The Irish Council of Churches and the Irish Inter Church Meeting, along with church leaders invite you to their conference on Saturday 17 January 2026 in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry. All details below.
Date: Saturday 17th January 2026
Location: Canal Court Hotel, Newry, Co Down
Time: 10.00am to 3.30pm (Lunch 13.00 – 13.45)
Booking: Tickets cost £10 and can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/
1870086843089?aff=oddtdtcreator
Overview: By bringing theology, science, government and lived church practice into conversation, organisers aim that the conference will address the issues of Lough Neagh and the wider biodiversity crisis, strengthen cooperation across denominations in creation care, and encourage measurable, hope-filled action rooted in faith.
Morning Session – Keynote speakers:
Dr Hillary Marlow, researcher, writer and tutor on theology and the environment, Girton College, Cambridge
Dr Jim McAdam, environmental and agricultural researcher in the government sector in Northern Ireland and Queens University, Belfast
Dr Gail Heffner, author of Reconciliation in a West Michigan Watershed and co-founder of plaster Creek Stewards
Andrew Muir MLA, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, will attend, alongside a government representative from the Republic of Ireland.
Afternoon Session: “What contributions can and do churches make to Creation Care?”
An opportunity to hear about, and discuss, how the practical work of creation care is being done in local churches
Topics and Speakers:
Eco Congregation Ireland (ECI) – How Members are Contributing to Creation Care – Jim Farrell, Chair, ECI
Creation Care in a Minority Church – Roy Douglas, Moravian Church and Queen’s University Belfast Emeritus Professor, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and CSO of Catagen Ltd, a Net-Zero Technology Company
Measuring Impact of Creation Care in the Archdiocese of Dublin – Róisín Nic Cóil, Technical Project Manager
Volunteering for Creation Care – Experiences from Methodist Centenary Church (MCC), Dublin 6 – Maureen Rowan, Eco Congregation Coordinator at MCC
There will be a short Q&A after each presentation.
Throughout the day, there will be discussion, prayer, reflection and music.
Further info from: [email protected]