Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The last Friday in June saw the Cathedral overflowing with people as we gathered for the consecration of Rosemarie Mallett to serve as Bishop of Croydon. It was a wonderfully joyful service and a great pleasure to see so many people come to celebrate the day. The next day, Bishop Rosemarie took part in the Ordination of deacons, also at Southwark Cathedral, in which 16 people were ordained to serve in parishes across the Diocese. One person was not deaconed because of Covid and will be ordained at Michaelmas. The following Saturday, in services in the Episcopal Areas, 20 people were ordained to the priesthood. Two further deacons were ordained to the priesthood by the Bishops who extend special pastoral care to their parishes. Sadly, two were unable to be ordained because of Covid and will be priested at Michaelmas. It is exciting to see so many people beginning new phases of ministry and I look forward to hearing about what they will do in the coming years, the Lord being their helper.
Those who are ordained are charged to work with others in their community to share the Good News of God in joyful partnerships. That is why the Season of Lay Ministries is so important. I have been delighted by the way in which our parishes have embraced this Season and have begun to celebrate all that our communities do together to witness to God’s love and particularly, to celebrate the work that our lay people do in so many places. Some spend a great deal of time and care in making sure that, week by week, everything is ready in their churches for the regular round of services. The church is cleaned, there are flowers and all that is necessary for the services. Some act as welcomers and others offer hospitality and refreshments when services are concluded. Then, there are those who read the lessons or lead the intercessions. And it is not just within their churches that people are engaged as members of our congregations help at food banks and visit those who are at home alone and help with night shelters or act as Street Pastors. There are so many ways in which people serve God and show God’s love and it is good to celebrate this.
The Season of Lay Ministries has allowed us all to think about the new ministries which we have recognised and for which training is made available. They help us to make sure that those who undertake different ministry roles already, such as working with our children and young people, or leading a new expression of church or are considering taking up a role, are recognised for what they do and trained well.
These new ministries complete those that have been available over many years such as being a Reader, a Southwark Pastoral Auxiliary, a Church Army Evangelist and more recently a commissioned Pioneer Lay Minister. These new ministries can be affirmed (selected, trained and recognised locally) or commissioned (selected, trained and recognised across the Diocese) or Licenced (selected and trained through the Diocese and recognised nationally).
As we give thanks for the blessing of those who have been set apart and ordained as deacons, priests and bishops in the Church of God let us also work together giving thanks for the blessing that the whole people of God, working together, brings to our life together. The Season of Lay Ministries is helping to ensure that all those in our parishes who work hard to share God’s Good News with those around them are celebrated and respected for all that they do to help to bring in God’s kingdom.
I want to thank you for all that you do lay and clergy together in the service of Christ and your parish communities.
May God bless you all.
