Chris and Sophie Silvester
The ordination service for Rev Sophie and Chris Silvester is on Sunday 9 November, 2 pm at Newtown School Hall.
Rev Sophie Silvester
I am currently doing a curacy at St Tom’s. I have been loving the classic work of centre church: the privilege of being with a dying person and their family through the last rites and funeral; the pleasure of hearing the fresh questions of people trying to figure out Jesus and discipleship at Alpha; the satisfaction of wrestling with a biblical passage for a sermon and articulating wisdom for a Sunday morning that I need to hear myself; the gratitude of seeing somebody’s face be present and hopeful when you last saw them suffering.
As part of my ordination training, to my great joy, I got to do three years of theology study. I couldn’t believe that I could learn about history, big ideas, languages and God all mixed up in one ‘meaty’ intellectual feast. It is a great love of mine to talk theology with anyone who is curious.
I got the call to ordination when I had a powerful encounter with the Holy Spirit on the floor of a worship gathering in Madagascar. Everything in me had resisted ordination - In my early 20s, I didn’t think ordained ministry was the worthy cause I wanted to give myself to. From where I was standing, it looked hard, under-appreciated, under-paid, and not at all glamorous. Now, I wrestle more with whether I am worthy of the call - it still looks hard, but the work is such good work. As a priest, people look to you to know God. What is God saying to me? What should I do? Why is this happening to me? And as a priest, you are responsible to lead God’s people through these highly volatile times. It is a weighty mantle to step into that space and say, here I am, ordain me. Well. Here I am.
Rev Chris Silvester
I’m passionate about a church centred on Jesus — a community being continually transformed by knowing and following Him. A church where people are safe, treasured, and seen; where children thrive; where we’re becoming people who love and care for one another, our neighbour, and creation; agents of God’s transformation and goodness where the world needs it most.
For me, the call to ordination feels like a natural step in a much longer journey. Jesus caught my imagination early in life, and I’ve always felt drawn toward spaces of Jesus-shaped community, creativity and mission.
When I was ordained a deacon in 2021, we were a part of the Wheels team from St Tom’s, and we were travelling in our bus full-time, studying theology, and ministering among other travellers and supporting local parishes on the way. Since then, we’ve landed back home in Newtown and been privileged to learn and serve alongside the incredible people of St Tom’s. My main ministry currently involves leading our children’s ministry, preaching, and serving on the staff team. I love to see someone encounter Jesus. I love to see them grow in wisdom, character and love as they learn to know him. I love finding ways to creatively express faith ideas to children and adults. I love celebrating eucharist on the Orongorongo riverbed during our annual kids’ church tramp.
I feel blessed to be part of the Anglican Movement — a people centred on Jesus, discipleship, seeking justice, caring for creation, failing forward, and walking the path of reconciliation in this land. For me, being priested is stepping deeper into the gnarly, awesome, daunting, and joy-filled privilege of this mahi with Jesus.
