Frommanna the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells September 2021 The search for a new bishop ith the retirement Archbishop of Canterbury, the of Bishop Peter in CNC, is responsible for interviewing May, the diocese the potential candidates before is now looking a recommendation is sent to Her to the future Majesty the Queen who will make Wand taking the necessary steps to the appointment, following an appoint the next Bishop of Bath and The process is taken forward by established process. Wells. the Vacancy in See Committee, a Simon Hill, Archdeacon of Taunton As part of the process of finding cross-section of people from across and Chair of the Vacancy in See our new bishop, people across the the diocese. The Vacancy in See Committee says, "Everyone, young diocese are being asked to share committee has two roles. To consult, and old, church going and non- their views. Hundreds of people discern and prepare a diocesan church going, has been invited to completed surveys expressing Statement of Needs, a document share their thoughts through surveys their hopes for the new bishop which reflects the hopes and and consultation." in the summer and in September challenges for the ministry of the Throughout this time, if you have the Archbishops’ Appointments next bishop and to portray what is Secretary and the Prime Minister’s any queries or views you wish to distinctive about the Diocese of Bath contribute please email Appointments Secretary will meet and Wells. with various groups of people [email protected]. They also elect six representatives in the diocese and then hold an Find out more about the progress open public meeting, where all can to join the Crown Nominations at www.bathandwells.org.uk/new- Commission (CNC). Chaired by the contribute. bishop■ News in brief Cross cultural climate crisis conference Magnificent Go Team mural “We need to address climate made in Saltford concerns in our hearts and minds.” A fantastic school mural is taking Bishop Ruth told clergy and church shape in Saltford Church of members from across the diocese England primary school. Andy at a two-centred climate crisis event Gray, the diocesan faith sharing organised with the charity Send a Fr Simon was a pirate for the week enabler, also an artist, was at Landlubbers! Cow. commissioned to create the mural. The group heard Rob Walrond Landlubbers Holiday Camp It is based off the Go team's Bible (right), rural affairs adviser, and Titus Every year in Minehead the Exmoor Chat Mats which are designed to Sagala, Country Director of Send a Youth Project runs a summer holiday encourage children, young people, Cow Kenya, who joined from Kenya club for children aged 5 to 12. This and adults to read the Bible and on Zoom, tell them first-hand how year the theme was Landlubbers! have conversations together. Andy climate change is forcing farmers in The children learned all about Jesus was presented with 400 design every country to find new ways of and St Paul through song, games, ideas from the children and he operating and how climate change story-telling and crafts. Fr Simon, wove them into what he has called is hurting crop yields and damaging vicar of Minehead, said "Our thanks “The Chat Wall, the artistic sibling farmland in places all across the go to Jess and Lynne from the of Go Team Advisers Bible Chat ■ world, from England to Kenya Exmoor Youth project"■ Mats initiative.”■ Looking to the next chapter By Ruth Worsley, Bishop of Taunton ack to school!’ perhaps others about where we are as a might hold for certain. The last has never sounded diocese and what sort of bishop year or two have shown us how so good. For those we now need to lead us into the difficult it is to predict anything! of us who found last future. If you haven’t already done Some of us have lost loved ones B so, please have your say by attend- and livelihoods. It will take time to year disrupted in terms of school, ing the open consultation Zoom recover and to renew our hope. college or University, some of our meeting on September 20th. We There will be challenges along the young people and their parents have already heard the thoughts of way and we have much to face to- might be really looking forward to almost 1000 of our children across gether. However, our hope is in the the doors re-opening! And perhaps schools in the county, as well as Lord and we hold to the promises their teachers too! hundreds of adults! of His word… Of course things will not be the It will be some time before we ‘’For I know the plans I have for same as they were. A new school know who our next Diocesan you,” declares the LORD, “plans year always means change. New Bishop will be but now is the time to prosper you and not to harm classes, new goals, new possibili- to start praying for him or her so you, plans to give you hope and a ties. An opportunity to start with a that they might hear from God as future.” clean sheet, open the next chapter we also seek God’s wisdom and Proverbs 29:11 of the book of our lives. guidance. And let’s pray too for Here in Bath and Wells we are also ourselves and all those within our looking to the next chapter in our diocese, that each of us will find story of faith together. This month God’s will for the next stage of our we will be bringing together all journey. we have learnt from listening to None of us can know what that All generations have their say Youth worker Emily Hatton reflects on her role in the Vacancy in See Committee What is the Vacancy in See What has your experience of committee for? the committee been? It’s a group of people who Most of it has been on Zoom, represent the diocese in different which is interesting when you’ve ages and stages. Its for finding out got such a big group of people and what the diocese needs in terms of they’ve all got things to say. I’m the next bishop. really glad I’m on it, it’s quite an honour to be on the committee. Why is it important young Who is on the committee? people are represented? So, we’ve got Archdeacon Simon, Why does it take so long to I think it’s really important that the Archdeacon of Taunton, who’s get a new bishop? young people are represented been chairing a lot of it, Bishop It’s a whole huge process, and the because we are an equal part Ruth is also on the committee. bishop has a lot of responsibility of the church. The church is a We’ve got people from the diocese and is an important person in the family, and in families you have all central team like Sue Rose from the diocese. You need to make sure generations. The committee should diocese's support services team, you get the right person and that ensure that all generations are and Matt Orr from Movement, the the person who ends up being represented and spoken for and all youth worship team based in Bath. the bishop is God’s best for the voices are listened to. There are also lots of clergy and lay diocese■ people. Follow us on @BathWells bathandwells churchofengland_somerset.