https://k8s-accounts-01.ulster.ac.uk/repo24/files/original/4d4b18738106eff7ad67fa9bbda7105d.pdf ea09f7c1e872d100013f8dee3dc897c3 PDF Text Text UP Standing storybook_Layout 1 04/12/2013 11:08 Page 23 Supporting Mixed Marriages Anne Odling-Smee We came to Northern Ireland in 1970 as my husband obtained a post here as a surgeon. We are in a Mixed Marriage and have raised our children within our two traditions, baptising them alternately as Roman Catholic and Anglican (Church of Ireland). In 1974 I was introduced to people who were starting a support group for couples planning or in a mixed marriage. We had experienced a certain amount of critical and indeed unchristian comment because we had married outside of our tradition and so had the people with whom we decided to become involved. In the early days of the Northern Ireland Mixed Marriage Association (NIMMA), as we called the support group, we spent a lot of time helping and supporting each other and the couples who made enquiries by letter or telephone. It was not safe to use our own numbers as many people felt it wise to be ex-directory but Corrymeela House sheltered us as a postal address and telephone enquiry point. We were helping couples to understand the guidelines which the churches were supposed to follow about the conduct of a mixed marriage ceremony or baptism, but also to provide support when they faced other obstacles. For example, we had a couple where the bride was a Catholic and her family were very hostile to her marrying a Protestant and so would have no part in the wedding. The ceremony was arranged but where to celebrate it? NIMMA decided to provide the food and the reception took place in the nearby home of hospitable members. 23 �UP Standing storybook_Layout 1 04/12/2013 11:08 Page 24 Another issue we worked on was housing. It was at a very troubled time in Northern Ireland and a couple came to us who were living in a Catholic housing estate, but the husband as a Protestant felt unsafe and they needed to move. So we contacted our friends in the Association of Inter Church Families in England. They found a clergyman who with the help of his congregation found a house into which our couple could move. Housing has been a big issue, particularly if as a couple you did not have enough money to choose where you lived. When people were intimidated we could put them in touch with Housing Aid and other organisations and we began to campaign for Housing without Labels, but a big change needed to happen. After the Good Friday Agreement the Housing Executive announced that they were working out a strategy for Shared Social Housing as so many of their estates were segregated and not safe for people in mixed marriages, nor often for ethnic minority people. NIMMA was given a place on the Advisory Board and so we were able to explain what our couples needed and urgently. The housing application forms had three categories ‘Catholic,’ ‘Protestant’ and ‘Other’ - but we are not other. We are inter church, cross community and mixed. We bring two traditions to the table. After a good discussion it was agreed that a category ‘Mixed’ would be added so that couples could apply for a house in a Shared Neighbourhood, or in a Shared Development – housing without labels. In NIMMA we know that as a group you can make structures change so that those people who want to be together, not separate, can be so. We think this is what being a Christian means. A great many people in Churches and wider society have done their best to help. It just needs to become infectious - NO LABELS. 24 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Up Standing - Stories of courage from Northern Ireland (collection) Description An account of the resource A collection of 16 personal stories, published in book format and DVD, related to the Northern Ireland conflict. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Corrymeela Community in partnership with Facing History and Ourselves. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Corrymeela Community Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1 May 2013 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Document Language A language of the resource English Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Northern Ireland | 1968-2013 Relation A related resource Pettis, Sean. (ed.) (2013). Up Standing: Stories of Courage from Northern Ireland. 36. Belfast: The Corrymeela Press. URL Non DC - URL of Organisation / Project http://www.storiesofcourage.net/ Subject The topic of the resource "‘UP Standing - Stories of courage from Northern Ireland’ features diverse accounts from people who stood up to violence, discrimination or prejudice in Northern Ireland. It provides a window into often untold stories of courage that individuals have shown in the context of a divided and often violent society." (Up Standing; 2013; back cover) Availability Online Non DC - Availabilty Status (deposited, delayed, external, cain) deposited Organisation ID Non DC - ID for the Organisation that relates to this entry 25 Stories Collected Non DC - Number of stories recorded as part of the project. 16 Stories Deposited Non DC - Number of stories deposited with Accounts of the Conflict. 9 Collection Permission Form Non DC - Collection permission form signed and returned. Yes (signed 13 November 2014) Delayed Access Non DC - Yes/No on request for delayed access. No Publication A book, article, monograph etc. Author Author of the publication Anne Odling-Smee Date Type Publication, Submission, Completion date etc. 2013; Publication Publication Title Full title of publication, as it appears on item. 'Supporting Mixed Marriages', chapter, in, Pettis, Sean. (ed.) (2013). Up Standing: Stories of Courage from Northern Ireland. Belfast: The Corrymeela Press. Also available at: <a href="http://www.storiesofcourage.net/" target="_blank">http://www.storiesofcourage.net/</a> Publisher Location Place of publication: city / town Belfast Publisher The Corrymeela Press Publication Type Report, Book, Manual etc. Chapter in book Number of Pages 2 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Supporting Mixed Marriages, by Anne Odling-Smee (story text) Description An account of the resource One of 16 personal accounts that were published in the book: 'Up Standing: Stories of courage from Northern Ireland'. (2013). Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource The Corrymeela Community in partnership with Facing History and Ourselves. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available The Corrymeela Press Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2013 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource PDF version of book chapter Language A language of the resource English Availability Online Non DC - Availabilty Status (deposited, delayed, external, cain) deposited Catalogue ID Non DC - ID for the Catalogue entry that relates to this entry 2141 Corrymeela Community Up Standing