Houston McKelvey
QVRM, TD, BA(Hons), MA (Ed.), D.Min. D.Hl.
Made deacon in Belfast Cathedral in June 1967 for the Parish of Dunmurry. Rector of Kilmakee, 1970 - 1982. Secretary and adviser on education policy to the Church of Ireland General Synod Board of Education (Northern Ireland) 1982 - 2001. Elected a Chapter Canon of the National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St. Patrick, Dublin,1989.
EDUCATION:Muckamore Primary School, Co. Antrim 1946-54
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution,1954-61
The Queen's University of Belfast, 1961-65, BA Honours in political and economic geography.
Trinity College, University of Dublin,1965-67, Prizes in doctrine, church history, ethics, Old and New Testament in both junior and senior years in divinity.Medal for Oratory, College Theological Society,1965-66, Auditor 1966-67
The Queen's University of Belfast,1985-1988, Master of Arts in Education, by thesis. (Extern)
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, Illinois 1990-1993, Doctor of Ministry (Residential and distance). Doctor of Humane Letters (Honorary 2003).
External member of the Committee of the Faculty of Theology, QUB.
SERVICE:
Edited 'The Church of Ireland Gazette'.
In 1980, organised and took part in the first official Church of Ireland 4-man delegation to visit churches and politicians in USA which was led by the present Archbishop of Armagh.
In 1982, was adviser to local inter-denominational group of clergy which travelled to London and Amsterdam to negotiate with directors of AKZO upon the closing of the British Enkalon plant in Northern Ireland.
Invited participant in three series of 'church and society' consultations at St. George's, Windsor Leadership Trust. Served as facilitator on later courses.
Chaired the working party and authored the draft version of the Church of Ireland’s Child protection policy “Safeguarding Trust”.
Negotiated and participated in the inter-church working party which drafted the Core Syllabus in Religious Education for Schools in Northern Ireland which is supported by all four mainstream churches.
Was a member of the Department of Education (NI) working party on the promotion of a culture of tolerance in schools (1998) and of the Department's working party on the transformation of schools to Controlled Integrated status (1999).
Former Chairman of The Northern Ireland Education Forum - including representatives of the Teachers’ Council, Local Education Authorities and the four main churches.
Former member of both the Irish and British Council of Churches' specialist groups in children's ministry. Served period as member of the executive of the British Council of Churches’ group. Has represented the Church of Ireland at several European Conferences on Christian Education and the Epicopal Church of America’s conference on children’s ministries.
Firmly committed to inter-church co-operation and the Cathedrals’ Partnership with St Peter’s Roman Catholic Cathedral. Founder co - chair of the Northern Ireland branch of the Council for Christians and Jews.
Former Territorial Army Chaplain - 29 years service as chaplain to Ulster and Scottish Gunners. Holder of the Territorial Decoration (1982) and the first reserve forces chaplain to be awarded the Queen’s Volunteer Reserve Medal, presented by HM The Queen (2000).
Former member of the Police Authority for Northern Ireland , nominated by the Standing Conference of Youth Organisations and appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland,1985 - 1991.
Former County chaplain for scouts and former district commissioner - Bar to Medal of Merit, Scout Association 1996.
Currently serves on the Belfast local education authority. Chairman of the Board of Management of ACE Ventures, a church-sponsored employment project 1988 to present.
PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE
‘Hello Sunshine' - scripts for television and radio,1980
'Let Your Light Shine' - manual for Children's Workers,1982
'Suffer the Children' - an analysis of Parish Sunday Schools, 1983
'On the Way' - an introduction to Children's Ministry,1983
'Christian Nurture' - resources for family life,1983
Contributor to and publisher of 'Together through Lent - from Enniskillen to Calvary,1988
'An Introduction to the Church's Year' - a project kit for use with young members, 1989
‘Handbook for School Boards of Governors', 1990
'School Assembly Resources' (edited), 1990
'Advent, Christmas and Epiphany' - resources 1990
‘Faith Conversations with Children' - 1990 (compiler)
Drafted the Church of Ireland’s Children’s Charter and authored a commentary on it - “God, Our Children and Us” (1999).
Children and Bereavement - editor
The Parish As Educator
The Parish As Evangelist
The Parish as Pastor
Short biography of G.O. Simms
FAMILY
Married to Roberta - Graduate in geography (QUB) and former grammar school head of department. Central Trustee of Mothers’ Union, London. Hon Secretary of the Belfast Contact Centre, member of General Synod Church Unity Committee, the Irish Council of Churches and of the board of Christian Aid, Ireland
Son - John - Cambridge graduate. Civil servant, London based.
