15.12.2025
2025 Gathering Ignites ‘Spark of Pioneer Ministry’
The Pioneer Ministry leadership hosted training and a larger gathering last month in the Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar, bringing together participants from across the Church of Ireland for a time of learning, vision–casting, and collaboration. Across both days, there was a sense of growth and shared learning as Pioneer Ministry continues to deepen and take root in communities across the island.
The first day served as a purposeful time of coaching, training and community–building for all eleven Diocesan Pioneer Ministry Advocates. The day began with welcome and worship, followed by teaching on how Pioneer Ministry can grow in each diocese through investment, integration, and innovation. Advocates received updates on the Pioneer projects across the island and in turn shared their diocesan insights, highlighting opportunities and challenges.
Conversations about the upcoming Pioneer 2026 Review and preparations for General Synod helped frame the future plans, while collaborative planning ensured everyone was supported to help lead Pioneer Ministry in their own unique settings. The day ended with prayer, fellowship, and food to strengthen unity as the Pioneer Advocate and Hub community continues to develop.
Saturday November 22 was the main gathering and it started with a warm welcome as some of the Church of Ireland’s new Pioneer Ministers greeted attendees arriving from every diocese, embodying the shared, island–wide nature of Pioneer Ministry. After Archdeacon Elizabeth Cairns (Armagh’s Pioneer Ministry Advocate) introduced the day, Bishop Pat Storey offered words of gratitude, particularly for the Representative Church Body’s generous support, and spoke with hope about the life and potential of Pioneer Ministry in each diocese represented.
The Revd Rob Jones, National Director for Pioneer Ministry, then spoke and introduced the central theme of the gathering – ‘overflow’ – through worship and a ‘cascading glasses’ demonstration, symbolising how leadership, resources, and imagination must flow from and to the grassroots, so that every parish can feel able to participate in Pioneer Ministry.
The keynote speaker, the Revd Dr Michael Moynagh, delivered two significant talks. His first, Pioneering in Parish Life – A Mixed Ecology for the Church of Ireland, encouraged participants to reflect on what pioneering means personally, for their parish, and for their diocese, as they embody a culture of letting go and generously giving away what God has empowered us to share as followers of Christ.
His second talk, How Parishes Can Practically Begin to Pioneer, offered helpful practical first steps and honest reflections on what works and what doesn’t. He once again highlighted a mixed ecology of community and Christian witness, where everyday parish activities, such as parent–toddler groups or fitness classes, can naturally become pathways to new faith–seeking communities, and he challenged attendees to think of offering faith as a gift to their wider community.
A lovely lunch was then enjoyed by all, which was followed by Archdeacon Barry Forde presenting how Pioneer Ministry fits within Church of Ireland structures, emphasising that Pioneer initiatives must cultivate new missional, formational, and contextual ecclesial communities.
Six of the 14 Pioneer Ministers funded by the Representative Church Body then spoke about their projects, alongside video stories from other initiatives, illustrating the impact of pioneering on local communities across the dioceses. There was also a panel featuring six of the 11 Diocesan Pioneer Advocates, who encouraged attendees to discern where God is already at work and shared exciting and honest pioneering updates from their dioceses. Group discussions that followed were rich with imagination and hope.
The Gathering concluded with a reflective closing and worship led by Canon Phil Potter, commissioning participants to flourish locally in their pioneering work. Every attendee received a copy of Mike Moynagh’s book Godsend.intro which is a practical resource for those wanting to explore and begin implementing Pioneer Ministry in their parish.
Across both days, it was increasingly evident that Pioneer Ministry is becoming more deeply rooted within the Church of Ireland. With representation from every diocese, new Licensed Pioneer Ministers and projects, a committed Pioneer Advocate in each diocese, and a growing network of 14 hubs, Pioneer Ministry is facilitating unity and gaining clarity, structure, and momentum. Participants left encouraged and energised, looking forward with more confidence as Pioneer Ministry continues to grow and spread across the Church of Ireland.
Dublin and Glendalough Perspectives
Two of the attendees from Dublin and Glendalough shared their perspectives on the gathering.
Shane Maguire, who was Dublin and Glendalough’s first Pioneer Minister to be commissioned and who is the Pastor at Local Church in Crumlin said the event was a significant time for Pioneers, Lay Readers, Clergy and Bishops.
“The opportunity to connect with others over coffee and lunch was incredibly encouraging, and very educational, as we explored different ways of doing new things alongside our traditional way of being and doing church. I met a lot of wonderful people as I hosted a stand for Local Church Crumlin, where I found everyone I met to be keen on asking questions, learning from what we’re trying in terms of risk and reaching out to those who have little to no connection to church. I really enjoyed the guest speaker, Dr Mike Moynagh who shared about ‘Giving the Church’ and particularly about the way we are engaging with folk outside the church, and adding a layer of ‘spirituality’ to the very ordinary and normal things we are currently doing,” he explained.
Shane commented that he was able to bring this learning to his own ministry. He said: “This has already been implemented in our ministry at Local, as we hosted our first Interest Gathering last Thursday in our local pub. A very neutral space, but familiar and comfortable to those disconnected to the church. We added a light reflection, and time of prayer at the end of a very focused time of social connections. I also found the time to discuss the talks with other people around my table was really helpful and created a real sense of communal learning. As a Pioneer, it really made the time and energy and training I am participating in feel seen and heard and celebrated, and for that, I am very thankful and encouraged”.
Sarahjane McCarthy, who attended the gathering from Kilternan Parish, said there was a great buzz of excitement and friendship during the day of exploration and fellowship.
“For me, the highlight of the gathering was the keynote speaker, Revd Dr Michael Moynagh. Not only does Michael bring a vast amount of knowledge and a wealth of experience to the table but his passion and belief in the Pioneer ministry is apparent in every story he shares and every nugget of wisdom he imparts,” she said.
Sarahjane added: “Michael made what could be a somewhat overwhelming concept seem accessible, realistic and extremely workable for every parish. His simple yet deeply compassionate approach was inspirational and so inclusive. He invited us all to use the gifts, resources and talents we already have to reach out to others with a gentle curiosity and unconditional love. As we travelled home to our respective parishes, we left Mullingar with not only a goody bag full of Pioneer merchandise but with a spark of Pioneer ministry ignited within us all.”
For more information, please visit www.pioneerministry.org and look out for recordings of the talks from the gathering, which will be shared through social media and in the next Pioneer Ministry newsletter (readers are welcome to sign up for the newsletter at www.pioneerministry.org/connect).