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Doug and Elaine Baker
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Doug Baker has been under appointment as a PC(USA) mission worker since 1979 and Elaine Baker since 1985. Though their roles have changed over the years of their ministry in Northern Ireland, their ministry has always served the cause of peacemaking and reconciliation.
In 2005 Doug was asked to serve as regional liaison for Ireland and the United Kingdom. In this role, he facilitates Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) support for programs, relationships and activities involving partner denominations and agencies. This includes facilitating exchanges and work and study visits involving PC(USA)-related groups.
Doug continues in the role of site coordinator for the PC(USA)’s Young Adult Volunteer program in Northern Ireland. Young Adult Volunteers serve in communities of need at sites in the United States and internationally. In Northern Ireland their roles include work with at-risk young people through youth clubs, drop-in centers and tutoring programs, work with women’s and senior citizen’s groups and work assisting congregations to develop youth fellowship and other ministries. The volunteers get together regularly for reflection, prayer and community-building led by Doug, the program coordinator.
Besides his responsibilities as a regional liaison and YAV site coordinator, Doug continues to work as a consultant, facilitator and trainer with the Irish churches as they develop peace-building initiatives. From 2001 to 2005 Doug co-led Partners in Transformation, a time-limited joint initiative of the Irish School of Ecumenics and Mediation Northern Ireland, whose aim was to enhance, nurture and support the capacity of the Irish churches in their calling to be peace builders and agents of transformation.
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From 1997 to 2001 he was development officer with Mediation Northern Ireland, working primarily with the churches sector.
From 1979 to 1997 he was Christian education coordinator for the Corrymeela Community, a dispersed ecumenical community with membership drawn from both Catholic and Protestant churches in Ireland and committed to a ministry of reconciliation across social, political and religious divisions. In that position Doug supported the development of interchurch initiatives and cross-community encounter programs through which he established a broad base of contacts that has provided a strong foundation for his subsequent ministry.
Having been invited to take up recognized ministerial status in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Doug served as convener of the Race Relations Committee from 1993-99 and the Peacemaking Committee from 1999-2006. He now coordinates its Conciliation Panel and training.
“In spite of tremendous natural beauty, friendly people, and major contributions to science and industry,” writes Doug, “Northern Ireland is primarily known for its tragic history of sectarian violence. Since 1969 the ‘Troubles’ have claimed over 3800 lives. Thousands more have been injured, bereaved, left unemployed or been forced to move house as a result of intimidation.
“In 1994 Republican and Loyalist terror groups in Northern Ireland declared cease-fires, opening the way for multi-party talks. On Good Friday, 1998, eight regional political parties and the British and Irish governments reached an agreement on future structures for governing Northern Ireland.
“In referenda the majority of voters in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland endorsed this ‘Belfast Agreement.’ Elections to a new devolved Assembly in Northern Ireland and the setting-up of a power-sharing executive followed. Some paramilitary groups have also engaged in acts of decommissioning illegal weapons.
“This devolved Assembly was suspended on several occasions, when trust between parties broke down. However, an historic agreement in March 2007 between Northern Ireland’s two largest parties, the Democratic Unionist Party and Sinn Fein, paved the way for devolved power-sharing government to be restored. Deep disagreement and profound difficulties in finding agreed ways to deal with the past remain. Much else is also required to build a lasting peace. The healing process will still take many years.”
Doug graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1972 and received his Master of Divinity degree in 1976 from Princeton Theological Seminary. He served as associate pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, until his appointment to Ireland. Doug is a clergy member of the Presbytery of Donegal.
Elaine Baker is a native of Belfast and first became involved in reconciliation efforts with the Corrymeela Community in the early 1970s. From 1973 to 1984 she taught 11- to 18-year-olds at Belfast Royal Academy and contributed as a volunteer to various Corrymeela programs. She now does some substitute teaching and works alongside Doug on particular projects, including hosting the Young Adult Volunteers and visiting groups. Elaine is a member of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and an active elder in their local congregation, Stormont.
Elaine and Doug are the parents of three children, Niall, Fiona and Stephen.
Birthdays:
Doug - September 5
Elaine - May 22
Niall - March 6
Fiona - August 2
Stephen - December 7
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Thank you, Doug and Elaine, for doing this piece of God's work in Ireland. It's such important and inspiring work.
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Thanks Doug for your emailed update on the situation over there. My church is praying!
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Doug, We, or I, have had to postpone the EO trip to Northern Ireland. It was hard getting firm commitments due in no small measure to the shaky economy. So I hope I have not compromised any business that you might have scheduled because of our anticipated presence there in Belfast in early August. My sincere apologies if Idid. But I am not letting this opportunity for Presbyterians here in Texas to visit NI go by the boards. With more time to schedule and with a June target departure rather than August, I am hopeful that we can get the necessary numbers to make this a wonderful experience for all. I will get back with you later in the year when we know our projected target days in and around Belfast. Please give my regards to Elaine and to the rest of the Baker family. Thank you for all you do throughout Ireland. Jerry Hurst