'Searching for a Challenge?' is the question being asked of Presbyterians by the Church's Board of Studies and Christian Training to advertise an information day for those who might be considering the possibility of serving God through the ordained ministry.
The day is planned for Tuesday 6 April and will take place at Union Theological College in Belfast from 10.30am until 3.15pm.
"We're not assuming any prior knowledge of the Church's process of assessment and programmes of study or 'sense of call' on the part of those who will attend," explains Dr Godfrey Brown, convener of the Board of Studies. "Rather, we will lay out the facts as clearly and accurately as we can, hoping that those who come will have all the information they need for informed personal prayer and further consideration of where God could be calling them."
The day will begin with a number of presentations dealing with issues such as 'Clarifying a Sense of Call', 'The Making of a Minister', and 'From Application to Ordination'. This will be followed by a choice of seminars that will highlight the varied aspects of ministry and the day will be brought to a conclusion by the Presbyterian Moderator Dr Ivan McKay talking on 'A Vision for the Ministry in the 21st Century.'
"The Information Day is a repeat of a similar one we had about three years ago which was attended by over 60 people of all ages," adds Rev Stephen Moore, convener of the Ministerial Studies Committee. "Some of those who were there that day are now students for our ministry while others recognised that the ordained ministry was not for them. If the day helps clarify for people where God is calling them in his service then it will have achieved its purpose."
The Presbyterian Church presently has over 40 students studying towards ordination and with an estimated need of 15-20 new ministers annually there is always a need to encourage people to consider the ordained ministry.
Further information about the information day contact Dale Wright at Union Theological College, 108 Botanic Avenue, Belfast BT7 1JT, Tel 028 9020 5080. Leaflets are also available from your local Presbyterian minister.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
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