COMMUNICATION FROM THE HOUSE OF BISHOPS ON THE THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

The House of Bishops wishes to continue its procedure, initiated at last year's General Synod, of reporting on the work of the Theological College Council.  The Council is representative of the Standing Committee, The Representative Church Body, the Theological College staff and the student body, in addition to the Bishops.

Since last year two new members have joined the Council, the Reverend Dr. David Hewlett and Mr. Robert Sherwood.  Dr. Hewlett is Principal of the South Ministry Training Course which prepares ordinands for the Church of England and the Methodist Church.  He is no stranger to the Church of Ireland Theological College in that he was lecturer in Systematic Theology from 1986 to 1991 and has acted as external examiner for pastoral theology since 1996.  Mr. Robert Sherwood is well known to members of the General Synod as Chief Officer and Secretary of the Representative Church Body.  He has been a member of the Management Committee of the College for the past twelve years.

Ms. Susan Parkes, Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin and formerly of the School of Education and the Reverend Canon Kenneth Kearon, Director of the Irish School of Ecumenics, have joined the Academic Committee in addition to Dr. Hewlett.

The Theological College Council is chaired by the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, the Academic Committee by the Bishop of Down and Dromore and the Management Committee by the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe.  The House of Bishops wishes to thank all those who serve on the Council and the Committees for the thorough and efficient way in which they have carried out their work.

An important part of the programme during the past year has been the ongoing attempt to clarify and establish the precise responsibilities of the Council and the Committees.  The aim is to ensure the maximum co-ordination of the overall work of the College and to establish effective lines of communication.  The Council is developing procedures and codes of practice in various areas including appointments, health and safety, behaviour and discipline of students.

Since last year two new appointments have been made to the staff of the College.  The Reverend Kevin Moroney as Chaplain-Tutor and the Reverend Bernadette Daly as Director of Pastoral Studies.  The Reverend Norman McCausland and Dr. Andrew Pierce have resigned from the College staff and appreciation and thanks are expressed for their work.

The Reverend Canon Professor John Bartlett will retire as Principal of the Theological College at the end of August this year. Since his appointment as Principal in 1989 he has given wholehearted service to the College and has been personally involved in every aspect of College life. Not only a succession of ordinands but the whole Church of Ireland owes him a debt of gratitude. The House of Bishops wishes to place on record its warm appreciation of his work and offers good wishes on his retirement as Principal.

The House of Bishops supports and encourages the review now taking place regarding the current curriculum and the development of new models of training for ministry both stipendiary and auxiliary.

The prayers and enthusiastic support of the whole Church are essential as a new Principal is appointed and as developments take place in the vital area of the training and formation of ordinands for the ministry of the Church of Ireland.