The Theological College Council

In furthering its long-standing and ongoing responsibility for the selection, training and ordination of the clergy of the Church of Ireland the House of Bishops has established the Theological College Council. This Council will provide a mechanism whereby the House of Bishops can support and monitor the work of the College and its staff and ensure that the training and pastoral needs of ordinands are being adequately provided for. The Council first met in November 1999 and to date five meetings have been held.

The Council consists of the Bishop of Meath and Kildare, the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Bishop of Down and Dromore, the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross and Dr Susan Hood, Secretary, all appointed by the House of Bishops. Ms Clare McCutcheon and the Ven Kenneth Good have been appointed by the Standing Committee and Mr Frederick Rankin and the Ven Patrick Lawrence by the Representative Church Body. The principal of the Theological College, the Rev Professor John Bartlett, and two student observers Ms Sandra Hales and Ms Maria Jansson are also part of the Council. A further three members will have been co-opted by the time the new structures are fully implemented.

The Council will determine the policies of the College and support and develop the overall work of the College, its students, teachers and other personnel. It will also monitor the work of the Academic Committee and the Management Committee. The Academic Committee and the Management Committee are answerable to the College Council and the Council is answerable to the House of Bishops.

The Council and Committees are each chaired by a bishop. The Bishop of Meath and Kildare is chairman of the College Council, the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe of the Management Committee and the Bishop of Down and Dromore of the Academic Committee. The former chairman of the Management Committee, the Archbishop of Dublin, continues as Visitor to the College. This will enable him to represent the interests of staff and students in a fair and impartial way.
The Management Committee has been in existence for some time and was appointed by the House of Bishops to take responsibility for the overall financial administration of the College and to deal with matters concerning buildings, ground maintenance and the supervision and welfare of non-teaching staff. The day-to-day running of the College is its primary concern.

The Academic Committee will be responsible for the academic concerns of the College including the arrangements for the appointment of academic staff members and curriculum development. It will also have responsibility for auxiliary ministry training in co-operation with the present auxiliary ministry board and will aim to bring the training of stipendiary and auxiliary ordinands more closely together. Like the Management Committee the Academic Committee will report to the College Council and refer important issues to the Council for approval.

The Bishops will receive regular reports regarding the work of the Council and its committees and will arrange for an independent inspection of the College every five years. More effective lines of communication are being developed between the College and the Representative Church Body staff in Church House particularly in the area of budgetary requirements.

In establishing the Theological College Council and its committees the Bishops have initiated a strategic plan which will ensure an effective and co-ordinated approach to all aspects of preparation of women and men for the ordained ministry of the Church of Ireland. Furthermore it is their intention to achieve the maximum level of transparency and openness so that the whole Church will be better informed about these important matters which have such a bearing on the future spiritual well-being of the Church of Ireland.