Diocesan News
CITI Ordinands Commissioned As Student Readers
CITI Student Readers
Twelve student ordinands have been commissioned as student readers at the Church of Ireland Theological Instute by Archbishop Michael Jackson.
They are: Philip Bryson (Connor), Jonathan McFarland (Connor), Peter Munce (Connor), Rebecca Guildea (Dublin and Glendalough), Danielle McCullagh (Connor), Stuart Moles (Connor), Geoff Hamilton (Down and Dromore), Nigel Cairns (Derry and Raphoe), Simon Scott (Dublin and Glendalough), Mark Gallagher (Armagh), Lucy Burden (Connor) and Chris St John (Down and Dromore) were commissioned during the Community Eucharist in the Institute Chapel.
In his sermon, Archbishop Jackson said it was important that people be commissioned to serve, challenge, obey and experiment in and from tradition in a spirit of holiness and dynamic of grace.
He focused on the word ‘Commissioning’. “Commissioning is an interesting word to unpick. Co–Mission–ing seem to me to express the three parts of this word and these parts draw us into the idea of sending and being sent out together with others. Connection and commitment are vital to this understanding of discipleship and ministry. And mission, therefore, forms the core of ministry,” he said.
He also said that mission had to be aggressive – not in the modern sense of the word but meaning that it had to be active in going towards those who are different from us.
“We have let the word: aggressive fall around our feet; we have used it to divide ourselves from others but this is not the primary or indeed best use of this word. It is for this reason that we need an active and not a passive understanding of mission and it is to this purpose that you are all being missioned together (commissioned) this evening by God, in this community and for the communities in which you will serve and work on any and every part–time basis,” Archbishop Jackson stated.
Diocesan Communications Officer, Dublin & Glendalough
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Lynn Glanville
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