From near and far for Ordination

Hundreds of people, some from as far away as Broken Hill, have packed St. Andrew’s Cathedral for the ordination of 48 men and women for ministry.

The group included 31 year old Jonathan Lilley, the first Aboriginal candidate to complete the full four year course at Moore College.

Lilley, who is married with three young children, says he found the course academically challenging.

He says he he didn’t come to college with a degree as many of his colleagues had, but had been encouraged greatly by friends along the way.

He will take up a position with the Anglican Church in Nowra, and will be involved in ministry to the South Coast’s Aboriginal community.

The Diocese has several aboriginal workers, but Jonathan is the first to complete the full Bachelor of Divinity degree.

Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen described Jonathan as a man with a great heart for his own people, but said his training meant he could be posted to any ministry, aboriginal or not.

The ordinands will take up positions in churches ranging from Holy Trinity, Adelaide to Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains.

As well as the 48, John Lee was commissioned as a Diocesan worker for church planting in Sydney’s South.

Archbishop Peter Jensen said it was a point of great thanks to God that such large numbers had been presented for ordination for three years running.

For more information contact Russell Powell, Archbishop’s senior media adviser on 0411 692 499