This week’s featured organisation from the 4 Corners Networking events is Joanmount Methodist Church. The contribution was written by its minister, Rev Stephen Thompson and focuses on its Open Door initiative.
Joanmount Methodist Church: Open Door
Contact – Stephen Thompson stevebbc2000@yahoo.co.uk
We are a Methodist Church in North Belfast, situated on the Oldpark. As part of our missional ethos, the Church established a charity a number of years ago, named Open Door, aimed at reaching out to others in the local community. One of the strands emanating from the Open Door strategy is a focus upon peace-building through various projects that aim to bring different understandings together through interaction and dialogue. Projects include a weekly luncheon club for our more senior members of the community from both sides of the religious traditions and on-going dialogue between the clergy.
Open Door aims to pursue the realisation that commonality exceeds difference, and that through interaction and mutual understanding and respect, a coming together is not only natural but longer lasting.