Annwyl Gyfeillion

I’d like to offer a warm thank you to all who participated or led our Clergy Synod last week addressing issues of Mental Health Awareness and Unconscious Bias. Evaluation forms are available and should be returned to Siân in my office when possible.

Kindness doesn’t sound a very stirring word, and yet I am increasingly aware that it is one of the most important attitudes in Christian discipleship. Our Lord could be challenging, but he was merciful in all his dealings, and kindness is a way of exercising mercy in everyday life. The two topics touched upon in Synod are aspects of areas where kindness is important, and I hope that everyone of us can practise kindness in the way in which we relate to one another.

When St David said “Do the little things”, it means that following Jesus is about the generosity with which we deal with one another. That can be tough when difficult matters arise, but they should never preclude kindness. It is a practical outworking of Our Lord’s command to “love one another”.  Knowing to say or do the right thing can sometimes be difficult to discern, but if we season all our actions with kindness, we can redeem many occasions and many circumstances. I hope that every member of the Teulu Asaph can be kind.

Hwyl a Helo

I am delighted to announce two appointments. Ashleigh Askwith, the wife of Josh, who is joining us as Canon Pastor, has been appointed as a Priest-in-charge in Aled Mission Area, working alongside Gareth Erlandson in a group of churches centred on Old Colwyn and including the rural part of the Mission Area. Ashleigh has just completed her curacy at High Lane, Low Marple & Compstall in the Diocese of Chester, and will be licensed on Sunday, March 16th at St Mary’s, Llanfair Talhaiarn.

James Tout, priest of this diocese, also currently serving as Chaplain to the Archbishop of Wales, has been appointed as Vicar of St Giles in the Wrexham Mission Area. James served his curacy at St Giles’ and has been serving in the Offa Mission Area, as well as in his chaplaincy role. It is good to welcome him back to full-time priestly service in the diocese. James will be marrying Lucy on 10^th May, and his licensing will take place on his return from honeymoon.

Juliet Fraser, Mission Hub Priest in the Aberconwy Mission Area, and Andrea Jones, Rector of Hawarden, have both indicated to me their intention to retire shortly. Andrea, who has served with distinction for nearly eight years at Hawarden will retire at the end of March, and Juliet, who has blazed the trail of Mission Hub ministry after her ordination in 2016, will retire at the end of June.

I am sorry to record the death of Eirwyn Thomas who made the diocese his home in retirement following his ministry in Bangor Diocese. Our prayers go to Anne, his wife, and all those who mourn his loss.

Consultations on Provision for Same Sex Unions

As I have announced previously, we will be holding a series of consultations around the diocese to reflect on the provision of Blessings for Same-Sex Unions, and what changes we would wish to see following the five-year experimental period currently in force. There shall be seven opportunities for any who wish to offer their considered views in this diocese – two opportunities in each archdeaconry, and one specifically set for the clergy. It is not intended that anyone should attend all seven consultations, although I will be there to hear the views presented. Rather, anyone who wishes to contribute to this process is invited to attend the one consultation most convenient for them, and for clergy to attend the final consultation, in addition to one other.

The important thing to note is that these occasions will not be a debate, and there will be no vote. Rather, it is for those who wish to express what they believe that God has laid on their heart on these matters, and for those in attendance to listen respectfully, even where views may differ considerably. Contributions will be listened to respectfully, and quietly, and we will all listen for the voice of God’s Spirit to inform and guide us.

In preparation for the consultations, we all ought to think about doing some theological preparation. There is a wealth of literature written from all perspectives on this matter, and the Provincial Director of Faith, Order and Unity, Canon Dr Ainsley Griffiths, has produced an extensive resource for us surveying some of the literature that is available to inform us of the various contributions to the debate:

• Reading list 

If the entire list seems daunting, on page two Ainsley has set out in three paragraphs a key recommended reading section that you may like to consult first.

One important thing I would ask of you – and that is that you take the opportunity to read some of this list which takes a position different from the one you currently hold. It is too easy to confine our reading to reinforce the views we already have, and that makes it easy to dismiss the arguments of others, and to jump to the conclusion that they are somehow less faithful in their discipleship, or less serious about the Bible, or Christ’s command to love. Our attitude to our LGBTQIA+ neighbours and sisters and brothers in Christ is too important to surrender to the dangers of prejudice, or to assume that somehow those of another view are unthinkingly wrong.

The dates of the seven consultations in our diocese are:

• Thursday 27^th March       Prestatyn Community Hall (next to Christ Church Prestatyn) at 1900hr
• Monday 31^st March        St Mary’s Church Hall, Ruabon at 1900hr
• Wednesday 2^nd April       Llandrinio Village Hall at 1900hr
• Thursday 8^th May             St David’s Hall, adjacent to the Church, at Penrhyn Bay, at 1900hr
• Monday 12^th May            Llangollen Pavilion, at 1900hr
• Monday 19^th May           St Mark’s Church Hall, Connah’s Quay, at 1900hr

The final consultation for any clergy holding the Bishop’s Licence or Permission to Officiate will be held on Thursday 22^nd May, at All Saints Church Hall, Southsea, at 1400hr.

Diary and Events                                    

Please read this diary carefully. The diary below is updated every month to include all those fixed dates for events that clergy are required to attend as part of their professional commitment, together with those opportunities to build up our common life by supporting significant moments for our colleagues.

Please ensure that those dates which are a professional requirement are in your diary, even where the exact format may be open to change. Where a clash with your own plans comes to your attention, please raise it with Esgobty at the earliest opportunity. I am still occasionally getting excuses late in the day from clergy who don’t seem to have planned ahead, or even to have read this diary, and I am much more amenable when approached early to discuss any potential clashes.

Dates for March

9 March              Collation and Installation of Canons in the Cathedral in the context of Evensong, at 1530hr

16 March            The Licensing of Ashleigh Askwith as Priest-in-Charge in Aled MA at St Mary’s, Llanfair Talhaiarn, 1530hr.

17 March            The Licensing of Helen Barnes as Priest-in-Charge in Alyn MA, at All Saints’, Southsea, 1900hr.

27 March            Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in Prestatyn Community Hall, 1900hr

31 March            Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in St Mary’s Church Hall, Ruabon, 1900hr

Dates later in 2025

2 April                 Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in LLandrinio Village Hall, at 1900hr

17 April               Chrism Eucharist, Cathedral, 1100hr

8 May                 Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in St David’s, Penrhyn Bay, at 1900hr

12 May                Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in Llangollen Pavilion at 1900hr

19 May                Same-Sex Blessings Consultation in St Mark’s Church Hall, Connah’s Quay, at 1900hr

22 May                Same-Sex Blessings Consultation for Diocesan Clergy, All Saints’ Church Hall, Southsea, at 1400hr

31 May                LLM Annual Meeting and Service, Cathedral, at 1200hrs

28 June              Ordinations, Cathedral, 1000hr

15-18 Septr        Residential Clergy School, York

Notes and Queries

The Order of St Asaph

It is now the time of year to invite the submission of applications for Order of St Asaph awards in 2025. The ceremony will take place during the Diocesan Patronal Eucharist for St. Asaph at the Cathedral in May. The Order of St. Asaph seeks to recognise and honour the outstanding contribution of lay persons at diocesan level, particularly at an appropriate point on the completion of service in a particular way or in a particular role which serves our diocesan life.

A nomination form is here which should be returned completed with as much information as possible about a candidate’s contribution to the diocese. All members of the Teulu Asaph, whether clerical or lay, are encouraged to make nominations, which can also be submitted through any diocesan council or committee. Nominations forms for consideration by the OSA advisory committee should be submitted to Esgobty by Monday, March 3rd.

Understandably there are those who have offered sterling service to the Church within the local church or mission area context, who deserve recognition, but who do not qualify for a diocesan award. I continue to be happy to provide a suitable certificate for local presentation by a church or mission area.  Please contact Michael at Esgobty in the first instance with appropriate details for me to consider.

Resource

Some of you will remember Christopher Landau, the Director of Resource, who came to our Clergy Synods in September 2023. Resource are running a day on smaller Churches in Llandrindod Wells in March, and I attach the flier for this event, if anyone is interested: Welsh / English.

I remain very grateful for your collegiality with me in the work of the Gospel. May God bless you in your work, and in any difficult situations that you may face. Some of you may know of the difficult situations that our colleagues face, and the challenges to their well-being or health that it would not be right to publicise in this Ad Clerum. As the first letter of John puts it: “Beloved, let us love one another.” (1 John 4.7)