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It's a real double first at Union Theological College this Friday 18 May at 7.00pm when the first Irish Presbyterian woman minister Rev Ruth Patterson will be awarded the first honorary doctorate given by the college to a woman. This will take place at a ceremony to mark the end of the academic year. (Union College, 108 Botanic Avenue Belfast)
'The College is delighted to honour Ruth with this doctorate,' explained Union College Principal, Professor Cecil McCullough. 'We can only award honorary doctorates to ministers or those who have been ministers of the Presbyterian Church so with the Church only ordaining women in recent years, it hasn't been possible until now. Ruth's parish ministry in Kilmakee, her contribution to the wider church and her commitment to peace and reconciliation make her a worthy recipient of this honour.'
Ordained in 1976 Ruth was installed as minister of Kilmakee Church in South Belfast and became the first full time director of Restoration Ministries in 1991. This year has been one of celebration for her. In January she celebrated the 25th anniversary of her ordination and was honoured by Edinburgh University who named her as their 'Alumna of the Year'
As is traditional the Moderator Designate of the Presbyterian Church, Rev Alastair Dunlop is also being awarded a doctorate and for the first time in some years a third doctorate is being awarded, this to Rev Jim Frazer.
Recently retired as minister of Ballywillan Presbyterian Church outside Portrush, Jim Frazer has exercised an innovative and forward thinking ministry that has seen the congregation become the largest in the Coleraine Presbytery. Worship at Ballywillan has managed to find a blend of contemporary and traditional worship that has appealed to all sections of the church while the training programmes for every member ministry have been ground breaking.
Also graduating at the Friday evening ceremony will be 4 students for the Presbyterian ministry who will now begin assistantships prior to ordination in a minimum of two years time.
Note: Recipients will be available for photographs at Union College either before the ceremony between 6.30-6.45pm and afterwards at 8.30pm
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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