Associate General Secretary Rev Sharon Hollis and Moderator Rev David Fotheringham with inductees Rev Dr Philip Hughes, Rev Fran Barber and Dr Daniel Sihombing.
The Centre for Theology and Ministry in Parkville hosted the Ministry and Mission Day today, marking the commencement of the year for both equipping Leadership for Mission and Pilgrim Theological College.
Proceedings began with a Welcome to Country smoking ceremony by Colin Hunter Jnr from Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation, before a Worship Service led by Moderator Rev David Fotheringham.
The Worship Service featured the induction of Philip Hughes as Acting Head of College, Daniel Sihombing as Lecturer Systematic Theologies, and Fran Barber as Ministry Formation Co-ordinator.
Other staff members beginning new roles were also recognised: Deb Tan as Academic Mentor at Pilgrim, and Marian Bisset, Scott Leslie and Nadine Rozario as eLM Presbytery Ministers.
As he prepared to induct Philip, Daniel and Fran into their roles, David spoke on the theme of new beginnings, and of learning not to fret while placing our trust in God.
“New beginnings remind us to give time to reflection, to trust in God with patience, and to look for opportunities for God,” he said.
“That encouragement of don’t fret and trust in God continues to be sound.
“In a world in which we might despair, there is good and there is God.
“Even in difficult and apocalyptic times … we have the hope of God and the presence of Jesus, who forgives those who would kill or enslave him, and embodies the gift of honouring human dignity, honesty and humility.
“So as we celebrate new beginnings in the life of Pilgrim and CTM, our encouragement is to take seriously the context in which we find ourselves, but not to fret unproductively.”
Today’s proceedings also included the Commencement Lecture, marking the start of the Pilgrim academic year, delivered by Rev Dr Sathianathan Clarke, Lecturer in Theology and Mission at United Theological College in North Parramatta.
Sathi’s lecture was titled “Discipleship in a multireligious world: faithful living in the Jesus way and gracious loving within the embrace of the Trinity”.
