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Sunday School Society for Ireland appoints Children’s Ministry Development Officer

Wednesday September 25th 2013

The Sunday School Society for Ireland has appointed Lydia Monds as Children’s Ministry Development Officer.

Lydia, who will take up her new role in October 2013, is Education Officer for The Church of Ireland Bishops’ Appeal – the Church’s world aid and development programme – a job she will continue in conjunction with her new role.

After studying theology at Trinity College Dublin, Lydia obtained her teaching qualifications and worked as a second level RE teacher, followed by the role of International Programme Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity Ireland.

In this capacity, Lydia wrote and delivered the charity’s development education programme. She led and coordinated Crosslinks Children’s clubs in parishes throughout Ireland during her summers as a student. She has also spent several months volunteering on projects funded by the Bishops’ Appeal in Shyogwe, Rwanda. Lydia is a founding member of the Discovery Gospel Choir and as the choir’s Community Outreach Officer she has designed and implemented its intercultural workshops across Dublin.

Following the closure of its bookshop earlier in the year, the committee has been working hard to continue the ministry of the Sunday School Society, which is more than 200–years–old. The Children’s Ministry Development Officer is a new position created by the Society to develop and foster a culture within Church of Ireland parishes of prioritising ministry with children.

The new Officer will work closely with the Children’s Ministry Network which was established by Standing Committee in 2011. The Network’s role is to support grass roots leaders, diocesan representatives and clergy who are engaged in children’s ministry.

Lydia said: “I’m excited about developing a role that supports Sunday school teachers and that links societies, committees and agencies within the Church of Ireland all for the benefit and flourishing of children as they engage in church services and Sunday clubs.”

Heather Wilkinson, Chairperson of The Sunday School Society welcomed Lydia warmly to this new role. “She brings to the position a wealth of experience and we look forward to working with her in what is proving to be a very exciting development not only for the Society but the whole area of Children’s Ministry within the Church,” Heather said.

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