Landmark ordination service
The Parish of Shankill, Lurgan, hosted a landmark service on Sunday 28th August when the first deacon interns in the Church of Ireland were ordained in the Diocese of Down and Dromore.
In 2009 The Church of Ireland changed the way in which it trains candidates for ordination, moving to the degree of Master in Theology. The programme combines a strong academic emphasis with a practice–based model of learning and the new deacons will complete internships in their parishes. Not until they are ordained priest, hopefully in a year’s time, will they become curates, very possibly in a different parish.
Those ordained deacon by the Bishop of Down and Dromore, The Rt Revd Harold Miller were: Caroline Mansley, to serve in Willowfield; Colin McConaghie to serve in Seagoe; Matthew Milliken to serve in Shankill and Emma Rutherford to serve in Ballynafeigh. Revd Noel Gordon, currently serving as a curate in Willowfield, was also ordained priest.
At the same service, the Bishop of Clogher–elect, Revd John McDowell, was presented with his episcopal ring, Revd McDowell served for 9 years as rector of St Mark’s Dundela, a church famous for its connections with C.S. Lewis. He will be consecrated as Bishop on Friday 23 September at St Macartin’s Cathedral, Enniskillen.
The preacher at the service was The Revd Duncan McLea, Minister in Charge of Christ Church Kenilworth, Cape Town, where he has served for the past 22 years. The Revd McLea also led the deacons and priest in their pre–ordination retreat.
View a few photos in the gallery here.