WEDNESDAY'S NEWS
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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.
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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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