26.08.2023
In the footsteps of Christ the Healer and Teacher – Learning from DUMCN Trip
For two weeks Archbishop Michael Jackson, along with Canon Dr Maurice Elliott of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute, the Revd Steve Brunn Dean of Residence at TCD and Dr Kerry Houston of TCD, has been visiting India and Malaysia under the auspices of the Dublin University Mission to Chota Nagpur (DUMCN). Here the Archbishop reflects on the final stop of the trip in Malaysia.
The final few days were spent in Malaysia where we met Bishop Jason in Malaka.
The Reverend Steve Brunn had shared a series of seminars in Lankara in the spring of 2023.
We also visited the Theological Seminary where Anglican students study alongside Methodists Presbyterians and Lutherans. Of the Reformed Traditions in Malaysia, the Anglican Tradition alone does not ordain women to the priesthood. It makes them deaconesses.
All three participants from the Church of Ireland spoke: The Reverend Steve Brunn spoke about Dublin University and its foundational role from 1592 in the educating of clergy for Ireland; the Reverend Canon Maurice Elliott on the core values of CITI; and the Archbishop on the broad principles and character of the Church of Ireland. The group then took a wide range of questions from the Malaysian students.
We got the impression of people happy to engage in debate and discussion, lively in their faith and keen to serve God and neighbour as circumstances open up before them.
The two weeks saw us visit five main venues: Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Kalimpong, Darjeeling and Kuala Lumpur.
The work of DUMCN and of the Irish Committee of Dr Graham’s Homes was the focus of the visit. It also gave scope for teaching and learning with established clergy and with ordinands. For me personally it underwrote the two arms of generous mission: healing and teaching, following in the footsteps of Christ the Healer and Christ the Teacher in a spirit of service of everyone who forms community locally.