Home
| A Letter from the Vicarage |
|
|
|
Vicar’s LetterThe best parish …I am writing to you as many feelings and thoughts swirl around my heart and mind. Since announcing that I have been appointed to the post of Diocesan Director of Clergy Development, I have been grateful for your kind words and messages. There are moments when I think to myself, “I must be crazy, who in their right mind would want to step down from the role of Vicar at St Mark’s, Harrogate”? When George Green took me for a guided tour of the parish on the day on my interview (September 7th 1995), he beamed at me and said, “We are about to take a drive around the best parish in the whole of the Church of England.” I have never for a moment doubted his assessment! These have been wonderful, happy, fulfilling and stretching years for me and for Judi and for Jonny, Mark and Chris...............
Questions Questions … Some have asked me, “Why are you going?” Let me try to answer that question. After thought and prayer and in the light of discussion with Bishop John, I came to sense that God was calling me to consider this new challenge. I found the prospect unsettling and challenging. Leaving the known for the unknown is never easy. Yet it is part of our Christian calling. So the short answer to the question “Why are you going?” is “because I believe God is calling me”. I am trusting that what we have shared and all that God has taught me through the experiences of these last 14 years will equip me for this new phase of ministry. Although I will be leaving St Mark’s this summer, I know that I will be carrying a lot of St Mark’s with me. Research on growing, healthy churches concludes that a principal ingredient in their wellbeing and effectiveness is - leadership. As leaders in mission, clergy deserve and require two things if they are to avoid discouragement, isolation of even burn out. Affirmation and accountability. In one way or another that will be the focus of my ministry in the coming years. I have been also been asked , “What will you be doing?”. Answer - “Supporting clergy by helping to ensure their development and training needs are met so as to equip them for their work for God.” Brave new world? ..We are facing major shifts in our culture. The era of Christendom (when Christian truth was widely believed and Christian values were broadly accepted) is over. Like the early church, we are in the minority and called to live authentic Christian lives in a world of many faiths and ideologies. My new ministry will be about helping to equip clergy for their task of leadership in this emerging culture. Part of my work will be with those who are newly ordained. Curates participate in Initial Ministerial Education. I will aim to ensure that this programme is stimulating, enriching and enjoyable. Beyond the early years of ministry, we clergy are now (from 2010) required to undertake an annual ministerial development review. In the past this has been voluntary and some of those who most needed to benefit from this process opted out of it! For the first time these reviews will include input from the lay people of the parishes. It will be my responsibility to ensure that the identified training or development needs are provided. Clergy do not have a clear career progression. Finding ways of helping clergy remain fresh, focussed and faithful is also important. I myself greatly benefitted from my sabbatical two years ago. Preparing some clergy for posts of senior leadership is also crucial. Valued service ..vibrant witness ..There is now a growing diversity of ordained ministries - stipendiary clergy and non-stipendiary, ministers in secular employment, permanent deacons, pioneer ministers and retired clergy. I have a vision for each of these ministries, alongside the gifts and expertise of many different lay people, offering valued service to the church and a vibrant witness to the world.. I am grateful for your prayers in this time of transition. I am praying for God’s guidance and blessing for St Mark’s, especially in the process of appointing my successor. My farewell services are planned for Sunday 6 September. Please put this date in your diary so that we can give thanks together for God’s faithfulness in the past and pray for his blessing in the future. Your friend and Vicar – Paul Hooper |
|
| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 06 May 2009 ) |
News Flash
7 Days at St Mark's
| Thu, Feb 9th, @ 12:00pm Diamond Jubilee Communion Lunch |
| Sat, Feb 11th, @ 7:30pm Harrogate Philarmonic Orcestra |
Next Sunday Services
| Sun, Feb 5th, @ 8:00am Holy Communion |
| Sun, Feb 5th, @ 9:30am Worship and Children's Groups |
| Sun, Feb 5th, @ 11:15am Holy Communion |
| Sun, Feb 5th, @ 5:00pm Holy Communion |
| Sun, Feb 5th, @ 6:30pm Evening Worship |
Friends of St Marks
Copyright © 2005 - 2012 www.smch.org.uk.