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.
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October 2008
Dear Friends,
The Lambeth Conference continues to bear fruit in several ways, one being the strengthening of the relationship with John Simalenga, the new bishop of South-west Tanganyika, with whom we are building a companionship link. John, some of you will recall, was one of our six visitors to the diocese for the pre-Lambeth hospitality programme, and had been consecrated only a few days before he arrived. He was, understandably, somewhat bewildered by the sheer pace of events taking place in his life; however, he coped well, and while settling in to his new diocese we have continued to correspond. We are now at the stage of signing a companion link agreement, and for us this will happen at the Bishop’s Council meeting at Pool Quay on the morning of Tuesday, 4th November this year. The diocese of South West Tanganyika will sign at its synod around that date.
The link will be cemented by what I hope will be a visit by a group from this diocese to Tanzania proposed for next August. There will, of course, be a new bishop in place here by then but since preparations have to be made I have asked Bill Rowell to co-ordinate it. We need a mix of people with knowledge, interest and the potential for maintaining a lively contact over a number of years to come, so please encourage some young people who would benefit from such a visit. Funding will need to be considered and we shall be looking to different sources during the coming months.
The purpose of a companionship link is to share our pilgrimage of faith and discipleship, to encourage and support each other through prayer and the exchange of ideas, and to increase opportunities for mission. I attach a statement of intent to this letter. At a personal level I am sorry not to be able to reap the benefits of such close contact with a country where Joan and I lived and worked in the late 1960s, but it is enough for me that the process of establishing the companionship link is now well in place and that we have a way into the future. I remember meeting the second bishop of South West Tanganyika, John Poole Hughes, at Dar es Salaam in 1968, and renewing my contact with him when he became bishop of Llandaff some years later. It was also a happy coincidence (but of no significance whatsoever) that the last non-African bishop, Michael Westall, who retired in 2006, went both to the same school and Cambridge college as I did, but at different times.
S.W.Tanganyika is in the southern highlands of the politically stable and spectacularly beautiful country of Tanzania. It has five deaneries, thirty parishes and bishop John Simalenga tells me that his priorities are clergy and lay training and transport for parish clergy. I attach also to this ad clerum a second document entitled Link with South West Tanganyika which gives a brief outline of the diocese written before the new bishop was elected.
I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mike West as Rector and Area Dean of Wrexham. Mike is currently Canon Chancellor of Lincoln Cathedral and comes with a wealth of experience and gifts to contribute both to the Rectorial benefice and to the diocese. Please pray for Mike and his wife Margaret as they prepare to move to Wrexham in November. The Induction will be at St Giles’ Parish Church on Sunday November 23, at 3.30 pm.
Congratulations also to
- Sarah Hildreth on her appointment to the parishes of Bagillt and Mostyn.
- John Harvey on his appointment to Meliden and Gwaenysgor, a post to be combined with diocesan vocations adviser.
- Mark Chadwick, on his appointment to the parishes of Kerry, Llanmerewig, Dolfor and Mochdre.
We remember with thanksgiving the life and ministry of Stephen Cawley, late Vicar of the Gorsedd group of parishes, who died recently at St David’s Hospice, Llandudno.
+ John