New Church of Ireland Chaplain for the Ulster Hospital
Congratulations to Ballybeen parishioner, James Cunningham, who has been appointed as the Church of Ireland chaplain at the Ulster Hospital. He will join the team led by Revd Don Gamble.
James’ says that his pastoral work is inspired by Jesus’ encounter with the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
“Jesus shared their journey, listened to their concerns, and brought hope to them by explaining the scriptures. That is what I aim to do – to journey with patients and bring them comfort and hope from God’s word. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” as a certain top team would say!”
James’ own journey began with his personal commitment to Christ aged 10 at a Sunday School Summer Camp on the Isle of Man. In 2006 he was baptised and confirmed as an adult in St Mary’s and also commissioned as the Parish Reader. “That was a really significant day in my life,” he says “and it was then that God began to stir up in me a bit of a spiritual unrest.”
Fast forward to 2016–17 when, with the encouragement of his rector, James completed the Ministry Foundation Course as part of his exploration of the ordained ministry. He enjoyed the course but decided not to take it any further. James still wasn’t sure what was ahead but during the last vacancy in Ballybeen he volunteered to take on the hospital visiting for the parish and helped to set up a Parish Visitor/Pastoral Care Team.
“When I met the Chaplain at the Ulster Hospital, it turned out that he was an old BB and Youth Fellowship friend of mine, Revd Don Gamble. By the end of our meeting, Don had invited me to join the chaplaincy team as a volunteer. I think my wife Lilian was somewhat shocked, as I generally couldn’t stand hospitals. As many others can testify, God has a knack of taking us in the direction we least expect!
“That started my chaplaincy journey, under the mentorship of Revd Ken Connor at Lagan Valley Hospital and then the Revd Ken Smyth at the Ulster Hospital. It is a real privilege to be able to minister to someone at what is often a vulnerable time in their life. I quickly found it a really good fit for me – I’m a people person and love to hear people’s stories. God has given all of us a story and each one is as important as the next.
”As I begin this new chapter I want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone – too numerous to mention – who has encouraged me and challenged me along the way.”
James has received excellent training through the NI Healthcare Chaplains Association and last year completed his first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) – a professional qualification in chaplaincy. He will begin a second unit of CPE in a few months’ time.
Pray for James in his new role
Please pray that I would be enabled to follow Jesus’ example – journeying with and comforting people in their time of need, to be obedient to the call of God and the prompting of his Spirit.
To God be the glory!