Boards and Agencies of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

Board of Mission in Ireland

Convener: Rev Roy Patton
Executive Director: Rev David Bruce

Email: bmi@presbyterianireland.org

The purpose of the Board of Mission in Ireland is Serving the Church; Enabling Mission. Our vision is that increasingly, Presbyterian congregations, north and south will become vibrant communities of Christ, serving and transforming Ireland.

In realising this vision,
     We plan that resources follow priorities;
     We demonstrate a preparedness to be flexible with implementation;
     We affirm that the strong support the weak;
     We place people before plant;
     We recruit teams before solo artistes;
     We equip towards corporate leadership;
     We believe that those outside the church take precedence over those inside;
     We aspire to proclaim the Good News with sensitivity, courage and confidence;

We have identified four key strategies as a Board:
     Strategy for Mission: Pushing the boundaries of mission in Ireland
     Development: Building the possibility for mission in Ireland
     Communication: narrating the story of mission in Ireland
     Support: Enabling the delivery of mission in Ireland

These strategies are pursued through a staff team, working in partnership with four committees.

The committees of the Board with their conveners are:

Strategy for Mission Committee: Convener - Rev William Henry
This committee is facing up to the challenge of drawing up a mission strategy for our Church in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. It supports congregations that are struggling and helps pay for ministers in deprived areas. The committee's work includes Urban Mission, Rural Mission, Church planting, The Irish Mission.

Research and Resources Committee: Convener - Rev Chris Kennedy
In developing a strategy for the mission of the church, much research needs to be conducted in Ireland, and the benefits of research already completed in other parts of the world needs to be absorbed. This committee takes requests from committees and panels of the Board and commissions appropriate research which may then be published or made available to the wider church.

Communication Committee: Convener - Mrs. Cherry Poynton
The main work of the committee is to raise the profile of mission in Ireland throughout our Church and to provide means for envisioning local congregations so that they will want to be more actively involved in the work of mission. The committee's work includes all BMI publications, the BMI website (www.missionireland.org) and the editing and production of ReachOut magazine.

Personnel Committee: Convener - Mrs. Irene Younge
This committee has responsibility for the appointment of Home Mission Ministers, Irish Mission Workers, Deaconesses, Urban Mission Workers and any other personnel which the BMI seeks to appoint to forward mission throughout Ireland. It also monitors the review of these members of staff while in post, and provides for their in-service training needs.

Property Committee: Convener - Mr. Brian Knox
This committee looks after all property issues such as Church buildings and manses of Home Mission congregations, and housing for Irish Mission Workers.

Finance Committee: Convener - Mr. Douglas Cowan
The main financing for all the Board's work comes from the United Appeal. This committee will seek to ensure that the Board's finances are used in the most effective way, to forward Church development, church planting and mission throughout Ireland.

More information can be obtained from the BMI home pages at www.missionireland.org