Day 2
Pioneer Ministry Governing Council Established by Synod
Pioneer Ministry Governing Council Established by Synod
Members of General Synod today (Saturday May 13) agreed to establish a Pioneer Ministry Governing Council.
Synod viewed a video on Pioneer Ministry and its aims, which can be viewed here.
Proposing the motion Bishop Ferran Glenfield (Kilmore Elphin and Ardagh) outlined the structure of the Pioneer Ministry Council. He said that its mission was to support the Pioneer Ministry Team and its work.
He said this would be done through robust governance, financial sustainability, overseeing applications for pioneer projects in transparent way, communicating the news of pioneer ministry throughout the Church, and ensuring safeguarding compliance.
In proposing motion 10 Bishop Glenfield said he trusted that Synod would respond positively and embrace pioneer ministry to be a ministry to revitalise the ministry and mission of the Church of Ireland in the 21st century.
Canon Gillian Wharton seconded the motion. She said was one of the biggest projects to initiate and refresh ministry in the Church of Ireland and that it had come from the heart of central church committees. The initiative was rooted in the standing committee and the RCB and both had given a lot of thought to it.
“It is rooted in the Church of Ireland. It is not an appendage or an addition. It will report to Standing Committee and Synod. It is for the Church of Ireland, for beyond the Church of Ireland and it is also of it,” she stated.
Canon Wharton explained that projects would emerge from the ground up at local parish and diocesan level with support from the bishop. She said that the Pioneer Ministry Council had been structured to embrace the key stakeholders but also to bring in expertise.
Speaking to the motion Joc Sanders (Tuam Limerick and Killaloe) referred to the terms of reference and the pioneer approvals committee and sought more information about how it was proposed that pioneer projects are to be assessed and approved.
Responding Bishop Glenfield said that the pioneer council would be the screening committee approving monies that should go to dioceses and those being trained. The council would work in conjunction with diocesan bishops who would work with their clergy, he explained. There would be hubs to encourage pioneer ministry within dioceses and it would be a ground up approach from local parishes and dioceses wanting to produce pioneer ministries.
The members of the council are: Rt Rev David McClay, Joe Kelly, Canon Dr Maurice Elliott, Rev Isaac Hanna, Very Rev Stephen Farrell, Hilda Connolly, Alan Williamson, Robert Neill and Rev Abigail Sines.
More information on Pioneer Ministry can be found on their website: Pioneerministry.org