To: clergy and lay ministers (licensed and PtO), churchwardens and lay chairs in the Wolverhampton Episcopal Area
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As you will know, Julian will be retiring from stipendiary ministry, and from his role as Archdeacon of Walsall, on Wednesday 8th May this year. There will be an opportunity to say farewell to him, and to give thanks for all that he has brought to the archdeaconry, episcopal area and diocese, at 3pm on Sunday 28th April at The Church of the Good Shepherd, West Bromwich. More details will follow after Easter, but please do mark this date in your diary. I know that you will be keeping Julian and Jane in your prayers as they prepare for this next stage in their life.
Bishop Jonathan will also be stepping back from his role as Acting Bishop of Wolverhampton on Easter Day, Sunday March 31st. I very much appreciate the support he has given over the past six months, and I am glad that he will be continuing to serve as an Honorary Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Lichfield. Bishop Jonathan will be preaching at the Chrism Eucharist in our Cathedral on Maundy Thursday, 28th March at 11am; I hope that many of you will be able to hear him then as we join together to mark our entry into the holiest time of the Christian year.
I am writing now to explain arrangements for pastoral care in the Wolverhampton Episcopal Area in the coming months.
The discernment process for me to nominate a new Bishop of Wolverhampton is in hand, with the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s office. I will be assisted in this process by an Advisory Group, the members of which I have listed below. They will be meeting with me for the first time on Monday 15th April; we anticipate that candidates will be invited for interview on Tuesday 4th June. Please do pray for me, for members of the Advisory Group, and for all whom we shall meet as part of this process, that through the Spirit’s guidance the right person may be found to serve as the Fifth Bishop of Wolverhampton. Until he or she is in post, I will as diocesan bishop be providing episcopal oversight in the Wolverhampton Episcopal Area.
As I will wish to involve the next Area Bishop in the appointment of Julian’s successor, there will necessarily be a vacancy of some months in the Archdeaconry. In order to provide some continuity in pastoral care and support, I am delighted to say that The Revd Julia Cody and The Revd Jim Trood have both generously accepted my invitation to take on archidiaconal responsibilities, in addition to their parish ministries in Wombourne and Walsall respectively. I will be licensing them on 28th March as Associate Archdeacons, and they will serve as such alongside Archdeacon Julian until Julian’s retirement on 8th May, after which they will become Acting Archdeacons. In both these phases, they will of course be working closely with Archdeacon Sue. Please do pray for Julia and Jim as they prepare to take up these further roles (which will probably extend into the new year of 2025), and for Sue as she continues to serve as Archdeacon of Lichfield.
Assuring you of my prayers as we all prepare to celebrate the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection in the Easter feast, and with my grateful thanks for all that you give in ministry,
+Michael
Bishop Michael's advisory group for the Bishop of Wolverhampton
Mr Steve Bavington (Chief Executive, YMCA Black Country Group)
Ms Angela Bernard (Churchwarden, Good Shepherd, West Bromwich)
Canon Julie Jones (Diocesan Secretary and Chief Executive)
The Revd Prebendary Mark McIntyre (Vicar of St Gabriel’s, Fulbrook and Rural Dean of Walsall)
The Revd Chris Precious (Rector of Fauls, Tilstock and Whitchurch)
The Revd Kate Watson (Vicar of St Martin’s, Bradley)
The Revd Canon Dr Flora Winfield (Third Church Estates Commissioner)
supported by
The Revd Treena Larkin (Bishop’s Chaplain)
Mr David Wicksteed (Archbishops’ Adviser for Appointments & Vocations)