THE Irish Council of Churches has appointed Dr Damian Jackson as its new general secretary.
He succeeds Dr Nicola Brady, and brings to the role five years' experience as programme officer with the ICC and the Irish Inter-Church Meeting.
"I'm excited to continue the work of my predecessors in the Irish Council of Churches and Irish inter-Church Meeting and look forward to supporting our member churches as they seek to use their distinctive voice to advocate for those who are unheard and marginalised in our society today," he said.
"While churches have much to learn and many challenges to respond to, particularly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, they also have a particular calling to justice and a reach throughout the island that offers great possibilities for positive interventions of hope."
ICC President Bishop Andrew Forster said Dr Jackson brought a "wide knowledge of the landscape of churches in Ireland to his new role".
"His passion for the pursuit of church unity in diversity is clear and that unity is the foundation upon which the collaboration between our churches in justice and reconciliation work is built,” he said.
Bishop Brendan Leahy of the Irish Bishops' Conference said Dr Jackson "will make a wonderful contribution".
"He is following in the line of many fine general secretaries who have served competently and with a great passion for the unity of Christians and the Irish Inter-Church Meeting over its almost 50 year history."
