Page 21 - The Church of Ireland Apologetic for Mission?

• Being an agent and instrument of God’s purpose
• Engagement with the world and it’s needs
• Energetically embodying and proclaiming the values of the Kingdom of God
Together these commitments present a clear case for the Church of Ireland to be mission orientated.
d. Theological Training for Clergy
The emphases on training for future clergy is clearly laid out by the Church of Ireland Theological Institute. It states its purpose as being to equip “professional ministers (lay and ordained) for their role in contemporary society by developing key competencies in the areas of mission and ministry, through appropriate engagement with theology and biblical studies”.22
The Institute Vision Statement declares,
We are called to be a community of faith that integrates living worship with academic excellence for the benefit of all traditions within Irish Anglicanism, the resourcing of ministry, the development of existing and new patterns of church, and the building of bridges between diverse partner agencies. For the sake of His mission in the world, God is calling us to be a model of grace, welcome and integrity.23
e. Statements made and priorities demonstrated by the work of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland
The General Synod meets annually for
3 days. Membership includes the House of Bishops as well as 216 clerical and 432 lay members. These are elected by the Diocesan Synods and members hold office for a three–year period.
http://www.theologicalinstitute.ie/ http://www.theologicalinstitute.ie/
The primary purpose of the Synod is to enact legislation for the whole Church of Ireland. The Standing Committee carries out the work of the General Synod during the year.
The General Synod receives reports from various Boards that have responsibility for key areas of church life. The business of General Synod will give a reasonable indication of what the priorities are within the Church of Ireland.
A commitment to mission, both local
and global, is demonstrated by the establishment of the Church of Ireland Council for Mission in 2004. It’s objectives, as amended by the 2011 General Synod, include:
a. To stimulate within the Church of Ireland a sense of the priority and urgency of mission;
b. To advocate the complementary nature of mission globally and locally;
c. To maintain close relationships with other bodies concerned with mission in particular with Diocesan Boards of Mission, the Association of Mission Societies and mission and overseas development agencies;
d.To promote effective models of mission and evangelism;
e. To encourage reflection on the theology of mission;
Membership of the Council is elected triennially and consists of:
• One member nominated by the House of Bishops, elected triennially;
• Six members nominated by General Synod, elected triennially;
• Four members nominated (on a rotation basis) from within the Association of Mission Societies;
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