Archbishop Dr Peter Jensen says a record year of ordinations for the Sydney Diocese is a cause for thanks to God but has called for prayer that more men and women may be raised up for ministry.

Dr Jensen ordained 50 men and 6 women, and commissioned one lay worker in front of a packed congregation at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Saturday 6th February.

“What we are seeing here today” Dr Jensen told the congregation “is wonderful evidence of the good work of God in our city. We’re so delighted and thankful to God.”

Parish support was vital for the candidates. Officials say as of October, 22 people were still without jobs but 2010 began with everyone being offered a position.

Even though he described the numbers as ‘extraordinary’ Dr Jensen asked the rhetorical question “Is it enough? No. We need many, many more Christian workers for the task that is ahead of us. This is not enough.”

Dr Jensen then asked the congregation to be in prayer for the raising up of more Gospel workers.

Most of the ordinands are destined for parish ministry, but as well as the record for overall numbers, it also marked the most school chaplains to be ordained in one year.

and a video, too!

Record Ordination from Sydneyanglicans.net on Vimeo.

Now, obviously this group aren't quite as fine a pedigree of men and women as the outstanding class of 2008, but I suppose they'll do

Seriously, does anyone know of another diocese anywhere that regularly has this number of ordinands?

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Comments:

I appreciate very much that the congregation is singing “My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness” by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend.

[1] Posted by Jill C. on 02-09-2010 at 10:10 PM • top

Well, I don’t know which was more fun. Realizing how everyone looked sort of hot, what with the fan blowing and all the short sleeves, while I sit here, in amazement, that Snoverkill just turned from snow to sleet, or, how we sing that same song with regularity and gusto at Truro, on the other side of the world from this gathering of our faithful brothers and sisters in Oz.

[2] Posted by veritas2007 on 02-09-2010 at 10:22 PM • top

Bonza fresh new persons.

[3] Posted by Pageantmaster on 02-10-2010 at 07:13 AM • top

David,

I would wager that there are a couple US dioceses that don’t have that many clergy, much less that many ordinands. With 56, that would be 2 for every parish in the diocese of N Michigan. However, that is also in a way, ironic….the local parish has minted 4 presbyters and 3 deacons in the last few years-see below.

Have I ever seen another diocese that regularly has this number of ordinands?

I am not sure about “regularly”, nor do I have group photos, but I would have to note that the tiny diocese of Northern Michigan minted a huge number a over the last few years. They did not go to seminary or receive proper training, but under the mutual ministry program, in some parishes they ordained 20% of the ASA.

[4] Posted by tjmcmahon on 02-10-2010 at 07:54 AM • top

Is the “Sidney diocese” a smaller component of the “Sydney archdiocese” or are they one and the same thing?

[5] Posted by tjmcmahon on 02-10-2010 at 08:09 AM • top

Is the “Sidney diocese” a smaller component of the “Sydney archdiocese” or are they one and the same thing?

Good question. Also, can ++Jensen set policy for the whole archdiocese or is his leadership over the rest of the dioceses pretty much nominal, and is the entire Sydney Archdiocese the same hard-core evangelical group that we’ve seen represented, or does that image only apply to the Sydney Diocese?

[6] Posted by AndrewA on 02-10-2010 at 10:53 AM • top

Sydney is an archdiocese along with Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Australia is organised into 5 provinces, along the mainland state boundaries, each with a Metropolitan or Archbishop. They have very limited powers over the other dioceses in their state.
Peter Jensen is Archbishop of Sydney and Metropolitan of NSW which also includes the Dioceses of Newcastle, Grafton, Armidale, Canberra-Goulburn, Bathurst and the Riverina. Sydney is of course Evangelical and by far the largest in ASA. The others have a range of flavours Evangelical, mixed and Anglo Catholic.

[7] Posted by obadiahslope on 02-10-2010 at 11:01 AM • top

My ordination had 6 people. Wonder how long that service lasted?

[8] Posted by Townsend Waddill+ on 02-10-2010 at 12:35 PM • top

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