The new president of the Methodist Church in Ireland, Rev Ivan McElhinney, who was installed at a ceremony in Belfast last night, has warned against religious fundamentalism.
He said "it has been observed that religious fanatics are people who love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength, and hate their different-minded neighbours with all their guts! From any such a spirit as that may the good Lord always deliver us."
He said in Ireland today cross-cultural understanding and inter-faith dialogue have acquired a new relevance and urgency.
"One has only to walk the streets of my home town of Donegal to see that even our small towns and villages have become multi-racial communities, and that in healthcare, the catering industry, and in many other sectors of our economy those from elsewhere in the world now make an invaluable contribution to the common good in this country."
He continued: "We need to apply our minds and hearts to mutual respect and love of one another - across every barrier that divides the human family.
"Only if we succeed in this will there be Shalom, peace and welfare for all in the Ireland of the 21st century."
Methodists had always been a minority in Ireland "and maybe we can understand those who are in a minority. In many parts of the country our membership is wonderfully multi-racial. . . But we all know that we have to live out our love for one another and for others in a world and in a country where there is much raw hatred, division and conflict of interest."
Rev McElhinney is 59. He was born at Ardnagesson, near Donegal town, and received his education at Drummahoul national school and the vocational school in Donegal town. He farmed for three years and then worked with the Magee tailoring company in Donegal town before he began training for ministry in 1967.
He has served in Belfast and in the Caribbean and Americas. Since 1980 he has been a minister on the Pettigo and Irvinestown circuit, at Ballynahinch, Glengormley, Mountpottinger and Joanmount.
