Each year the Diocese of Southwark welcomes a new cohort of Pioneer Curates. Our Pioneer Curates are an important part of the mix in the strategy of the Diocese of Southwark. We recognise that Pioneers have a particular calling in forming new ecclesial communities and our Pioneer Curates are assisted .
We don’t have a separate pathway to become a Pioneer Curate as the aim is that all our curates are trained for Parish ministry and mission. Those for whom we discern a pioneering spirit or charism we give some additional training and time for reflection on their ministry during their curacy and help in forming a new worshipping community or fresh expression of Church.
In our recent Diocesan Investment Programme application the national Church agreed to fully fund five Pioneer Curates each year to help support the training of Mixed Ecology priests. It also helps to prepare those curates who feel a particular call to Mixed Ecology churches to gain valuable practical experience.
This year we saw five Pioneer Curates ordained – four to the diaconate and one received as a priest. The deacons ordained were:
Revd Mike Addis – Ascension Balham
Revd Amanda Emberley – Ascension Balham
Revd Paul Holden – Merstham and Gatton Team
Revd Owen Morgan – Charlton Benefice
The priest is
Revd Michael Nayagam – St Peter & St Augustine, South Croydon
We are very excited to work with them as they bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm
Michael Nayagam comes with a wealth of experience as a former Catholic priest who helped set up Base Ecclesial Communities for the Church in India.
Amanda Emberley spent her early 20s working in small missional communities in Southeast Asia before coming back to the UK. She says
Pioneering is an amazing opportunity to think about church for the unchurched and how to build bridges into the community.
If you would like to find out more then please do contact the Director of Mission, Canon Will Cookson – [email protected]
