Ordination of deacons
At the Service of Ordination are, from left: the Rev Denise Acheson, rector, St Colman's; the Rev Dr Maurice Elliott, preacher; Jonathan Campbell-Smyth; the Ven Dr Stephen McBride, Archdeacon of Connor; Alistair Morrison; the Rev Clifford Skillen, Bishop's Chaplain; the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy; the Ven Barry Dodds, Archdeacon of Belfast; the Ven Stephen Forde, Archdeacon of Dalriada; Mellissa Jeffers; the Rev William Taggart, Registrar; lain Jamieson.
Alistair Morrison, Dunmurry, with the Bishop of Connor, the Rt. Rev Alan Abernethy.
Mellissa Jeffers (Finaghy and Upper Malone) with the Bishop of Connor, the Rt. Rev Alan Abernethy.
FOUR new deacons were ordained in the Church of Ireland Diocese of Connor at a service in St Colman's Parish Church, Dunmurry, on Sunday September 4.
The four were ordained by the Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy and the preacher at the service was the Rev Dr. Maurice Elliott, Director of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute.
Jonathan Campbell-Smyth was ordained to serve an internship in the Parish of Ballywillan, Portrush and Iain Jamieson to serve an internship in St Michael's, Belfast.
Melissa Jeffers was ordained to serve in the non-stipendiary ministry for the curacy of the grouped parishes of Finaghy and Upper Malone.
A graduate of Stranmillis College, Belfast, Mellissa spent two years on Voluntary Service Overseas at a school in Nigeria, before gaining a Masters Degree in Library Studies. She has worked in schools, universities and libraries, and was formerly Principal Officer with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. Alistair Morrison was ordained to serve an internship in the Parish of Dunmurry. A native of the Ards Peninsula, he studied at Belfast Bible College in the late 1980s.
Prior to training for ordination Alistair was an architectural technician specialising in the restoration of historic buildings. He is father to two sons and a daughter.
Following the services, guests enjoyed refreshments in the Parish Halls.
Ulster Star
09/09/2011
