Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that the Council, at its meeting on 1st September, agreed that the undernoted Notice of Motion which had been proposed by Councillor Kingston be referred to the Committee for consideration and report:

      “The Council notes that this year marks the 400th anniversary of one of the English language’s most pre-eminent books – the King James Version of the Bible.

      The Council recognises that this publication combined an accuracy of translation with an authoritative and poetic use of language which has made it the most widely used version of the Bible, with over one billion sales. The Council recognises also the significance of the role which the King James Bible played in the development and the global spread of the English language, with a richness of expression which has enhanced our language and continues to do so to this day.

      The Council commends those churches and groups in Belfast and elsewhere which have organised events and activities in recognition of the 400th anniversary of this treasure in the Christian heritage of our country and requests the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee to give consideration as to how the Council might also recognise this important and historic anniversary.”

            The Good Relations Manager reported that, in order to provide the Committee with proper information, some initial consultations had been held with Councillor Kingston and Mr. John Doherty from the Bible Society Northern Ireland, with a view to looking at how best to mark that anniversary should the Committee decide to adopt the Motion.  She explained that there were a number of events being planned by several churches and groups in Belfast to mark the anniversary.  Therefore, to complement those events that were happening at a community level, the option of delivering a lunch?time event in the City Hall had emerged as a potentially appropriate way to mark that anniversary.  In consultation with the Bible Society Northern Ireland, that event could take the form of a selection of the following activities:

·         contributions of biblical phrases that still held good in the Belfast speech today;

·         a shared reading of a passage of the Bible by senior church representatives in Belfast

·         a display of items associated with the King James bible, such as different historical versions, ancient Greek and Hebrew texts, an audio display, along with other translations;

·         locating the King James version of the Bible within the historical chronology of Bible translations.

            The display could remain within the City Hall for a short time after the event. 

            The Good Relations Manager indicated that up to a maximum of £1,500 would be required to organise and run the lunch-time event to cover the cost of refreshments and the transport and positioning of artefacts.  It might be possible to fund the event from the Good Relations budget, 75% of which could be recouped from the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister through the District Councils Good Relations Programme.  It that were not possible, then the costs could be met from the Civic Hospitality budget. 

            The Committee agreed to:

(i)      hold a lunch-time event in November, along the lines of the above-mentioned content in partnership with the Bible Society Northern Ireland;

(ii)     facilitate an on-going display of items for a short period following the event in order to enable those who could not attend to view the artefacts.