Revd Dr Maurice Elliott

The Revd Dr Maurice Elliott, MA, BTh, MPhil, PhD,

Director of the Theological Institute

 

Dr Maurice Elliott studied languages in St Andrews and theology through both Dublin and Belfast. His academic interests include Anglican Reformation ecclesiology and the theory and practice of contemporary Christian leadership.

Prior to taking up his current post as Director of the Church of Ireland Theological Institute in 2008, he spent 15 years in parochial ministry in Northern Ireland. In terms of training and ministerial formation, his passion is for mission and church growth, leadership and team ministry, biblical preaching and personal spiritual development.

Within the Church of Ireland, Dr Elliott is a member of the Standing Committee of the General Synod, the Covenant Council, the Bishops’ Advisory Commission on Doctrine and the Anglican Consultative Council. In addition he serves on the Board of the Arrow Leadership Programme and the Commission on Ministry.

He holds memberships of the British and Irish Association for Practical Theology and the Academy of Homiletics, is a visiting lecturer at Edgehill Theological College, Belfast, and has been a contributor to the journals Search and Churchman.

Maurice is married to Kirsten and they have three children, Alexandra, Timothy and Nicholas.

Curriculum Vitae for Dr Elliott

Research:

1997-2001: Queen’s University, Belfast

Thesis: ‘Episcopacy in the thinking of Thomas Cranmer, 1489-1556.’

1992-1993: Trinity College, Dublin,

Master of Philosophy (Reformation and Enlightenment Studies)

Seminar Courses: The European Reformation, 1520-1550; Elizabethan Ireland; Early Religious Printing; The Revocation of the Edict of Nantes; Seventeenth Century Deism.

Thesis: ‘Cranmer’s View of Authority.’

Publications:

2011: ‘MTh Leadership Insights from a Reflective Reading of the Synoptic Parables,’ Search 34/2 (Dublin, 2011).

2010: ‘ACC-14 – Mirror of the Communion,’ Search 33/1 (Dublin, 2010).

2006: ‘Scripture and Revelation’, in The Authority of Scripture – A report of the Church of Ireland Bishops,’ Advisory Commission on Doctrine (Dublin: Church of Ireland Publishing, 2006).

2005: ‘Episcopal Orders: Insights from Cranmer,’ Search 28/1 (Dublin, 2005).

1995: ‘Cranmer’s View of Authority’, four papers, Churchman Journal, vol 109, 1-4 (Watford: 1995).

Central Church Committees:

General Synod (1996- ).

Standing Committee (2000-2003, 2006- ).

Bishops’ Advisory Commission on Doctrine (2004- ).

Covenant Council (2002- ).

Church in Society Northern Ireland Legislation and Politics (2003).

ARCIC study and response groups (1998, 2006).

Liturgical Advisory Committee (1999-2004).

Church of Ireland Youth Department Board (1999-2002).

Anglican Covenant Response Group (2007- ).

Anglican Affairs Working Group (2006- ).

Commission on Ministry (2008- ).

International Involvement:

Anglican Consultative Council (2006- ); participant, ACC-14, Jamaica, May 2009.

Anglican Communion Theological College Principals’ Consultation, Canterbury (May 2011).

Church of Ireland representative, the General Synod, the Scottish Episcopal Church (2007, 2010).

Church of Ireland Representative, General Assembly, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (2008).

Church of Ireland Representative, Conference of the Methodist Church in Ireland (2006).

Recent Extra-mural Engagements:

January 2011: Inaugural ‘Thought for the Day’ speaker, Spirit Radio, Ireland.

November 2010: Paper on ‘The Place of Children’s Ministry within Theological Formation’ presented to the Consultative Group on Ministry to Children, Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI).

November 2010: launch of Church Mission Society Ireland ‘Discovery’ mission resource.

October and December 2010: Three lectures on ‘The Characteristics of Christian Leadership,’ Servant Leadership,’ and ‘Leadership Styles,’ Edgehill College, Belfast.

August 2010: Exploratory ‘Erasmus Exchange’ conversations with the Dean and Faculty of the Diakonhjemmet Institute of the Norwegian Lutheran Church, Oslo.

June 2009: Two papers on ‘Collaborative Ministry and Working in Teams,’ the President’s Ministerial Session, the Methodist Conference.

February 2009: South American Mission Society ‘Friday Night Live.’

October 2008: two papers on ‘Historical and Current Developments within training for the Church of Ireland,’ Armagh Clergy Conference.

EMPLOYMENT AND CHURCH EXPERIENCE:

2008- : Director, Church of Ireland Theological Institute.

2002-2008: Rector, Shankill Parish, Lurgan; Church of Ireland Chaplain, Lurgan Hospital.

1998-2002: Rector, Church of the Holy Name, Greenisland.

1993-1998: Curate Assistant, Saint Patrick’s, Coleraine; Assistant Chaplain, Coleraine Hospital.

1992: Visiting Summer Chaplain, Saint George’s, Tunis.

1988-1989: Saint Paul’s and Saint George’s, Edinburgh, Church Lay Assistant.

1987-1988: John Lewis Partnership (Edinburgh), Graduate Management.

INTERESTS:

 

Current affairs, sport (in particular golf, football, rugby, swimming, gym), wines, Christian children’s work.