Newly ordained Deacons and Priests in the Diocese of Southwark By Sophia Jones, Director of Communications, The Diocese of Southwark
Bishop of Woolwich, the Rt Rev Dr Karowei Dorgu with newly ordained Priests, in the Woolwich Episcopal Area (Picture credit: St Peter’s, Walworth)
T
he Diocese of Southwark has seen a 30% increase (in the year to July 2021) in candidates from UK Minority Ethnic (UKME) backgrounds being recommended for ordination training. This equates to approximately five out of a total of 17 candidates - the highest percentage in recent years. In 2016 the number was 25%. And four out of those five candidates have also been recommended for leadership positions - incumbent status - meaning their potential
Gemma Birt
to lead a parish has been recognised. The Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Rev Christopher Chessun, said: “This is a very encouraging development, and reflects the intentionality and hard work of the Vocations Team to this good purpose over ten years. We all have a part to play in encouraging UKME candidates to be open to God’s call and explore vocational discernment. We must not lose sight of the need for our leadership in the Church of England, and this Diocese
Esther Jael Olabisi Akano-Adesoye
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Adelaide Davies
in particular, to reflect the full diversity of our parish communities of faith.” “One of my episcopal priorities as Bishop of Woolwich is to celebrate our racial diversity as a gift of God, because God created us all in His image according to the creation narratives in the book of Genesis. And Jesus Christ died for the entire human race, and told His disciples to go into the world and make disciples of all nations. So the need for the Church to reflect the diversity of God’s family
Lotwina Farodoye
