Sir, - The Deans of Christ Church and St Patrick's raised some important issues that need clarification (October 8th).
At the outset we would like to thank the Christian denominations, including the church of the majority denomination, for already offering the use of their buildings for the ecumenical celebrations of 2,000 years of Christian living and witness. We are recommending the use of the National Concert Hall for the following reasons:
The nature of the creative celebration we are planning, expressed in music, word and image, will best be suited to a building which allows for flexibility of expression. This celebration at 3 p.m. on January 2nd, 2000, will give an opportunity to people to join in an event which will also support the work of Third World charities.
We are informed, because of the logistics involved, that there is no possibility of television coverage, apart from a small news clip, if we use a church. We are anxious that all Christians and people of good will can join in the celebration through the television coverage.
We are excited by a possibility of linking up through television with Christians in Northern Ireland, who will be celebrating at the same time as us in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. The witness of Christians, North and South, being united in prayer, at the dawn of a new millennium is an opportunity we feel should not be missed.
Finally, we hope that on this unique occasion we will be able to celebrate together, simply as Christians, without emphasising from which denomination either the participants or the leaders of the celebration come from. - Yours, etc.,
Rev Martin Tierney (Roman Catholic), George Clarke (Dublin Council of Churches), Rev Frank Sellar (Presbyterian), Rev Des Baine (Methodist), Rev Pat O'Donoghue (Roman Catholic), St Audoen's, High Street, Dublin 8.