Posted Wednesday 19 November 2008
I am looking forward immensely to taking up post in January as the Ministry Development Officer in the Diocese, writes Anne Tomlinson.
Let me tell you a bit about myself and then about the role. I am a Deacon (the permanent sort, that is) and since ordination 15 years ago have worked in TISEC training people for Readership and Ordination, and subsequently in the field of congregational education for mission across the Province.
Both jobs have convinced me that it is important to:
- see theological formation and education as a lifelong process, and one available to the whole people of God;
- ensure that the kind of training people receive is fit for purpose, in other words is appropriate to the jobs they have to carry out. Changed times call for changed ways, new forms of leadership and so on;
- work collaboratively, whether within congregations, between neighbouring congregations, in regional groupings and ecumenically.
I am married to Fred, a priest in the Diocese of Edinburgh, and have a 22-year old daughter studying politics in the USA. The SEC has been my home since infancy, and I delight in its exceptionally beautiful liturgies, its thoughtfulness and its size, all of which make it a hospitable place to encounter God.
I am excited by the task ahead because it is clear to me that the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway is committed to working hard in this vital area of its life.
You have committed a sizeable sum of money to this post which speaks of the high value you place upon supporting those in post and those in training for ordained and diaconal ministries.
You have a great team of people already dedicated to this area of work, who between them have set up excellent systems for training, evaluation, review, CMD and so on.
My job is to support them in this role and so enable the Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway to continue to develop a ‘culture of learning’ of which it and the rest of the Province may be rightly proud. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead, as together we grow in faith and understanding in the service of God.
Category: Ministry Advisory Group
