Annwyl Gyfeillion,

I suspect that you will all have read something about the Lambeth Conference in the press or on social media. Inevitably, reports are highly selective or personal, and the press in particular want a big story, so that it is often the case that stories are reported in a sensational or simplistic way.

I recall that Michael Ramsey, former Archbishop of Canterbury, I think it was, said something about the nature of the Anglican Communion resided in the fact that “we meet”. The first time I heard that I thought it was pretty weak as a statement, but, over the years, it has grown on me. The truth is that Anglicans do tend to air their differences in public, so that although the spread of views is as wide in other denominations, Anglicans are most prone to be described as disunited or of being all things to all people. However, it has also been my experience that when Anglicans actually meet, as opposed to talking about each other, there is, in truth, a deep respect, and a recognition that we are all servants of the one Lord.

This was true of Lambeth this year. There were 650 or so bishops, with about 500 spouses. For me, it was an enormous privilege to catch up with friends and colleagues from all parts of the world, and to be reunited in friendship and in fellowship. However, the conversations were good, and, although there are deeply held differences about sexuality, there is unity around so much as well. Not so very different than the Church in Wales itself … What was achieved, particularly through the careful words used by the Archbishop of Canterbury, was a sense that the Communion has moved on with the question of sexuality – that change by some provinces has been acknowledged, even if the Lambeth resolution of 1998 still has official validity, and that the Archbishop of Canterbury does not intend to exercise “discipline” against one side or the other. It would be easy to take up pages of this Ad Clerum balancing out the nuances of what has or has not changed, but I can say that the gay and lesbian bishops to whom I talked in Canterbury felt that a shift had taken place, and which made the Communion an easier place for them and LGBTQ+ folk more generally.

I want to stress a larger picture, however. This one issue, in which the views of the bishops of the Church in Wales have been made crystal clear, as well as our commitment to inclusion, is not the only story at Lambeth. On one occasion, I was leading a Bible Study on suffering with a small group. I felt humbled when my experiences were set alongside others in the group who have faced war, persecution, martyrdom, drought, flooding and starvation. We heard about the fearless proclamation of the Gospel, and the transformation that the Holy Spirit is working in so many contexts. The conference itself discussed issues of human dignity, democracy, gender equality, climate change, and justice.

In many areas there is a great deal of work to be tackled, but I saw a Communion of Churches looking to be faithful to Jesus Christ and willing to work together. I am thankful to God for our international family, and pray for God’s blessing upon it in the future.

Hwyl a Helo

I have recently announced that Paulette Gower will be leaving Alyn Mission Area later in the year to join Pool Mission Area as priest-in-charge of Montgomery, Berriew and the Churches in the south of the mission area. Sally Harper has completed her curacy in Elwy Mission Area and now joins Denbigh Mission Area as Associate Priest. Jo Mackriell leaves her curacy in Wrexham to join Tanat-Vyrnwy Mission Area as half-time Priest in Charge, rooted in Llansanffraid and Llanfechain. Other moves include Toby Jones who will continue his initial ministerial training with a move to Borderlands Mission Area based with Alex Mayes in Connah’s Quay. Helen Dawson leaves Connah’s Quay to begin a second curacy in the south of the diocese, based at the mission hub in Welshpool. It is good to celebrate the ministry of all these diocesan clergy, who are serving faithfully among us, and who will bring new qualities and talents to their new ministries.

In addition to these internal moves, we welcome Paul Wheeler to the diocese to be Priest-in-Charge of Hope group of Churches. Paul joins us having completed his curacy in Nantwich, Cheshire. Another new appointment in the diocese is the new Warden of Gladstone’s Library, The Revd Dr Andrea Russell, who is currently Director of Formation for Ministry in the diocese of Oxford. Andrea will start at Gladstone’s in October and will hold my General Licence.

We celebrate the ministry of Stuart Evans , who has indicated to me that it is his intention to retire at the end of November, and Peter Mackriell has informed me that he is resigning at end of year. Both Stuart and Peter have served the diocese with faithfulness and distinction in various ways, and we wish them a happy and prosperous retirement.

I am sorry to record the death of Kathy Stewart’s mother, Ivy Burley, who passed away in August at the age of 101, and Shirley Griffiths’ son-in-law, who died unexpectedly over the summer. We pray for all those bereaved, and suffering, and pray that God’s goodness and light may surround and uphold all those in need.

Diary and Events

This diary below includes dates for events where all clergy are encouraged to attend, or required to attend as part of their professional commitment. Please ensure that these dates are in your diary, even where the exact format may be open to change.

September
11 Septr Confirmation at St John’s, Pool Quay, 1500hr

23, 25 & 26 Septr Michaelmas Ember Days

28 Septr Retired Clergy Association Eucharist in Cathedral at 1130hr, followed by lunch at Bod Erw, St Asaph

LATER in the year
08 Octr Diocesan Conference (online)

19-20 Octr MAL residential, Foxhill

23 Octr Confirmation at St Peter’s, Holywell, 1500hr

14-17 Novr Residential Clergy School (Swanwick Conference Centre)

22 Novr MAL Training Day (venue and format to be decided)

14,16 & 17 Decr Advent Ember Days

2023
24 January Clergy Synod

2 Febr IME Book Study Day, Emmanuel Church Hall, Bistre

21-22 March MAL residential (please note this date is a provisional one at this time)

24 June Ordination of Priests, Cathedral, 1000hrs

1 July Ordination of Deacons, Cathedral, 1000hrs (please note this date is a provisional one at this time)

15 July Licensing of Lay Ministers, Cathedral, 1000hrs

21 Septr Clergy Synod 21 Novr MAL training day (please note this date is a provisional one at this time)

Notes and Queries

Retired Clergy Association Service and lunch, 28th September

Following an absence of three years due to the pandemic, the Retired Clergy Association’s annual Eucharist service will be held on Wednesday 28th September at the Cathedral. A lunch will follow the service and that will be held at the Bod Erw restaurant. The guest speaker will be the Venerable Bernard Thomas. It would be good to see you at the Cathedral as we give thanks to those who have served this diocese well over many decades. Also do encourage our retired clergy, spouses and widows to attend the service and lunch if you can. The Diocesan Board of Finance is subsidizing the cost of the meal and further information can be obtained from the Association Secretary, Canon Pauline Walker via pawalker200@btinternet.com or telephone 01244 549938. There is further information here.

Diocesan Conference, Saturday 8th October

The mailing for the Diocesan Conference has been sent out, and clergy should acquaint themselves with the agenda. The Conference will take place via Zoom on Saturday 8 October, and is a professional commitment for all clergy, except where I have given permission in advance. The title takes its cue from our diocesan focus, Growing Faith, Bringing Hope, Demonstrating Love, and the keynote speakers will be two of our new members of the wider Cathedral Body, Sr Gemma Simmonds, from the Congregation of Jesus, director of the Religious Life Institute and senior lecturer in pastoral theology at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology, Cambridge, and Canon Richard Peers, Sub-Dean of Christ Church, Oxford. Although the conference will be by Zoom, I will look forward to seeing you there.

Ember Days

The Ember leaflets for the September Ember Days are available in English and Welsh. Please circulate this widely, and use the intercessions on the three Ember days and the Sunday following. We have a fine crop of vocations, and all those putting themselves forward for ministry deserve our prayers. We can continue to pray also that God will raise up faithful ministers of Word and Sacrament, and servants of the gospel to sustain the life of our diocese.

Safeguarding Sunday 9 October 

This year the Church in Wales is marking Safeguarding Sunday on October 9th and we urge you to take part in whatever way you can. It’s an important opportunity to remind people of our commitment to being a safe church and the responsibility we all have to protect vulnerable people. The Church in Wales has partnered with the Christian safeguarding organisation thirtyone:eight to produce bilingual resources that you can download and use. The resources should be available by late September on the thirtyone:eight website https://thirtyoneeight.org/get-involved/safeguarding-sunday/ You will also find information about the day on the safeguarding page on the Church in Wales website https://www.churchinwales.org.uk/en/safeguarding/ Please note that the date of National Safeguarding Sunday has recently been moved to November 20 and you will see this date on the thirtyone:eight website. The Church in Wales has, however, decided to keep the original date of October 9 this year as published in our lectionary.

Teulu Asaph Cycle of Prayer

As mentioned in the July Ad Clerum Michael Balkwill, my chaplain, has taken over responsibility for compiling the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer and the September edition has already been uploaded to the website and circulated by email. The Cycle of Prayer is intended to focus our prayers within the family of churches in St Asaph, praying for one another, as well as for the wider Anglican Communion. It would be good for all our churches to be using it on a regular basis as part of public worship as well as well as commending its use for personal daily prayers.
Please can you ensure the Cycle of Prayer is well circulated and used in your churches:

You may want to:

• provide physical copies for people to take home from church to use in their private prayers;
• make sure all members of the Shared Ministry Team, including readers and worship leaders have copies for their service preparation;
• and making sure all those who offer the intercessions have a copy so that the petitions for the day can be offered.

I’d like to record my thanks again to Ian Day who carried out this task with such distinction for two periods of duty.

It has been a busy Summer, and the autumn will also be extremely busy and demanding. I hope that you are all refreshed, and strengthened by your faith as we move forward. Thank you for all your service and ministry,