Dictionary

Words on this page

Bishop

‘Bishop’ comes from the Greek word for ‘overseer’. So a bishop is a senior Christian minister authorised to have oversight for God’s people. As well as duties given to deacons and priests, bishops confirm and ordain.

Diocese

‘Diocese’ refers to the geographical territory in which a bishop exercises oversight. The Church in Wales is divided into six dioceses each with its own cathedral in which is housed the cathedra (the bishop’s ‘chair’ or ‘throne’).

Evangelism

‘Evangelion’ means ‘good news’. Evangelism is about sharing the good news of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection in the hope that others may come to believe in and follow Jesus.

Home News Director of Evangelism appointed

Director of Evangelism appointed

Provincial news Posted: 1 August 2023

A senior officer, who has devoted her career to helping churches grow and serve their communities, is to take up a key new role in the Church in Wales.

Mandy Bayton has been appointed as Director of Evangelism and will be responsible for resourcing churches to reach out with the good news of the Gospel to the communities they serve. She will also support the work of the Church Growth Fund, liaise with the Evangelism Fund projects and assist Bishop John Lomas, the lead bishop for evangelism. Working as part of the Mission and Ministry Advisors’ Group, Mandy will report to the Chief Executive, Simon Lloyd.

Mandy joins the team at the Provincial Office with more than 30 years’ experience in church growth and outreach.

For the past three years she has worked for the Diocese of Swansea and Brecon, initially developing the Diocese’s bid to the Evangelism Fund and latterly as Director for Mission and Evangelism. Prior to that, she worked for the Cinnamon Network as advisor for Wales and for Hope Together UK as Director for Wales.

Announcing her appointment, Simon Lloyd said, “I’m very pleased to welcome Mandy Bayton to the team as Director of Evangelism. The Church is called to share the good news of the Gospel and Mandy’s wide experience will help the whole Province to be well supported and resourced as we seek to do this.”

Mandy, who lives in North Gower, said, “I am delighted to be offered the role of Director of Evangelism because my heart soars when I play a small part in helping others discover the transforming love of Jesus. I hope to draw on my experience of working for churches and Christian organisations to encourage the amazing outreach already happening across the province, and also to nurture a re-imagining of mission so that everything we do as the Church is seen through a missional lens.”

The Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, John Lomas said, "Mandy has been a stalwart and constant companion to the diocese over these last few years, not least in this our hundredth year, and, of course, as we have transitioned to ministry areas and sought to strengthen both tried and tested ways and new ways to bring the good news of Jesus to the people of the diocese. Her energy and commitment will be sorely missed, but we know that this move will be to the benefit of the province as a whole and that, as such, she will still have a part to play in the future of Swansea and Brecon."

Mandy starts her new role on October 1.