The Church of England announced yesterday that Bishop Chris Goldsmith is to become its next Director of Ministry. The bishop is currently the suffragan Bishop of St Germans in the diocese of Truro, so that post will become vacant when he takes up his new position in September 2019.
This looks like a very good appointment – someone who has experience of Reader ministry, NSM and stipendiary ordained ministry and the world of (secular) work.
This will be a good appointment if Bishop Goldsmith can reset the balance in terms of equipping ordinands (in Particular) with greater intellectual agility and extending the scope for theological enquiry. He will also need to address the pressing need for growing numbers of candidates, who have absolutely no lived experience of the rhythms of Anglican parochial life, to explore its potential as a model of mission, instead of assuming that the mega church model is normative. Which it isn’t. We are seeing how this is causing considerable grief across the Church of England at the moment – not least… Read more »
Michael – given your concerns (some of which I share as a ddo and ministry trainer), the appointment of someone who has been working in one of the toughest rural areas in the country is surely good news. They will be the least likely to hitch their wagon to a messianic, ‘one size’, mega church mission model (if such actually exists). From recent and present experience in dioceses with significant rural areas I find no evidence that such a model is a driver. There is a great deal of hard won, creative and authentic church development in small communities going… Read more »
What has happened to Julian Hubbard, Bishop Goldsmith’s predecessor?
If Michael Mulhern has been wondering, so have I. I headed over to the Truro Diocese website, and found several glowing tributes to Bishop Goldsmith, which are obviously a sign of the regard in which he is held there. so far so good. There was no mention of his qualities as a pastor or theologian; but each time, his experience in the business world was highlighted. I think that gives us a clue as to the driver in this appointment – and what the likely direction of travel will be. I can only say that it is reassuring to know… Read more »