Leader’s biographies 2008
5-11 April, Daleep Mukarji, Acting Justly
Daleep Mukarji trained as a medical doctor in a Christian Medical College in Vellore, India. He began his career in a leprosy hospital in Andhra Pradesh before moving to Medak, where he ran a 125-bed mission hospital. In 1977 he established a rural health and community development programme at the College in Vellore, and in 1985 was appointed General Secretary of the Christian Medical Association of India - the health agency of the National Christian Council of Churches in India. In 1994 he took up the post of Executive Secretary for Health, Community and Justice at the World Council of Churches in Geneva. His post as Director of Christian Aid began in April 1998. He has been chair of APRODEV (a network of European development agencies), of BOAG (British Overseas Aid Agencies) and is a trustee of the Disasters Emergencies Committee (DEC).
24-30 May, Alastair McIntosh, Greenbelt on Iona
Alastair McIntosh is an Isle of Lewis-raised writer, broadcaster and campaigning academic best known for his work on land reform on Eigg, in helping to stop the Harris superquarry. He holds a degree of BSc in geography, submajoring in psychology and moral philosophy from the University of Aberdeen (1977), an MBA, specialising in finance, from the University of Edinburgh (1981). Alastair’s work seeks to connect people, place and spirituality into a more full understanding of community. As a Quaker, he approaches this from both Christian and interfaith perspectives. He lives with his wife Vérène in the Greater Govan area of Glasgow, where he is a founding director of the GalGael Trust working with local people in hard-pressed circumstances.
31 May-6 June, Mary Low, Holy Places of the Highlands and Islands
Mary Low is a writer and post-doctoral fellow at Edinburgh University. Her books include Celtic Christianity and Nature, and Cherish the Earth.
7-13 June, Rosemary Power, Celts, Saxons and Spirituality
Rosemary Power, a Member of the Iona Community, works as a minister in an ecumenical post in Swindon. Formerly in academic life, she currently publishes on the Hebrides in the Middle Ages and on folk tradition, including both ‘Celtic’ and industrial tradition. She is currently writing a book on the modern Celtic Spirituality movement.
14-20 June, Sheila Crotty, Celts, Saxons and Spirituality
I live in Walthamston, East London, work in the local hospital and play the flute at St. Patrick’s Church
14-20 June, Mary Brownlow, Rediscovering Sacred Time
Mary Brownlow is an ordained pastor in the United Church of Christ and works at the Norwich Congregational Church in Norwich, Vermont. She also works as a hospice chaplain. She is happy that her work includes writing, working with teenagers, spending time with people at the end of life, interfaith dialogue, and travel. She has 3 grown children and loves walking the long distance trails in the UK.
21-27 June, Martin Shaw, The Marks of Christian Spirituality
Martin Shaw is the Bishop of Argyll and The Isles (The Scottish Episcopal Church). His main concern is for discovering an inclusive spiritual dynamic for our own time both for individuals and for structures. Martin is a singer and uses music as a way of helping others to enter into contemplative prayer. He is married to Elspeth whose skills are in counselling with those who suffer from addictions. His daughter Madeleine is an opera singer and his son Ben is responsible for the operations of an event management company in London.
28 June-4 July, Joyce Gunn Cairns, Dancing in Fire
I am a visual artist with art work (portrait heads of writers and expressive figurative work) in several public and private collections. The Scottish National Portrait Gallery has two fo my drawings of George MacLeod in its permanent collection. I drew Kathy Galloway in her capacity as poet and writer as well as current Leader of the Iona Community. Some of my work can be viewed on www.joycegunncairns.com and on Google. I have been a member of the Iona Community for 26 years. Both my sons, Tim and Michael Shand, are actively involved with issues concerning the Iona community.
5-11 July, Alastair Cameron, Rebuilding Walls and Extending Boundaries
Alastair has been Chief Executive of Scottish Churches Housing Action since its foundation in 1994. His working background is in community development, and he has worked in homelessness in Scotland since the mid-1980s. He is a Quaker. Leisure time is spent in the allotment or playing his mandolin.
5-11 July, Janice Clark, Rebuilding Walls and Extending Boundaries
Janice Clark has served as a mission partner with her husband, Peter, with the Methodist Church in Papua New Guinea, Portugal, and Mozambique. She is a former secretary of the World Federation of Methodist and Uniting Church Women and at present is the Development Officer, Scotland, for Habitat for Humanity.
30 August-5 September, Ian Bradley, Believing in Britain
6-12 September, Ian Bradley, Pilgrimage
Ian Bradley is Reader in Practical Theology and Church History at St. Andrews University, Associate Minister of Holy Trinity Church, St. Andrews, and Church of Scotland chaplain at St. Andrews University. He is a prolific author and broadcaster.
13-19 September, Alison Adam, Taking the Song Back Home
Alison Adam works to help congregations explore fresh approaches for worship. Formerly of the Wild Goose resource Group of the Iona Community, she appears on all their recordings. Her main joy in her work is getting people singing and she works with all ages, in churches, schools and anywhere folk want to sing!
13-19 September, Gillian Cummins, Taking the Song Back Home
Gillian Cummins has a background in music education, working in Cumbria, London and some places in between from time to time! She has a particular interest in nurturing musicianship through singing and movement. From January 2006 to October 2007, Gillian was resident musician for the Iona Community on Iona.
20-26 September, Jane Fitzgerald and Susie Tilzey, What Does Love Require?
Jane is an Associate Member of the Iona Community. We are both doctors and yoga teachers. We have been partners for over twenty years, and Quakers for about ten. We have run a number of workshops on different aspects of Quaker Spirituality and Testimony for Sheffield and Balby Area Quaker Meeting.
18-24 October, Helen Lambie, Bread and Poetry
Caterer and Baker. Member of resident group 1998-2001.
18-24 October, Joy Mead, Bread and Poetry
Member of the Iona Community, poet and writer involved in development education, justice, peace and environmental activities.
