Press Releases14 Oct 04

Ministry for all - making it work!

MINISTRY FOR ALL - MAKING IT WORK!

Thursday 14th October 2004

The Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Right Rev Ken Good, will be joined by 250 people who he has invited from parishes throughout his diocese to spend this Saturday (16 October) in the City Hotel, Londonderry, exploring fresh ways in which ministry can be developed.

The bishop will encourage delegates to Imagine a diocese in which more and more people, lay and ordained, are discovering creative ways in which to use their God-given gifts to make a difference in the church and in the community.

Rev Ted Woods, rector of Rathfarnham Parish in Dublin, will explore The DNA of a biblically functioning church, drawing on his experience of enabling people to exercise a broad range of ministries. Peter Hamill, Training Coordinator in Connor Diocese, will highlight what can be achieved through Training, training, training. Several delegates will briefly tell their story about how they got involved in different aspects of ministry.

This day conference is part of the dioceses response to the Summit on Ministry process in which the Church of Ireland has recently been engaged. Bishop Ken Good is chairman of the Commission on Ministry and Ven. Donald McLean, Archdeacon of Derry, is also one of its members.

The Bishop is very hopeful about the impact of the day. He said: "I have long had a strong conviction that the mobilization of effective ministry, lay and ordained, is pivotal in renewing the church and impacting the community for good. This event should clarify our vision and excite our imagination with what God can do in us and through us."