Deacons begin work for the director

35 men and women have begin their first week as deacons, after a large ordination service at the weekend at St Andrew's Cathedral.

The deacons will work in parishes, youth ministry or as school chaplains.

Despite one of Sydney's worst heatwaves in recent years, the cathedral was packed for the service.

Working for the Director of Ministry

The Head of the Missions Department at Moore College, Dr Greg Anderson, preached from Acts 8, the account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch.

"The Lord was the director of ministry in Philip’s time, and he is still the director of ministry in our time." Dr Anderson said.

"He is exactly the right person to be the director of ministry. He is exactly the right person to be the director of YOUR ministry, you who are to be made deacons today, and all of you here this morning who are involved in ministry, whether ordained or lay. God may or may not speak to us in the way that he spoke to Philip. But God is still the director of our ministry."

"Of course we will have other directors as well. In a few moments, you ordinands will promise to ‘submit yourselves to the lawful authority of your bishop and those appointed to have charge over you’, and I’m confident that you will make that promise sincerely. But ultimately God is the director of your ministry, which is why you will make other declarations and promises about believing, reading, and obeying God’s word."

Dr Anderson commended the students for declaring, as Isaiah did, "Here I am, Lord, send me."

"But the heart of ministry, as Philip demonstrated, is the declaration of the good news of Jesus. Those being ordained today will face the temptation to have that heart squeezed out by the busy-ness, ironically of ‘ministry’. The declaration of the good news is not just about writing and delivering sermons, or teaching scripture in school; in fact not so much a task as a lifestyle. This declaration requires words, but it also demands a life that doesn’t undermine the words. This is a constant challenge for all Christians, including those who are being ordained today, and we will be praying for you that God will empower you to live lives worthy of the declaration about Jesus that you make"

Out to Parishes

For some of the Deacons, the ordination marks a new beginning and a parting.

Rev Matt Bales, pictured, was supported by a group from Liverpool South, who will now lose him to a new position at Minto.

He was surrounded by friends from the congregation, who decorated him with traditional indian necklaces.

But Rev Jana Koulouris, one of the Youthworks College graduates, will remain as children's worker at St George North, where she has worked while completing her studies.