for wider ecumenical education. Corrymeela provides a number of programs that allow people to explore the explicit connection between Christian faith and contemporary issues. This work enables them to grow in their understanding of different Christian traditions. It also offers new approaches in worship and new models for Christian education which can be used in both parish and other settings.
Our work encourages the development of inter-church
contact and cooperation. Frequently, programs bring groups from neighboring
churches of different denominations together to build cross-community
relationships, deepen mutual understanding and consider possible areas of
partnership in their own districts.
Corrymeela supports those engaged in community work from a Christian
perspective. Events such as 'Summerfest', a Christian festival held
every three years, are also organized.
"The first thing I went to was
Summerfest. To me it was something very different to what I had experienced
before in my own religious Christian circles. There was a great variety
of people there with a richness of experience. Groups that I had been involved
with before, either large or small, tended to focus on going along particular
avenues. At Summerfest there was a feeling of freedom and creativity. I
felt that I could be nurtured here with a group of people who shared my
Christian faith; people who wanted to integrate spirituality with the rest
of their lives."
(Male Adult Summerfest participant)