Reverend Andy Fleming Ordained

By Reverend Andy Fleming, Chaplain

At its heart, Christianity is about equality. The sacrament of baptism, a ritual that everyone can access, is the symbol of belonging to the Christian faith. Baptism is also the invitation to be an active member of a faith community using the gifts that God has given us. All Christians are called by God to serve, encourage others, and grow in their faith.

At the same time, the Church has recognised the need to order its common life by setting aside certain people for certain roles. Deacons, priests, and bishops all have distinct roles in the life of the Anglican Church.

Last Saturday, I was ordained a Deacon. It was a step in my ministry journey that I have been preparing for, for many years. The process to become ordained is personally testing as a candidate typically needs to explore if God is calling them to ordained ministry. This takes much time, prayer, searching, study, and conversation with loved ones and those already in ministry.

In the lead-up to my ordination, I attended an ordination retreat that provided the opportunity to reflect on my journey to this point in prayerful conversation with God. This was such a valuable experience, and although I was initially cautious about a 24-hour period of silence, it turned out to be a valuable opportunity to appreciate the significance of the step I was about to take.

The Ordination of Deacon service in A Prayer Book for Australia outlines the role of a deacon in detail. In a nutshell, following God’s call, a deacon is to be an ambassador of Christ, serving God as they serve others in Jesus’ name.

In a shout out to fans of Micah 6:8, Deacons’ hearts are open to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly in the presence of God. So, a Deacon’s role is one that ministers to others – working for reconciliation, peace, and justice. They also work together with priests to proclaim the good news of God’s love and truth. With the help of the Holy Spirit, a Deacon uses and develops their gifts to serve by word and action within the community they are placed.

The ordination service at St. Saviour’s Cathedral in Goulburn is one of those moments I will forever remember. It was such a gift to have the support of family and friends, among them many Radford colleagues, through both messages of support and attending the service.

I have been so blessed in my journey to this point. It has been, and remains a privilege, to serve the Radford community.

May you find God’s peace in the week ahead,
Rev. Andy