Dictionary

Words on this page

Anglican

Anglicans form the family of Christians closely related to the Archbishop of Canterbury. Whilst tracing their inheritance back to Christ and the earliest Christians and to the ancient Roman Catholic church, the sixteenth century Reformation was a crucial moment for Anglicanism.

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.

Deacon

‘Deacon’ comes the Greek word for ‘servant’. Deacons in the Church in Wales have special roles within worship such as proclaiming the gospel. Traditionally, deacons have had responsibility for social care. Deacons often go on to be ordained priest.

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’).

Prayer

Prayer sustains our human relationship with God and may involve words (formal or informal) or be silent. Prayer can involve adoration (‘I love you’), confession (‘sorry’), thanksgiving and supplication (‘please’).

Priest

‘Priest’ comes from the Greek word for ‘elder’. Priests in the Church in Wales are those authorised specifically to proclaim forgiveness of sins, preside at the Eucharist and bless God’s people, as well as other responsibilities.

Theological

‘Theology’ means literally ‘words about God’. Christian theology involves our trying to understand and explain what God has revealed about himself through Scripture. This work is aided by the writings of past and present theologians and human reason.

Home News Report reflects on changing role of clergy

Report reflects on changing role of clergy

Provincial news Posted: 20 April 2021

The role of clergy in today’s changing church comes under the spotlight in a report published this week.

The product of more than five years of work, Faithful Stewards in a Changing Church: Understanding Ordained Ministry the Light of the 2020 Vision offers a series of essays to help the Church reflect theologically about the ordained ministry since the development of ministry areas. Using the metaphor of a journey or a pilgrimage, the Report encourages readers to look back to where we have come from and take stock of where we are now so that we can faithfully and confidentially take our bearings for the future.

The report was received by the Governing Body of the Church in Wales last week and commended to dioceses and ministry areas for study and reflection.

The Bishop of Monmouth, Cherry Vann, the lead bishop for ministry, says, “At a time when we are welcoming an increasing number and diversity of lay ministries across the Province, this report gives rich and ample material for reflection on the role and nature of ordained ministry in the Church of today.”

Available also in a ‘Study Edition’, Faithful Stewards in a Changing Church is divided into four sections: ‘The Ordained Ministry’, ‘The Priesthood’, ‘Deacons and Bishops’, and ‘The Welsh Context’. The Report is supported by a series of interviews with the authors of the essays, livestreamed Q&As, and a conversation about the report as a whole in Welsh. See below for details.

“Much has changed in our mission contexts and church structures in recent years,” says Canon Dr Mark Clavier, Chair of the Standing Doctrinal Commission. “We saw our task as not so much offering a definitive view of ordained ministry as providing a theological resource for thinking about the opportunities and challenges we now face. I see it also as a tool for reflecting on our shared ministry post-Covid.”

The Report roots its discussion in Scripture, tradition, and the recent experience of the Church in Wales, confidently drawing on the rich Anglican treasury of ministry to present a renewed understanding of deacons, priests, and bishops. The Report concludes, “As we embark on the next phase of our pilgrimage within the fast-changing social landscape of 21st-century Wales, it is our prayer that we may come to embrace a renewed vision of our shared ministry to God’s people and find our deepest joy in Christ Jesus ‘in whose service lies perfect freedom’”.

The Bishop of St Asaph, Gregory Cameron, says, “The Church in Wales sustains the historic threefold pattern of ordained ministry by bishop, priest and deacon. In the changed circumstances of Welsh faith and religion in the 21st Century, the challenges of a secular society, and the development of a multitude of lay ministries, what does this mean for such historic forms of ministry? This new report informs and inspires all those interested in understanding the place of ordained ministry for the future."

Visit the webpage

Faithful Stewards in a Changing Church

Download the full report

Join in the conversation

In addition to the published report, the Commission is also producing five videos involving interviews with the authors of the essays and these will be released over the coming weeks.

Following the release of each video, there will be a live Zoom call during which questions and comments can be addressed to the authors. The first four conversations will be in English and the final one in Welsh. They will take place as follows:

Monday 26 April at 7pm

Exploring the Introduction and Essays 1-3.
The live discussion will be chaired by the Bishop of Monmouth and involving the Revd. Canon Dr Mark Clavier, the Revd. Canon Dr Rhiannon Johnson and the Revd. Dr Ainsley Griffiths.
To register click here.

Monday 10 May at 7pm

Exploring Essays 4-6.
The live discussion will be chaired by the Revd. Becca Stevens, Director of Vocations of the Diocese of Monmouth and will involve the Revd. Dr Ainsley Griffiths, the Revd. Canon Dr Mark Clavier and the Revd. Dr Jordan Hillebert.
To register click here.

Monday 24 May at 7pm

Exploring Essays 7 and 8.
The live discussion will be chaired by the Revd. Dominic McClean, Director of Discipleship and Vocations of the Diocese of Bangor and will involve the Very Revd Dr Sarah Rowland Jones and the Revd Canon Dr Mark Clavier.
To register click here.

Monday 7 June at 7pm

Exploring Essays 9 and 10.
The live discussion will be chaired by the Bishop of St. Asaph and will involve the Revd. Canon Dr Rhiannon Johnson and the Revd. Dr Manon Ceridwen James.
To register click here.

Monday 21 June at 7pm

Surveying the report (in Welsh).
This live discussion will involve the Revd. Canon Dr Trystan Owain Hughes, the Revd. Dr Manon Ceridwen James and the Revd. Dr Ainsley Griffiths.
To register click here.