New Training Council gets to work

Friday May 8th 2009

Connor Training Council (the Rev John McClure is absent). Connor’s new Diocesan Training Council in now in business, and its Executive Committee has held its first meeting.

The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, and the Archdeacon of Connor, the Ven Stephen Forde, are both ex-officio members of the Executive. Other members are: Chair – the Rev Paul Dundas (Christ Church, Lisburn); Deputy Chair – the Rev Jennifer Bell (Templepatrick and Donegore); the Rev Paddy McGlinchy (Queen’s University Chaplain); the Rev John McClure (Shankill); Mrs Paula Wright (Lisburn Cathedral); Ms Sharon Hamill (Queen’s University) and Miss Mavis Gibbons (Lambeg).

Peter Hamill is Connor Diocesan Training Co-ordinator.

The Executive is focusing on three areas, growth, unity and service. Growth will cover Commissioned Ministers, Fresh Expressions of Church (in conjunction with Connor Council for Mission) and Growing Leaders. Unity will cover the Diocese Within and Interchurch, while the areas of Pastoral Care, Hospital Lay Chaplaincy and Social Issues fall into the Service category.

Executive chair Paul Dundas said: “Under these headings Working Groups will be set up to explore these areas and report back to the Training Council on how these important issues can be developed.”

“The first couple of months are going to be very much exploratory as we look for people to come into these working groups which will play a vital role in moving things forward. The goal of our work is “to equip God’s people for works of service in the life of the Diocese, Parishes and Communities we serve the Lord.”

He added: “We would value the prayers of God’s people for each member of the new DTC and for God’s hand upon the way forward.”