ODDI WRTH YR ESGOB...
FROM THE BISHOP...
Bishop John writes his Ad Clerum to the clergy of the Diocese every month. You can read the text on this page.
Links
Read a report of the ordination of the Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness
The Scottish Episcopal Church official website
Information about youth work grants
E-mail Tim Feak
The Leprosy Mission website
Contact
E-mail Bishop John
Archive
NOVEMber 2007
Dear Friends,
A visit to the north of Scotland in October reminded me how very different Anglicanism can be not only across the world but even within the United Kingdom itself. The Scottish Episcopal church is small compared with the church in Wales and the new bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, whose consecration I attended, leads a diocese of 35 parishes scattered throughout the Highlands and Grampian region, a vast area of about one-third the size of Scotland. The consecration of Mark Strange was notable, however, for its involvement of young people, who vested the new bishop and who sang during what turned out to be a stimulating but very long service of two-and-a-half hours. Yet it was evident that the development of faith and spirituality for young people was a key part of that church’s mission. This is probably true of every diocese in the four home provinces (and indeed across our whole communion). After all, who could deny the centrality of ministry to young people in any of our parishes and communities? Yet how to share in this formative stage of people’s lives in a way that loves, respects and nurtures has always challenged the resolve of the church to make the right kind of sacrifices. And so it remains today.
For our part, we have already made work with, by and for young people one of our key diocesan priorities. We demonstrated commitment to this with the youth work grants, using money released by the DBF for mission work with young people. The result has been a burgeoning of engagement with youngsters in those parishes who have taken up this offer.
Tim Feak, our new under 25s officer, is keen to take this work several steps further. He has already made contact with a number of parishes who are doing good youth work and worship and he is passionate about encouraging more parishes to become properly equipped for this vital area. Tim’s assessment is that we need to be realistic about the extent of the challenge involved in trying to reach out to those who have few points of contact with traditional church life, and he has a heart-warming vision for how we can do this in partnership with a variety of professional youth work organisations. I am sure this will cheer all those of us who feel weary of trying to get more, already busy, people to take on extra voluntary work on behalf of the church. But none of this lets us off the hook.
Serious engagement with any aspect of discipleship calls us to be sacrificial in offering our energy and imagination to enable growth to happen. Parishes are already considering their work of stewardship with the new Investing in Mission pack. Work with under 25s gives us even more impetus to think about those with whom we need to engage.
There are changes in the education team where Mary Stallard is to serve as acting lead officer for Education and lifelong learning, work formerly carried out by Manon Parry. Manon continues in her critical role as St Asaph director of St Michael’s non-residential training. The Diocesan education team remains as: Schools’ officer (statutory education), Anne Suter; Schools’ officer (buildings and legal), Roz Williams; Secretary, Sheila Bennett. Please continue to contact the diocesan office in the usual way for all matters relating to education.
The Leprosy Mission has a new area co-ordinator, Mr John White, an Anglican, and he has permission to preach. His contact details are email: johnw@tlmew.org.uk Address 29 Cilonen Road, Three Crosses, Swansea SW4 3PH. Tel 01792 872438.
We say farewell to Roger Brown as a he retires from stipendiary ministry. Roger came to the diocese 14 years ago and alongside his ministry to the parishes of Welshpool and Castle Caereinion he has served as area dean and diocesan archivist. Roger is a prolific author, his latest book Evangelicals in the Church in Wales, being the latest. Roger’s ministry has been characterised by courage, wisdom and good humour and we wish him and Phyllis well in their retirement.
We also extend our good wishes to Marion Graham, who has retired as non-stipendiary curate of Flint. Marion has served with commitment and faithfulness and her ministry will be much missed by many in the parishes where she has ministered.
We say farewell at the end of the year to Nia Williams who is leaving Towyn and St George to take up an appointment in her native diocese of Bangor. We wish Nia every blessing as she prepares to take up her post as incumbent of Glanogwen with St Ann and Llanllechid and Pentir, and thank her for her ministry in the parishes where she has served and also for her work as Under 25s officer.