WEDNESDAY'S NEWS

Commission presents vision of future ministry

Ministry is changing at grass roots level and the Church needs to acknowledge and encourage growth of new ministry models, urged speakers for the Commission on Ministry in the course of a special presentation delivered to the General Synod this afternoon.

Synod members were given an overview of new models of ministry being developed in the Church, including collaborative ministry, where clergy and laity work together to develop their parish in a variety of areas, and team ministry, where full-time stipendiary ministers work together with non-stipendiary, part time or retired clergy. Members also heard of the “mission-shaped church” of Moneyreagh Parish in the Diocese of Down and Dromore, which meets in venues including the local pub.

The Synod also heard some findings of the Commission’s research into innovations such as the appointment of lay administrators and diocesan training officers, and learned about schemes such as the “Network Course”, designed to help parishes make optimum use of the talents of their members.

The way in which the Church resources and supports ministry is informed by the theology of ministry and Dean Stephen White of Killaloe introduced a paper on this important aspect. Challenging the notion of ordination as conferring special status on the priest, he contended that the ever-increasing role of lay people should be viewed as a fundamental restructuring of the Church’s view of ministry. Dean White called for a redefinition of ministry as a function rather than a status and for a new understanding of baptism rather than ordination as the beginning of ministry.

Finally, a vision of the future Church was offered by Ruth Handy of the Diocese of Dublin and Glendalough, who suggested a more flexible approach that enabled local communities to develop structures to meet their particular spiritual and pastoral needs and to facilitate outreach in different situations.

Rev Canon Cecil Hyland & Mrs Avril Forrest presenting for the Commission on Ministry

Resource Paper: The Theology of Ministry - Rt Rev Michael Mayes & Very Rev SR White

Draft Paper on the Theology of Ministry - Rt Rev Michael Mayes & Very Rev SR White

Leadership and Ordination - Rt Rev Ken Good

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