Rev Karen Sethuraman is the first female Baptist Minister in Ireland and is currently a Pastor of SoulSpace, a Peace and Reconciliation hub, based in Belfast.
Her passion is peace and reconciliation/social justice and she is a champion of gender equality.
The Rev Karen is also one of the founders of Spectrum - a space set up in Belfast for LGBT+ people of faith. Karen feels particularly called to minister outside the Church walls, journeying with people who feel they ‘don’t fit’ in Church.
She has served as Chaplain to two Belfast Lord Mayors.
IT has been over a year since we have had a functioning Executive. I think it is safe to say that the majority of us are feeling a sense of weariness.
IT has been over a year since we have had a functioning Executive. I think it is safe to say that the majority of us are feeling a sense of weariness.
RECENTLY a multi-storey barge arrived in the South of England in preparation for housing approximately 500 migrants. Most of us tend to switch off the television and think this isn't our problem. Closer to home, we have protesters claiming 'Ireland is full' and belongs only to Irish people.
IN the midst of all the recent events celebrating the Good Friday Agreement, the highlight for me was the invitation to attend (and write a blessing) for the 'It is Different for Mothers' event held in Botanic Gardens, Belfast.
Holy Week provides us with the opportunity to reflect on the final days of Jesus' journey to the cross; his arrival in Jerusalem, washing the feet of his disciples, sharing a meal with a bunch of misfits; forgiving his enemies; and his death on the cross. That moment when he cries out: 'It is finished.'
PALM Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week and for many Christians this is an extremely significant week as we take the time to reflect ON the journey to the cross.
I WAS excited to learn about the recent launch of a new website for LGBT+ people of faith (you can check it out at www.inclusivefaith.lgbt). This new resource seeks to bring together stories, talks, courses, news and events, as well as signposting our LGBT+ Christians to inclusive faith groups.
OVER twenty years in ministry life has taught me that there are some paths we feel we must walk alone, but the truth is, we are never alone.
I HAVE found it both astonishing and heartbreaking to read about the recent protests held across our island claiming 'Ireland is Full.'
AS we step into Lent, we are reminded that Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness before starting His ministry.
BY now, most of you guys will know that I feel called to minister outside of the church walls, particularly with people who feel they ‘don’t fit’ in church.
I GREW up in the Church, and from an early age was sent to Church and Sunday School.
I’VE been off work for the past eight weeks due to doctor’s orders. Thankfully, my doctor has told me that I can return to things next week. One of the big life-lessons that I learnt from my time off is that there are times our bodies simply say no. No to…
Last autumn, I had the honour of delivering the invocation at our Belfast International Homecoming and speaking at the Ireland’s Future event in Dublin – ‘Together We Can’. For me, the thread that rang through both of the events I participated in was our sense of ‘Home’. I believe home is more than the bricks and roof over our heads; it is the place we belong and where we are with the people we feel most connected to. Yes, homes are messy and there are often many disagreements, but home is truly where our heart is. I admire the many people who day in and day out put their shoulder to the wheel to make our home better. Yes, we must work on improving our today, but we must also have our eye on the future. What is it we want to pass on to our children and grandchildren? Let’s together continue to make Belfast/Ireland a better place to live. I love our home and I love our people. Below is the invocation I read at the Belfast Homecoming: Our home… Where we are bigger than two communities.Our home… Where no-one is an addition.Our home… Where we all belong, whatever our background, our religion, our gender, our sexuality, whether we have faith or not – we all belong.Our home… Where our different stories make up the beautiful and messy tapestry of who we are and where we have been.Our home… Where we know pain and loss.Our home… Where we know what it is to hope and to heal.Our home… Where many peacemakers continue to pave the path of peace.Our home… Where our people are determined to better our today, with our eye on our future.Belfast/Ireland, is our home.To our global Irish family, our home is your home. Come home and make a difference. Come home and help us to build a brighter Belfast/Ireland.Work with us.Partner with us.Invest in us.Join in with us. Come home to make a difference. May we all MAKE a difference. May we all BE the difference.Welcome home.
I DON’T make New Year resolutions simply because I can never keep them. However, a New Year can help kick-start new beginnings and a new season – and I’m always up for that.