“It's a very great joy to be setting aside these men and women for this ministry,” said Archbishop Kanishka Raffel as he took his first ordination service as Archbishop. “I am reminded of my own deaconing service in St Andrew’s cathedral and I'm so grateful to God for his faithfulness.” The Archbishop spoke as ordinands prepared to embark to ministries as wide afield as suburban Sydney to Darwin, Norfolk Island and the Seychelles. 

“It is such a joy to see that, even in this small ordination cohort, God is using people to take His message of salvation throughout Sydney, Australia and the whole world.” said the Rev Laurie Carleton, who with his wife Bec, is headed for ministry on Norfolk Island. Bec’s father, the Bishop for International Relations, Malcolm Richards, gave the sermon at the service, urging ordinands “lovers of the light” from John Chapter 3.

New ordinand, The Rev Jesse Morrison, reads the Bible at the service

let you be found to be lovers of the light….

“Disciples love the light, they are to walk in the light and teach others to walk in the light,” Bishop Richards said. “The thing that destroys ministry careers, is when people stop walking in the light. They say they love Jesus but they don’t want to be accountable to Jesus or to anyone else and they slowly drift into a life where they don’t want the scrutiny of the intense light of Christ. As we send you out today to do ministry in Christ’s name, you will be scrutinized, not only by the light of Christ, but by the church community and even more by the community at large. And rightly so. Under that scrutiny, let you be found to be lovers of the light.”

Above: Heading for Norfolk Island - The Rev Laurie Carleton and his wife Bec, with Bishop Richards.

Bishop Richards spoke of his time as a CMS missionary, which resonated with the Rev Ryan Verghese, who is heading to the Seychelles with CMS. “I'm excited about taking some of the riches we have in Sydney in terms of exegesis, biblical theology, and a training mindset, and taking it overseas,” he said. “My role in Seychelles involves training key leaders and being an evangelical witness.”

The Rev Ryan Verghese - heading for the Seychelles

The singing resounded around the Cathedral, despite the limited numbers and compulsory mask-wearing. Mr Verghese said the turnout was encouraging. “The Christian life is not meant to be a solitary road, and its the encouragement of family and the church that has helped me continue in faithful service of Jesus.”

The Rev Leah Dyason - Cobbity Anglican Church

Fellow ordinand, the Reverend Christine Yang, ministering at Eastwood summed up the day, saying it was both encouraging and strengthening. “Being an Anglican deacon is not a career, rather, it is a life-long calling and a lifestyle.” she said. “Ministry never ceases - love God and enjoy loving people - that is the way of serving.”

Already serving - Dr Chase Kuhn of Moore College (pictured with College colleagues) was among the ordinands.