Press release from the Church of England
New Directors for Renewal & Reform and Evangelism & Discipleship announced
28/11/2017
The Church of England is pleased to announce the appointment of Debbie Clinton as Director of Renewal and Reform, and Dave Male as Director of Evangelism and Discipleship.
Director of Renewal and Reform
Bringing extensive experience of change management and strategic planning in both the Church and the commercial sectors Debbie will oversee and ensure the implementation of the national workstreams relating to Renewal and Reform.
Renewal and Reform is a body of work designed to enable the Church of England more effectively to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ in this generation. It aims to build on the three goals articulated by General Synod in 2010 to:
1. Facilitate the growth of the church in numbers and depth of discipleship
2. Re-imagine the church’s ministry
3. Contribute as the national church to the common good
Renewal and Reform aims to address some of the deep-rooted missional challenges facing the Church of England. It prayerfully hopes to see the Church of England become once again a growing church, for all people in all places.
Debbie has held a series of strategic senior posts in the change management, marketing and customer development fields, most recently as the Director of Capital Vision at the Diocese of London and previously as a Director of Customer and Brand with Aviva working across their European businesses. Having grown up within the Church of Ireland, she currently worships at St Paul’s Howell Hill in the Diocese of Guildford.
Debbie said: “It is an enormous privilege to join in this work with Dioceses and parishes as we seek to proclaim the good news afresh in this generation and renew and reform our life in ways that further God’s kingdom. “
Debbie will be taking over from Mike Eastwood who is currently on a part-time secondment from the Diocese of Liverpool. Debbie will take up her new role early next year.
Director of Evangelism and Discipleship
The Church of England is pleased to announce the appointment of Dave Male to the new post Director of Evangelism and Discipleship.
The Archbishops’ Council has established this new team to strengthen its support for the local work of bringing people to faith, and strengthening their Christian life, in all the dioceses, parishes and other ministries of the Church.
Dave brings extensive experience of creating innovation and achievement through his work as a church leader, theological educator and national advisor. Dave will establish and lead the work of this newly formed Directorate whose task is to oversee and strengthen the work of the National Church in Evangelism and Discipleship as it contributes to the objectives of the Archbishops’ Council.
As a parish priest and pioneer minister Dave has significant experience of leading in evangelism and discipleship at local, deanery and Diocesan level. He has written many books and articles on mission, evangelism, pioneer ministry and Fresh Expressions and has spoken on these topics in the UK and across the world.
Dave said: “I am thrilled to be leading this new, exciting and dynamic team who are seeking to strengthen and develop the work of Evangelism and Discipleship through this new Directorate. This is a time of great possibilities and opportunities for us.”
Dave will take up his new post early in the New Year.
William Nye, Secretary General to the General Synod, said: “I am delighted with these two new appointments we are announcing today. The new department of Evangelism and Discipleship, and the enhanced role for a director of Renewal and Reform, are signs of the Archbishops’ Council’s commitment to spreading the Gospel and renewing the Church. We are fortunate to have attracted two excellent candidates for these important roles.
Both have contributed much to the Church already, Debbie Clinton in helping the Church’s largest diocese make reality of its Capital Vision for growth in London, and Dave Male in leading, teaching and inspiring pioneer ministers to contribute to the work of evangelism. Both Debbie and Dave have much to offer in bringing about the vision of a growing Church for all people and in all places.”
‘Dave Male’ sounds like the sort of character that would appear in Viz comic if they ever featured a hearty evangelical cleric. (I hasten to add, going solely on his name. I have no idea whether or not the real person has any resemblance to the imaginary caricature.)
Same old, same old… a predictably lightweight evangelical and business combo. Justin Welby’s ambition to recreate the C of E in his own image and likeness gathers pace. How depressing.
If successful, Dave will further transform the National Church into an evangelical sect likely to appeal to even fewer people. Why try to convert the nation to Our Lord in the Most Holy Sacrament when Dave can promote fresh expressions, messy church and other such profound beliefs to be ignored by the populace?
Any chance of people in such roles who have first hand experience of the challenges faced by multiparish clergy in unfashionable areas with congregations who are not well-off? Apparently not. My wife said she’s stopping reading CoE bulletins because all she wants to do is correct the grammar and strike out all the business-speak, which would of course leave only a few prepositions and conjunctions. And another friend writes ‘I have the same sinking feeling that I used to get when stumbling across such “overarching/blue sky” rubbish when I was at work. I wonder what the Dear Leader’s remedy will… Read more »
I presume that when William Nye speaks of ‘England’s largest diocese’ he means in terms of population? York Diocese is far bigger geographically, I imagine Newcastle might be too. Debbie Clinton will find that what works in London doesn’t work elsewhere – its such an atypical diocese.
I wonder why the profile of David Male doesn’t say where he’s actually been? The description of his work history is general and vague.
I am a DDO and have sent candidates to the pioneer ministry selection program Dave Male has established. One is an experienced church planter who has a profoundly eucharistic focus to her spirituality and is now an ordinand placed in an urban anglo-catholic parish. I have found the process wholly supportive of mission expressed across all traditions in the church. He did not choose his parents or his name. But I welcome his choice for the appointment and will pray for him.
I can say with all honesty that these two appointments will make not one jot of difference to the challenges and opportunities we face up here in Bolton. Ms Clinton with her home counties baggage, and Mr Male with fresh expressions coming from all directions, just do not get what parish life is like North of the Trent (and, I suspect, a good deal South of it, too). This is just more corporate spin by the C of E – and a woeful waste of money. How about financing three or four parish priests up here in struggling communities for… Read more »
Mr Broadhead – I have the honour of being Vicar of, inter alia, a parish that abuts the Trent’s “northern” bank (in Burton the western bank rather than the northern, but on the proper side anyway). You are absolutely right. What interest will these people have in us? If my experience is anything to go by, their representatives will speak at a diocesan training day, but will not listen or observe. Experience leads me to doubt that anyone will condescend to see what it’s like on the ground, and certainly not an area amongst the most deprived in the UK.… Read more »
First of all, good luck (they’ll both need it) to Debbie and Dave in their new posts. But – who wrote this stuff? ‘extensive experience of change management’ ‘oversee and ensure the implementation of the national workstreams’ deep-rooted missional challenges’ ‘for all people in all places’ strategic senior posts’ ‘change management, marketing and customer development’ ‘Director of discipleship’ ‘strengthening their Christian life’ ‘extensive experience of creating innovation and achievement…church leader, theological educator and national advisor’ ‘newly formed Directorate’ ‘objectives of the Archbishop’s Council’ ‘thrilled to be leading…new exciting and dynamic team’ ‘through this new Directorate’ ‘delighted with the new appointments’… Read more »
Programme on Radio 4 recently about how metaphors are used in business and politics, and that if we are presented with something that we don’t understand or appears meaningless, it is our duty to question it? Well, just for starters: What is a ‘national workstream?’ What is a deep-rooted missional challenge?’ What is a ‘strategic senior post in the C of E?’ How can one be a ‘Director of discipleship?’ A ‘national adviser’ in what?’ ‘What is a ‘newly formed Directorate’ and why does it make me feel uneasy? What are the ‘objectives of the Archbishop’s Council?’ How is the… Read more »
I can’t make head or tail of the Fresh Expressions website. For instance, Dave describes Pioneers as “engaging in the highest levels of role crafting (with) some of the highest levels of autonomy and feedback” Such phrases make me go blank with incomprehension. Many of the videos contain comparable gobbledegook. If Dave’s role is to communicate the gospel to the unchurched, perhaps he could speak in language understandable to those of us within it
Bill Broadhead, Cassandra – with regard to Dave Male’s previous work, I got to know him whilst an ordinand at Ridley Hall Cambridge, where I believe he was on staff at both Ridley and Westcott . Prior to that I know he spent considerable time in a church in Huddersfield. Tis the other side of the Pennines from Bolton I know, but its definitely north of the Trent!
I think Stephen is right to flag up this kind of language. I drafted a rather mischievous post yesterday, which started with Jesus saying “Who do people say I am?” and his disciple replying, “They say you are an ensurer of the implementation of national workstreams…” It went downhill from there, and probably wisely I decided not to post it. Mainly because the actual work is probably good, the people decent, and my post didn’t feel encouraging. I think there is a lesson for the new Media/Communications Head though. It is maybe better not to use the kind of phrases… Read more »
“Is there nobody high up in the Lambeth politburo that values loyal dissent?” asks Stanley Monkhouse. The clue is in the fact that I am hearing increasing numbers of clergy referring to Lambeth Palace as Pyongyang. Having turned the House of Bishops into his personal Politbureau, we now have two people who can ‘talk the talk’, who are going to tell us how to become Welby’s puppets, so that local parishes can become clones of his middle class evangelical ideals. The fact that Dave Male went on day-release to Westcott House tells me nothing. This is a monstrous waste of… Read more »
Regarding Pyongyang at Lambeth, I find it difficult not to despair. This is not for my sake, for I shall soon be gone. It is for the sake of loyal parishioners—people for whom bishops and church officials are increasingly irrelevant; people who do their best to keep expensive and beautiful buildings going by having them open as sacred space, for refreshments, for the sale of charity cards, for concerts, and for use as a winter venue for Burton homeless between now and Easter—and this in an increasingly non-Christian area that ‘enjoys’ the manifestations of drug wars and the occasional murder.… Read more »
Stanley Monkhouse’s reflections prompted me to re-read an article by Sarah Coakley from the excellent ABC Religion & Ethics website http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2017/07/24/4706747.htm Obviously, Professor Coakley doesn’t address the situations Stanley describes directly; but she does delve into the root causes of the current malaise that is feeding the culture at ‘Pyongyang.’ Her analysis of the ‘thin gruel’ that now passes for theological discourse, as well her scrutiny of the fundamental questions institutions avoid addressing, have more than echoes of what underlies the two appointments under discussion in this thread. It IS serious, because no-one surrounding the Beloved Leader has either the… Read more »
Dave Male was a lecturer at both Ridley and Westcott simultaneously. He was also a cleric in Huddersfield which is , I can reliably tell you, in the north. It is important to keep the facts clear because although these two appointments might be of good people (I have worked with Dave in the Cambridge Theological federation and he is a good thing who thinks and works more broadly than some here are allowing), many of the points made here are still pertinent – London is not like anywhere else and the management speak is by turns unsettling and risible… Read more »
I know Dave Male well and he will be a fine addition to the team. He is wise, experienced, pragmatic and a heart to see the church grow. I wish him well. He is an ideal person for the role. The key for me is discipleship. For every Fresh Expression and messy church, we need Christians, young and old, mature and new to grow in an effective discipleship which will help people live out their Christian lives establishing an effective and distinctive life of justice, inclusivity, hope and joy. I wish him well – I think he is the right… Read more »
How about this ?
Seems pretty inspiring….
http://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/pressreleases/now-available-for-congregations-dioceses-faith-communities-advent-resources-for-preparing-to-become-the-beloved-community/
And yesterday we saw the appointment of a “Cathedrals Liaison Officer” by the “National Church Institutions.”
The Cathedrals Liason Officer appointment is part of the Archbishops’/Commissioners’ ‘grab’ strategy. Cathedrals are doing well, but they want cathedrals to ‘do well’ their way, because they realise they could be places of resistance, offering a less formulaic, more intelligent and more questioning way of doing mission. As has been highlighted elsewhere on this blog, the Sacred Space conference, to which all cathedral staff have been ‘invited’ to “Bring together for the very first time, all the key players at every English cathedral…. to listen to the message and priorities of the Archbishops and their vision of the Church’s mission… Read more »