Clooney to host Church conference

'Going Local' is a conference that any church member or leader who wants to find new ways of engaging with the needs of their local community will find useful. It is organised by CREED Ireland, in association with the Derry & Raphoe Diocesan Volunteering Project.

Workshops such as 'Pushing out the Boat' may seem aptly titled for an event on the Foyle. However, it is not about seafaring but about helping church members go beyond their comfort zone when thinking about local needs.

This will be led by Rev Robert Miller (Rector of Christchurch group in Londonderry). With the financial squeeze on everyone's mind other workshops such as "Money Follows Vision', led by Basil O'Malley from Lurgan, will have an obvious attraction. The keynote speaker will be Gordon McDade.

CREED Ireland has a track record of working with churches of every denomination that want to take community initiatives in their locality. It has experience of working with groups in places as diverse as Belfast, Fermanagh, Tipperary, Dublin and the north west.

A spokesperson for CREED Ireland and the Derry & Raphoe Diocesan Volunteering Project said: "All over our community churches of every denomination want to help make things better in their locality."

He continued: "Going Local is all about encouragement and giving practical advice. People from every church in our community are warmly welcome."

The conference begins at 9.30am and finishes by 12.30pm, with refreshments included in the 5 cost. For further information or queries contact [email protected] or phone 028 38324578.

CREED was formed in 2006 as a group of people with particular experience in taking church-based community projects and programmes from concept to completion.

For further information visit www.creedireland.com. The Derry and Raphoe Volunteering Project is a diocesan initiative to promote volunteering in the community.