03.06.2014
Expert Group to Explore Clergy Care Needs in Dublin and Glendalough
An expert group on Clergy Care Needs has been established in Dublin and Glendalough. The group has been set up by Archbishop Michael Jackson in response to research undertaken by the Revd Bruce Pierce and Canon Daniel Nuzum which was presented at the diocesan clergy conference earlier this year and following individual meetings between clergy and the Archbishop.
Aimed at working towards a greater sense of wellbeing and personal fulfilment in ministry for all clergy of the dicoeses, the group will listen, gather information and report on a range of issues regarding clergy core needs. Membership of the group, which is chaired by the Revd John Tanner (pictured), includes clergy with a track record in caring for lay and clergy alike in a wide range of contexts.
The group is being asked to investigate existing interventions available and operative in Dublin and Glendalough. It is also to review existing models of clergy support available in other dioceses and explore if these can be adapted to the urban and rural settings of the United Dioceses. They are also to look at supports offered in other caring professions and especially how these are funded and sustained by the relevant institutions.
The group will report to the Archbishop, the Revd Bruce Pierce and Canon Daniel Nuzum in October and their report will be combined with the initial pilot research.
The initial research highlighted four main stressors for clergy: administration and management, the challenge of parish and family commitments, financial insecurity and operating within a changing culture.
The members of the expert group are: the Revd John Tanner (Chairperson), Archdeacon David Pierpoint (Honorary Expert Senior Consultant), Canon Aisling Shine (Chaplain to the Expert Group), the Revd Alan Rufli, the Revd Ian Gallagher, the Revd Sonia Gyles, the Revd Gary Dowd and the Revd Ruth Elmes (External Consultant). Between them, the clergy involved have a vast range of experience in different types of ministries and parishes.
Prior to his ordination the Revd John Tanner had a long career in financial services which has, in recent years found itself addressing complex human relations issues. He also oversees the training, formation and care of lay ministers in the dioceses.
The Archdeacon of Dublin has an understanding of hospital management through his membership of the board of Tallaght Hospital and the needs of healthcare staff through multiple hospital chaplaincies. This extends to the Gardai, the Legal Profession and to Government ministers and their families and staff. As Honorary Expert Senior Consultant to the Group, the archdeacon brings expertise around self–care and institutional support for those who are employees.
Canon Aisling Shine comes with experience of a lifetime career in the healthcare professions which she continues to use this expertise through hospital chaplaincy and visitation in nursing and residential homes.
The Revd Alan Rufli holds an M.Ed from the Open University which included a module on counselling. He has a broad experience of hospital chaplaincy and more recently prison chaplaincy. He is also the Diocesan Liturgical Advisor and a member of the steering committee of the Inter Anglican Liturgical Consultation.
The Revd Ian Gallagher has an established reputation for extending expert pastoral care to the bereaved. St John of God’s is located in his parish which adds a further dimension to his experience. For his early days as a curate assistant he gained experience of working alone giving him scope for disciplined self care.
The Revd Sonia Gyles exercises chaplaincy roles at both national and second level schools and for a long time was responsible for the Diocesan National Schools Service. She has recently completed a Degree in Counselling and Psychotherapy.
The Revd Gary Dowd has worked in both rural and suburban settings and is in the almost unique position of being able to concentrate full time on parish ministry as he has part responsibility for the management of a nationals school and pastoral care of a number of nursing and residential homes giving him a concentrated perspective on the need for rigorous self care.
The Revd Ruth Elmes spent a lifetime in the medical profession before ordination. She is now incumbent in a neighbouring diocese and will bring fresh perspectives of the need for self care in a first incumbency. Her renowned care for the bereaved and being a rectory child herself add to the qualities she will bring as external consultant to the group.