www.stdavidsdiocese.org.uk Gorffennaf/July 2009 Increase in Trainees welcome, but new Diocesan Director of Ordinands warns We Need More NEWLY appointed Director of Ordinands, Revd Dennis Wight has welcomed a recent upturn in numbers seeking ordination and exploring other ministry vocations. At least four new students will years a large proportion will embark on full time training for reach retirement age, and that stipendiary ministry in as a diocese we need to ordain September this year, making a five people each year until 2020 total of at least nine. There is still to reach the relatively modest the possibility of more, numbers that are essential to depending on the outcome of provide ministry here. Writing in selection conferences. In this edition of Pobl Dewi, Dennis addition three people are throws out a challenge to training for non-stipendiary congregations to grow ministry, and there are ten ministers. Bishop Wyn added people in various stages of his support to this call, saying: Reader training. Figures “This will be a testing time for released by the senior staff team us as a church, with many show that the age profile of the retirements pending. It is up to present stipendiary clergy us to regard it as a time of means that during the next few opportunity and discernment.” Where is our next Parish Priest? by Dennis Wight ONGREGATIONS will com- is praying for, and seeking, a new Cmonly ask this towards, or leader. during, an interregnum – that is, However, it is a question which when their most recent minister has should more regularly be in our left or retired. Clearly this scenario minds and on our parochial church concentrates the mind when a parish continued on page 2 Ordinands 2009 Left to right: Peter Jones, Richard Wood, John McHale, John Neil, Peter Radcliffe, Marrianne Osbourne Ffenestr Liw Newydd yn Ysgol Penboyr In a special service at Penboyr School, Bishop Wyn Evans unveiled and consecrated a new stained glass window created by Mr Stan Williams. Monies kindly left in the will of the late Mrs Nesta Howells were used to create the window EWN gwasanaeth arbenning diweddar Mrs Nesta Howells i ysgol i gynnal gweithdy i’r Mar 30 Ebrill, dadorchuddwyd greu’r ffenestr liw. Mr Stan disgyblion a’r gymuned er mwyn a chysegrwyd ffenestr liw newydd Williams fu’n gyfrifol am lunio’r iddynt weld y ffenest yn cael ei Ysgol Penboyr gan yr Esgob Wyn ffenestr a bu plant dosbarth 3 chreu. Mae’r ffenestr liw yn Evans. Defnyddiodd yr ysgol arian (blynyddoedd 3 a 4) yn rhan o’r cynnwys pedwar panel sy’n a adawyd iddi yn ewyllys y cynllunio. Daeth Mr Williams i’r parhad ar dudalen 3 Cathedral Diary of Events and Open Churches around the Diocese: See pages 8 - 10 Am ddim Free 2 Pobl Dewi, July 2009 continued from front page Diocesan appointments council agendas. Over 90% of the Ministry Share goes towards clergy Ordinations 2009 training, supporting the present incumbent, providing a pension for retired priests, and training for Lay Readers and lay ministry. It has often been said that those congregations which encourage the Revd Christopher Bolton, ministry of lay people are more Vicar and Area Dean, likely to produce people who sense Llanarth & Capel Cynon w a call to ordained ministry. So it is Talgarreg & St Mark, to be important to encourage participation also Canon of the Cathedral, in, for example, leading movement of a people of hope and begin to recognise that they may have 10 July 2009 intercessions or reading in church, salvation. a vocation to the priesthood. It is a evangelism, the organising of There is joyful news around the long and interesting road of occasional special services, pastoral diocese about many Venturing in discernment and some have set out visiting or prayer and study groups. Mission projects and the Lord is recently. And, who knows, one of the As this ministry is developed, in adding to our number. God’s glory people reading this might be your collaboration with the parish priest, is being seen in significant ways. This future parish priest – they might even Revd Canon Roger Hughes, many more will understand that all includes some steps towards be someone in your parish who could Vicar and Area Dean and Christians are called to be active encouraging vocations from all age eventually be the leader of another Honorary Canon, disciples in the church and in the groups and deaneries. We have teams parish! It may be a suggestion or an Llangathen, Cwrt Henri & world. Thus “Where is our next of Vocations Advisers and facilitators encouragement from you that will Llanfihangel Aberbythych, to parish priest?” could be changed for lay development who are ready lead someone to make the first move be also Canon of the into: “Have we grown someone in and willing to help churches and and get in touch with me. Cathedral, 10 July 2009 our parishes to serve the church individuals recognise potential and If you would like to know more locally or elsewhere in mission and nurture a wide range of ministry. about ordained or lay ministry, the ministry?” Christianity is not I pray that, as we encourage next Diocesan Vocations Day will be something done to us – it is a Christian discipleship, people will held on 10th October at St Davids. Bovine TB and its implications Revd Sian Jones, Eileen Davies, St Davids Rural Life Adviser, reports on the effects Tuberculosis (TB) Rector in the Rectorial is having on the agricultural industry . Benefice of Llanelli, to be also Canon of the OVINE TB had almost been Cathedral, 10 July 2009 Beradicated in Wales in the early 1980’s, but it has returned and has hit the agricultural industry hard. Furthermore, it is now totally out of control and there are far-reaching implications The process of detection involves a regular test for the whole Revd Bryan Witt, herd (the interval between tests vary Vicar of St Clears with according to the severity of the disease in the locality); this is done Llangynin & Llanddowror & by injecting a small amount of Llanfihangel Abercywyn, to tuberculin (a sterile antigenic extract be also Diocesan Director of obtained from a culture of M. bovis Education, 6 April 2009 or other organisms of the same family of bacteria) into the neck of the animal. This is done by a vet who returns a few days later to judge the severity of the reaction by feeling the The trading restrictions have In the meantime please pray for amount of swelling at the injection huge cost implications for the farmers during this difficult time. site. If any cattle have reacted, affected farms. Increased animals on Further information is available depending on the severity of that the farm require additional land and at www.defra.gov.uk/farm reaction, a judgement is made as to mean higher feeding costs. For many whether they are “reactors” or farmers, “On stop” means stopping “inconclusive” trading for an extended period until In either case the farm must stop the herd is declared TB free. trading its cattle. Every farmer’s nightmare is to be The reactor animals will be valued told they have TB: vital bloodlines by an accredited auctioneer and sent are lost forever, generations of hard for slaughter. The inconclusive work and achievement destroyed. animals will be re-tested in 60 days The costs are not only financial – the and, if either reactor or inconclusive emotional cost is far greater. How On Yer Bike, Vic! again, then they will be valued and would it feel to see your animals slaughtered. If, on examination at the leave, one by one, two by two, The first official engagement for the Revd Jonathan Copus abattoir, no lesions are found, the cattle hundred by hundred? Farmers shut are placed under a restricted themselves away thinking of (centre, knobbly knees) after being licensed by the Bishop as movement order and the farmer themselves as being dirty, not Priest in Charge of the Parishes of Lampeter Velfrey with Princes cannot trade until the animals test clear wanting to socialise, worried that Gate and Llanddewi Velfrey was to take part in a sponsored bike for TB – usually within 60 days. they will spread TB to their ride for charity. Jonathan led the field for all 11 kilometres [surely Revd Geler Harries In 2008, 12,043 cattle were neighbours. This isolation can cause Thomas, BA for all of 11 metres – Ed]. The event was organised by Lampeter slaughtered in Wales – a 52% loneliness which can take hold and Velfrey Community and Playing Field Association in aid of the increase from 2007. 69% of these farmers need our love, support and 1928-2009 Special Baby Unit at Morriston Hospital, which had recently saved cattle were in the Diocese of St understanding. Past Rural Dean of the lives of no fewer than two babies born prematurely to parents David’s. On 31 December 2008, Eradication of TB is paramount Llangadog in the parish. Holding the tape is Pembrokeshire County Council 1848 farms were under restrictions within the agricultural industry but R.I.P. Chairman Councillor Robin Evans. in Wales. that debate is for another time! Pobl Dewi, July 2009 3 community that we serve but also the Preach Without Words wider community, those people who The Roving Bishop come to Wales, as tourists, as visitors Alun Evans, Chairman of the Diocesan Council for Social – they come to look at the heritage Responsibility, previews this year’s Diocesan Conference By the end of the summer, Bishop Wyn will have visited all the of our churches.