J
on is to be ordained as a deacon on Sunday 2 July and will serve his curacy in the parish of Codsall
"I have lived in a variety of communities around Birmingham, Staffordshire and Shropshire, but have now spent more than half of my life in the village of Kinver, famous for its rock houses and Kinver Edge. I will be moving with my wife, Lucy, and three children, to Codsall for my curacy, where I’m looking forward to joining the local community.
"For me, one of the greatest gifts of ministry is discovering where God is already at work within the community, and creating space and opportunities for people to engage with the questions that they have about life, enabling them to know more of God. For many people, church community holds a special place, offering a space to celebrate, remember, and mourn during different stages of their lives, and this is an area which I believe will be a significant part of my ministry.
"Training for ordained ministry has been incredibly formational, particularly the opportunity to hear and learn from voices that have been historically ignored or silenced. The greatest misconception in ministry is that there is a single correct answer that you might find at the back of the textbook. Instead, training has offered an opportunity to engage with a wide range of cultures and experiences which all offer truth in our understanding of God.
"Before training for ordained ministry, I worked in several roles, all with links to education. I was a primary school teacher in a local school, before spending several years as an ecumenical youth pastor. Most recently, I worked for the Methodist Church as a Learning & Development Officer in the West Midlands region.
"I’m of the opinion that everyone in the church is responding to a vocation of some description, but that this can take different forms. If you feel God is calling you to do something new, I’d recommend talking to people about it, get them to pray for you, but also ask all of the questions that you need to. You don’t need to be able to picture yourself in the role yet – I never saw myself being ordained! – but just keep exploring the next step and see where it leads. Wherever you get to, God will be there."